$2.99 Dodge gas price lock

[mimzy]

Chrysler touts gasoline deal to win buyers

I've been seeing commercials for a couple days now. at first glance it seems like a great marketing move, but pretty risky at the same time. it also just seems like a way to diverts people attention from the fact that they are buying gas guzzlers (but i suppose people aren't stupid and they are fully aware of this and it's their choice whether or not to buy into it). the article says that they are "middle of investing $3 billion in its engines and transmissions to make them more efficient for the next generation of models"....but depending on how high gas goes, the money used for this promotion could increase that $$ amount significantly and be more productively used. I read in one forum that at the price gas is right now, Chrysler would just have to increase their average mpg on their current models by 3 to cancel out the savings (which would obviously be the preferred option, if possible). It's also been said that this is actually a worse deal for consumers because they took away the other rebates, which would have resulted in more cash for the buyer than potential savings in gas

i don't know. your thoughts?

 

[NewEnglandLady]

I think it''s a smart way to use an incentive. Most manufacturers give $2,000 to $3,000 in incentives to new-car buyers. And there have been a ton of studies done in the past 6 months about how many people are defecting because of fuel efficiency and this is a great way to ease those buyers'' minds. Under this plan, if gas is $4 a gallon and the person uses 20 gallons a week, it works out to just slightly over $3,000 over the course of 3 years. It''s a good psychological incentive.

 

[lyra]

Well, when I started seeing these commercials, I quickly figured out one wouldn''t be saving in the long run. Plus there''s fine print in there, and I thought it amounted to only about a $2K incentive. If they are taking away rebates, then it''s moot. But I never go by sticker price anyway, we always negotiate as strongly as possible when looking at cars. Plus, I don''t think gas prices are going to remain artificially inflated as they are, so if prices go down, I don''t know how that effects the equation. Also, does the fine print say something like only if you finance through the company, or something similar? What if you pay cash, or take out a regular bank loan? There are always more variables.

 

[neatfreak]

It''s just another incentive, and it''s capped at I think 12,000 miles per year. Doesn''t seem like a great deal to me, just a marketing gimmick, PLUS then you''d have to drive a chrysler!

 

[iheartscience]

Date: 5/17/2008 9:35:35 PM
Author: neatfreak
PLUS then you''d have to drive a chrysler!

Oh snap! Hahaha! You''re funny, neatfreak!

 

[icekid]

Date: 5/17/2008 9:35:35 PM
Author: neatfreak
It''s just another incentive, and it''s capped at I think 12,000 miles per year. Doesn''t seem like a great deal to me, just a marketing gimmick, PLUS then you''d have to drive a chrysler!

HAHA, good point!! I think they''re just trying to distract the buyer

 

[LegacyGirl]

Yup. I read an article on this and you''re really not going to save any money. It''s just to bring people in. I will drive my car until the engine falls out and by then I hope they will have a better selection of cars for me to choose from. I want something good on gas but not a Prius. I''m really wondering how the electric cars are going to work.