Is the $2.99 gas guarantee worthwhile?

Steve

Lifer
May 2, 2004
15,945
11
81
You may have seen the commercials. Basically, if you buy a new Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep vehicle (from certain choices), you can buy gas for $2.99/gallon for the next three years:

http://www.chrysler.com/en/refuel/ - has all the details and list of cars

- Can't drive more than 12,000 miles/year
- Applies to 87-octane fuel, mid-grade or premium costs more

According to fueleconomy.gov, their most fuel-efficient car gets 24 city, 29 hw.

And in case I've missed it, what's the catch?
 

theeedude

Lifer
Feb 5, 2006
35,787
6,197
126
You can drive more than 12000 miles a year, they'll only pay for gas for 12000 miles per year though based on average mpg.
The market value of this offer can be obtained by simply looking at gasoline futures prices (minus $2.99) 1, 2, and 3 years out multiplied by how many gallons the offer covers.
 

dawp

Lifer
Jul 2, 2005
11,347
2,710
136
I would say no because chrysler is not known for hig milage cars and after 3 years you might be stuck with a car that uses more gas than you would like.
 

EvilYoda

Lifer
Apr 1, 2001
21,198
9
81
Well let's say on the safe side that you average 20MPG and you drive all 12K miles a year. So, that's 600 gallons of fuel over each yet. Assuming gas to be $4 and the offer being ~$3, you're saving a dollar a gallon, therefore $600.

So unless you already want a Chrysler/Jeep/Dodge vehicle, there are better ways to save money.
 

PlasmaBomb

Lifer
Nov 19, 2004
11,636
2
81
Originally posted by: EvilYoda
Well let's say on the safe side that you average 20MPG and you drive all 12K miles a year. So, that's 600 gallons of fuel over each yet. Assuming gas to be $4 and the offer being ~$3, you're saving a dollar a gallon, therefore $600.

So unless you already want a Chrysler/Jeep/Dodge vehicle, there are better ways to save money.

You probably wouldn't save quite that much. Although you can use it for any vehicle.

DO I HAVE TO USE THE CARD WITH THE CHRYSLER, DODGE OR JEEP VEHICLE THAT I PURCHASED?
No, although this card is intended to be used with the Chrysler, Dodge or Jeep vehicle that you purchased, you can purchase fuel for any vehicle provided you use the same type of fuel allowed on your card.

Each year for the next three years, you will receive an allocation of gallons to use.

The gallon allotment calculation used to determine three years of gas at $2.99 per gallon is as follows: 12,000 miles driven per year multiplied by 3 years, divided by the vehicle's adjusted combined EPA City/Highway average miles per gallon (MPG)
- that would be 452 gallons for the 24/29 car.

So you would still be paying for 148 gallons at pump prices.

Savings if gas were $5 would be $908.52 (assuming an entitlement of 452 gallons @ $2.99 + 148 gallons @ $5.00 vs 600 gallons @ $5.00). Savings would only be $456.52 @ $4.00/gal

PS. Don't buy the wrong fuel -
[fuel] not covered under this program [will be charged], [at] the full pump price will be billed through to the consumer, plus a $2 service fee per transaction.
 

TheSlamma

Diamond Member
Sep 6, 2005
7,625
5
81
Originally posted by: 996GT2
Originally posted by: Pacfanweb
Not if you're forced to drive a Chrysler product to get the deal. ;)

Agreed
X2

Plus the milage of everything but the Neon is a joke, no wonder they have to cut people deals.

 

compman25

Diamond Member
Jan 12, 2006
3,767
2
81
And the ads say gas and diesel around here, yet in the small print of the ad it says diesel products are excluded from this deal!
 

Steve

Lifer
May 2, 2004
15,945
11
81
Originally posted by: compman25
And the ads say gas and diesel around here, yet in the small print of the ad it says diesel products are excluded from this deal!

I think it means if you buy a non-diesel car you can't use your savings card toward purchases of diesel.
 

SithSolo1

Diamond Member
Mar 19, 2001
7,740
11
81
If you read the small print you must own a MasterCard or Visa and you are restricted to certain fuel grades depending on which car you buy. Gallons allowed is also limited by model.

# The eligible consumer must have a valid MasterCard or Visa credit card to participate in this program. No debit cards or other credit cards are permitted in this program. A Let?s Refuel America card will be issued to participating customers using the customer?s credit card account information and must only be utilized for eligible fuel purchases. This card will be activated for fuel purchases only. The customer will receive a PIN number to the Let?s Refuel America card for security purposes during the activation process. All amounts to be charged to the customer (e.g. $2.99) will be billed to the MasterCard/Visa credit card that was registered by the consumer. The Let?s Fuel America card must be issued in the name of the individual reported as the vehicle purchaser.
# Fuel purchases will be protected at $2.99 per gallon for 3 years, divided equally into yearly increments, with the below listed requirements (any required rounding will be first applied to year 3, then year 2 ? if necessary):

* If the vehicle uses unleaded fuel, the $2.99 offer covers up to 87 octane fuel, but not diesel fuel. Diesel purchases will be passed through to the customer at full pump price plus a $2 service fee per transaction.
* If the vehicle can use E85 fuel, the $2.99 offer will cover E85 or up to 87 octane, but not diesel fuel. Diesel purchases will be passed through to the customer at full pump price plus a $2 service fee per transaction.
* If the vehicle requires diesel fuel, the $2.99 offer will cover diesel fuel only. Unleaded fuel purchases (including E85) will be passed through to the customer at full pump price plus a $2 service fee per transaction.

# The Let?s Refuel America program is designed to provide participating customers a specified number of gallons of required fuel (87 octane, E85 fuel, or diesel) at a $2.99 per gallon price for 3 years. Participating consumers may elect to upgrade their fuel quality purchases, and these purchases will be considered as ?Out of Scope? purchases with the noted charges/prices outlined below:

* If the consumer purchases a higher grade of gas (i.e. Mid-Grade or Premium) on an unleaded gas card, the consumer will be billed for the $2.99 plus $.15 per gallon for mid-grade fuel (88 or 89 octane) for a total of $3.14 per gallon or plus $.30 per gallon for premium fuel (90 to 94 octane) for a total of $3.29 per gallon. All other grades of fuel higher than 94 octane are not covered under this program, and the full pump price will be billed through to the consumer, plus a $2 service fee per transaction. In addition, if a consumer purchases unleaded gas (including E85) on a diesel card, the consumer will be billed the full pump price plus a $2 service fee per transaction.



 

mooseracing

Golden Member
Mar 9, 2006
1,711
0
0
The deal sucks, most of the isntant rebates are better.

Also it's not your mpg this is calculated on, its the EPA mpg for the car.