Well if you can’t give the consumer a Hybrid or a car that gets better than 25MPG give them FREE gas, the thinking goes.
so, until June 2nd, 2008, you get a guarentee that you won’t pay more than $2.99 a gallon for your fuel, thank you Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge. Well, not the SRT models, Cab and Chasis, Sprinter, Viper or the new Challenger. While I applaud this creative work around, it is unfortunate that Chrysler is the last one to the party with truly fuel efficient vehicles. Even Ford and GM have some hybrids in their line, which in fact, are sold out ’til August. Imagine if they could meet demand for the Escape, Mariner, Yukon etc, they would be able to swing their balance sheets around. But there are some who say GM is LOSING money on every Yukon they make??? Funny, the Toyota stores are selling all the hybrids they can make and prices on Prius are again, $2-5k over sticker, on a car that is already OVERPRICED! But they do get 40MPG which is like getting FREE GAS everytime you DONT have to fill up, right? Yikes! but alas, I digress…
So, here we have FREE GAS! Here’s how the Chrysler plan works… Program Description
The Let’s Refuel America gas card program works when a customer purchases a new and unused Chrysler, Jeep or Dodge vehicle and selects the program in lieu of other availableincentives. The customer is provided with the registration process documentation and registers providing their required personal information via the dedicated web site or toll-free 800 number. Once registered, the customer receives their gas card and separately, their Personal Identification Number (PIN) within 4 to 6 weeks of application. The customer then swipes their Let’s Refuel America Gas Card at an eligible gas station, selecting up to 87 octane regular, E85 fuel or diesel fuel, and enters their PIN to begin the fueling process. After the fuel transaction occurs, the customer’s personal credit card (identified in the registration process) is charged $2.99 per gallon.
There are some caveats, including a limit to the total number of gallons you can buy in a year; and if you use the card to buy a type of gas NOT ALLOCATED to your card you get charged a $2.00 SERVICE FEE. OUCH! I’m thinking that Chrysler was trying to reformat another rebate, without calling it a rebate, which it is. HOWEVER, BECAUSE, gas prices aren’t going down, they could end up paying alot more in years two or three, or so it would seem, unless you lose, get disqualified or dump the whole swipe, pin, check your miles online process…
SO HERE IS THE KINK:Consumers who select this offerWILL NOT be eligible for the traditional consumer/lease cash, special APR interest rates, Compass/Patriot retail cash and you have to call the customer assistance line or ask the dealer, to find out EXACTLY how many gallons you are alloted for the car you want to buy or just bought, and you have to be registered by JULY 31st, 2008 or you lose, period. EXAMPLES: Dodge Caliber: 1500 GALLONS for 3 yrs. or 500 per year. Journey 1800 GALLONS for 3 yrs. or 600 per year. Town & Contry Mini-van 1895 GALLONS for 3 years or 632 gallons per year and Chrysler 300C HEMI gets 2118 GALLONS for 3 years or 790 GALLONS per year.SO if you give up an average of $3000 in rebates, or more in potential interest rate savings, what are you getting in return? If gas goes to $5.00 a gallon over the next year or two, the most you are going to save on this deal is approximately the same money you would have captured upfront on the rebate side.APPROXIMATELY, because we all drive differently etc. you know the disclaimer rule…All in all I call this one hellofa GIMICK, and maybe those who live the sound of FREE GAS and PRICE LOCK GUARANTEE will drive right over and hopefully consider a Chrysler, Jeep or Dodge product, if they qualify for the gas credit card… but what if they don’t? Want to know what’s the best deal the incentives, low interest rate or the GAS? go to www.mycarlady.comSLMFor more information you can go to: http://refuelamerica.pricelock.com or call 1-00-866-4656.]]>
