Some dealers are concerned about the 72-month loan deals being offered this week by Ford and GM. While the deals will help clear out 2004 inventories, they will also keep car buyers out of dealerships for six years.

Carl Galeana, owner of Van Dyke Dodge in Warren, Mich., and two other dealerships, predicts the GM and Ford deals will offer a necessary boost to sales, according to the Detroit Free Press. However, Galeana said the loan terms are too long.

Galeana said most people locked into long-term loans want a new car before the term is over. They roll the balance into another long-term loan on a new vehicle to keep payments down.

"Then you need more incentives," said Galeana. "It's an ugly, vicious cycle."

Analysts think that, despite these deals, the Big Three will still struggle for sales, reported the Detroit Free Press. Banc of America Securities analyst Ronald Tadross predicts that domestic market share will have declined 1.3 percent in 2004. Ford will lose 2 percent while GM and DaimlerChrysler will see slight gains, said Tadross.