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   posted: May. 7, 2008 @ 4:37a

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Basically, you buy a new Chrysler and they give you a reimbursement for whatever price you pay for gas over 2.99.

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I say everyone at fatwallet chips in on a car and we can all pay our gas fees for the next three years at 2.99. The faster gas prices go up, the better it will be to have this deal.

I personally only fill up twice a month because I drive about 3 or 4 times a week at most, but for some people this may be a good financial investment. Considering things like the car will come with a warranty for at least three years, what price is this really worth.

Some things to take into account:
Insurance premium (up or down from your current car)
How much you drive
What your take on how fast gas prices will rise (or fall)
How many mpg you currently get
What price you could haggle for a new car from Chrysler.

Maximum fuel allotment start at 1500 gallons over the three year period (for Jeep Compass), all the way up to 2400 for 4 of the models.
Gas prices here in Cali are already at 4.10, and have not corrected for the recent run up in oil prices. that is already a $1650-$2640 rebate if I were to buy the fuel today. My assumptions are it will equate into closer to $3000 going all the way up to $7000 as a very high estimate (2400 gallons * ~$3 average savings per gallon over three years). I am not a pessimist, but I just read Oil is thought to be headed toward $200 a barrel quicker than it will come back down to under $100.

Some models excluded.

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   posted: May. 7, 2008 @ 5:19a

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The biggest problem I see with this deal...is that you would need to drive a Chrysler.

Aside from that, it's not really that good of a deal. If you must buy a Chrysler, or any new car, it would be much better to get the $$$ off at the front end, rather than hoping for higher gas prices...and for Chrysler to actually pay off on their promise.

At $5/gallon, you're just getting about a $4,000 discount on a car that's overpriced by $10,000 to begin with.

If we do see a super-spike in oil prices to $200, Chrysler will end up filing bankruptcy, anyway. Good luck getting paid off on the $2.99 deal.

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   posted: May. 7, 2008 @ 8:01a

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Chrysler bought massive amounts of Oil Futures to offer this deal. If Oil goes up, their profits on the futures goes up. Only good for 36K miles or 3 years, so siphoning off the gas will look a bit suspicious. Some are saying that by buying up the futures they actual contributed to rising oil prices.

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   posted: May. 7, 2008 @ 8:31a

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ifyouhavetoask said:The biggest problem I see with this deal...is that you would need to drive a Chrysler.

Aside from that, it's not really that good of a deal. If you must buy a Chrysler, or any new car, it would be much better to get the $$$ off at the front end, rather than hoping for higher gas prices...and for Chrysler to actually pay off on their promise.

At $5/gallon, you're just getting about a $4,000 discount on a car that's overpriced by $10,000 to begin with.

If we do see a super-spike in oil prices to $200, Chrysler will end up filing bankruptcy, anyway. Good luck getting paid off on the $2.99 deal.

lease?

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   posted: May. 7, 2008 @ 8:51a

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Here's the breakdown from jalopnik. Better to take the front-end instant rebates they've been offering instead.

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   posted: May. 7, 2008 @ 12:27p

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FarmerOak said: I'll have to eat my words if gas goes to $5/gallon within 3 years... but I'm thinking not.

There was a report on ABC or CBS last nite that $8/gal gas is within sight in a just a few years. I disagree with the report, but I do believe that gas will hit $5/gal in less than a year (definitely in 2 years).

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   posted: May. 7, 2008 @ 9:44p

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bpydimer said:FarmerOak said: I'll have to eat my words if gas goes to $5/gallon within 3 years... but I'm thinking not.

There was a report on ABC or CBS last nite that $8/gal gas is within sight in a just a few years. I disagree with the report, but I do believe that gas will hit $5/gal in less than a year (definitely in 2 years). My 8 ball says "maybe"

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   posted: May. 7, 2008 @ 10:30p

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what about buying the car and selling it immediately after?

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   posted: May. 8, 2008 @ 1:10a

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Beatnitup said:what about buying the car and selling it immediately after?

This is the most Stupidest post of this thread so far.

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   posted: May. 8, 2008 @ 2:30a

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srenna said:Wow, on my browser that website is a mess. I was able to read the following info. though.

Only one person listed on the vehicle title can get a card. Not really practical if you are a couple who both fill up the car.

The chart of eligible vehicles shows the average mpg per vehicle. They don't have even ONE vehicle that averages 25 mpg or better. They range from 15 mpg to 24 mpg. Pretty bad.

First, assume that the day you buy a Chrysler, gas jumps to $6/gallon. Now you've got a 50% discount...on your 15 mpg car. You can match that just by driving something that gets 30 mpg, which would probably have a cheaper sticker price in the first place. Not only that, but imagine what will happen to the resale value of a car that gets 15 mpg if gas does go up that much.

So if gas doesn't go up much, the rebate doesn't get you much...you lose.

If gas prices skyrocket, you get a huge rebate (if they follow through), but your resale value tanks, and you either eat a huge loss to sell it after 3 years, or drive around in your 15 mpg Chrysler paying full price for gas...you lose again.

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