There may be no rush for buyers to take advantage of deals offered in conjunction with the Cash for Clunkers program now that Congress has approved an additional $2 billion for new car purchases, and that may give potential owners enough time to consider the cost savings of keeping a used car in New York.

Edmunds.com, an automotive research site, reported that the deal is likely to decrease demand in the program designed to spur buyers to consider new cars with higher fuel efficiency ratings, because a surge in purchases was based on buyers worried when the funds would run out.

“Now that additional money has been approved, the rush to make a deal will not be as urgent,” says Jeremy Anwyl, the site’s CEO. “This program would have made more sense to continue in October when the traditional summer selling season is over.”

While the savings range from $3,500 to $4,500 when one doesn’t include dealer incentives, it may not make sense for buyers on a strict budget to go after a new car as part of the program.

“The majority of Americans cannot afford a new car payment today, but they probably can afford to trade up to a newer used vehicle or make their current vehicle more fuel-efficient,” said Kathleen Schmatz, Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association president and CEO.

AAIA says that routine maintenance of older vehicles over the span of a year would cost owners less than one monthly payment on a new vehicle, and they say that the program entices consumers who may not be able to afford the cost of such purchases.

Instead, holding onto one’s used car in New York or an upgrade to a newer model allows consumers to retain the value of their vehicle once the program is completed, and they can then trade it in or donate it when they are looking to make their next purchase.

Fuel efficiency can also be improved with maintenance, without the need to purchase an all-new vehicle, according to the AAIA. They say that up to 12 billion gallons of fuel each year could be saved by performing routine oil changes and other repairs. That would be the equivalent of the yearly usage of motorists in Illinois, Michigan and Connecticut, and 166 times the fuel savings government analysts estimated for the Cash for Clunkers program.