Buy Chrysler: Pay $2.99 for gas for 3 years

[GoHuskies]

Buy a Chrysler, pay $2.99 for gas for three years

Chrysler LLC is offering customers guaranteed gas prices below $3 a gallon for three years in an attention-grabbing sales pitch aimed at braking a double-digit sales slide.
Called "Let's Refuel America," the incentive plan allows buyers of most Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep vehicles to sign up for a gas card that will reduce the price they pay to $2.99 a gallon at the pump.
While other automakers have in the past offered consumers cards and other ways to pay for fuel, Chrysler's plan is much wider in scope. It is national and covers most of the lineup.

"One of the things that weighs heavily on people's minds is the volatility of fuel prices," Chrysler Vice Chairman Jim Press said on a teleconference Monday. "We think it's appropriate to give our customers more peace of mind."
He would not estimate the cost to Chrysler of the program, which will depend on the price of gas.
Chrysler is struggling to stimulate demand for its vehicles. Of the three Detroit automakers, it is the most dependent on sales of large vehicles, and it has suffered the biggest sales decline this year. In the first four months of 2008, Chrysler car and truck sales have fallen 17.6 percent, more than twice the overall market's decline, according to Autodata Corp.

My personal opinion: Chrysler's answer to the lack of any fuel efficient cars except crappy caliber's and PT cruisers. Help keep big HEMI engines and SUV's on the road so in three years they can plunge in value once the 3 years is up and the next owner has to pay 7.00 a gallon.

Seems to be all about short term profits. Personally I think Chrysler's new owner is just looking to make a quick profit then dismantle or sell Chrysler in a few years.

[ct20]

I read this earlier...what a joke. So, chrysler thinks in 3 years gas will get cheaper? Do they read the news?

[illusionstwice]

You beat me to it! I was thinking of making a thread on this! lol

Yeah its just incentive to buy thier cars. Still an american car. lol

[kenchan]

too bad they dont have anything i like.

[volvo9]

I saw that on MSN, pretty lame, but that's exactly what people are looking for in gas prices, is short term help. No ones really looking into the long term solutions, they just want the national reserve tapped into so prices drop $0.50.

I'm sure people will go for it, and then in 3 years trade the piece of garbage in losing a TON of money, completely cancelling out any fuel savings.

[gregk]

boy, they're taking a big gamble. If prices hit 5 or 6$ a gallon (which could happen given that supply<demand right now) they'd be losing a ton of money.

probably the worst idea i've heard for awhile, but they must think this is cheaper for them than building a car someone would want to drive.

[ct20]

This idea is as bad as giving a $13,000 rebate on the full size dodge ram trucks. I feel sorry for all of the people who have about a dodge ram in the past 3-4 years, because their resale value is non-existent. Chrysler=FTL

[Janizary]

Too bad the $13K rebate does not apply to the super duty trucks (just like the 'lifetime' warranty does not apply to the diesel trucks either). A $13K rabate and $2.99 diesel (if that's part of the program) would get me to replace one of my other trucks. My F350 is aging and getting up there in the miles. A nice new Cummins diesel ram might be the ticket.

[volvo9]

Originally Posted by Janizary

Too bad the $13K rebate does not apply to the super duty trucks (just like the 'lifetime' warranty does not apply to the diesel trucks either). A $13K rabate and $2.99 diesel (if that's part of the program) would get me to replace one of my other trucks. My F350 is aging and getting up there in the miles. A nice new Cummins diesel ram might be the ticket.

Diesel is already over $4.50 a gallon in most places, so I can see people using this as a reason to buy a new Diesel truck. That's an automatic $1.50 savings per gallon, pretty good, esp if you own a buisness.

Wonder if there is limitations? Like it's only good for 15k miles / year worth of gas?

[j0ntar]

actually the price is only going to spike for the next year or so then come back down to stable.

article from today.
Analyst: $200 oil could happen this year - Autos - MSNBC.com

unless the govt releases reserves to stabilize the price, however when clinton did this there was no china to compete with for energy consumption.

[Izzy]

I'd buy a Hemi just so I can stick it further in the eye of Chrysler.

[Snake-eyes]

why not lease a charger and take advantage of this gas card? than make chrysler deal with the resale and not you lol! Better to lease than purchase with this plan.

Also chrysler is taking one hell of a gamble and are going to loose their asses if gas prices keep increasing at the rate which they are.


Also everyone knows gas never goes down in price only up

[Janizary]

Seeing this I just called Chopper's shop (Towbin Dodge) and it does cover diesel. And there is just shy of $10K in incentives I qualify for on a RAM3500. Hmmm...I'd have to sell the F350 privately as $2K of the qualifications relate to 'Owner Loyalty' so I'd have to trade one of my jeeps (my beater Cherokee would go...its probably worth about $500, heh).

[Izzy]

Do it Jani. Hell, now I want to look at Chrysler's to save some money.

[Janizary]

Well, according to Autospies you have to give up the rebate to take the $2.99 gas.

Dodge's Gas Price Protection Plan Is A SCAM - AutoSpies Auto News

Link back to:

Dodge’s New Fuel Price Protection Program Is A Scam | tundraheadquarters.com

No sale, Dodge.

[Izzy]

Lame parts of those articles:

First of all, the program only covers enough fuel needed to drive 12,000 miles per year.

since Dodge will have no way of knowing how far you’ve actually driven in order to determine when you’ve hit 12k miles, they’re going to use the EPA average fuel economy estimates

And absolute sense:

It’s called time-value of money. If you used the $5,500 in cash rebates as your down payment on a new Ram

Too bad. I woulda bought something today.
Thanks Dodge, for making something that people like me would fall for, had it not been for people like Janizary.

[skel]

Looks like Janizary is hinting on the point im going to make. This deal is great for the individuals i know who need a truck for work and are required to purchase their own vehicle. If someone is debating between one truck and a Dodge, this will probably make up their mind.

[AllShowNoGo]

Originally Posted by GoHuskies

Buy a Chrysler, pay $2.99 for gas for three years




My personal opinion: Chrysler's answer to the lack of any fuel efficient cars except crappy caliber's and PT cruisers. Help keep big HEMI engines and SUV's on the road so in three years they can plunge in value once the 3 years is up and the next owner has to pay 7.00 a gallon.

Seems to be all about short term profits. Personally I think Chrysler's new owner is just looking to make a quick profit then dismantle or sell Chrysler in a few years.

so this is how my job is able to afford to give me a company car (07 chrylser sebring) AND pay for the gas that goes into it. oh well works for me. less miles i have to put on my Si.

[GoHuskies]

The more I think on this the more I see it as Chryslers answer to new crossovers and the rise of the popularity of small cars. Since their painfully lacking in both departments I guess this makes sense.

If your comparing an Aspen to a slightly more efficient crossover like the Ford Edge then for 3 years the Aspen might be the better deal since as long as your under the limit your fuel costs could be less than with the crossover.

I change my opinion on this being the end for Chrysler. I see it as a last gambit to buy time while they try to figure out what people want and produce cars that sell.

[atruhondagrl]

I'd rather ride a pink 50cc scooter with a banana seat than be caught driving a Chrysler.