THE DEAL
By now, you've probably heard the sales pitch: "Buy a new Chrysler and the company will guarantee you gas for $2.99 a gallon for three years."
On a day like Wednesday, where gas jumped to $3.90 a gallon for regular unleaded, it might look pretty good.

THE VARIABLES
By doing this, you are guaranteed not paying more than $2.99 a gallon, but you are gambling on the price of gas.
An economist at Virginia Commonwealth University used a Jeep Grand Cherokee with a V-8 engine that gets 17 miles a gallon as an example.
We double-checked these numbers ourselves and with a local economist at Michigan State University.

THE CATCH
If the price of gas averages $4 bucks a gallon for the three years of the deal, you would save $2,139 dollars.
That would be a great deal if you weren't giving up $2,500 bucks in a factory rebate. (The factory rebate is actually $3,500 dollars but is reduced to $1,000 dollars if you opt for the gas card.)
Factor that in and you're losing $360 dollars.
The only way it's a good deal according to this example, is if gas passes $5 dollars a gallon, or if you buy a car with awful gas mileage akin to an Abrams tank.

THE END-AROUND
For the creative thinkers out there who think they can turn this into their advantage, think about this.
This deal is only good for 12,000 miles a year, so if you drive a lot or let the whole family fill up their cars, you'll just use up your gas allotment faster.

THE COMPANY LINE
"This is just like any other incentive automakers offer," said Leo Jerome, owner of Story Automotive Group. "Instead of interest rates or financing, Chrysler is using this, because it's on the minds of every driver."
He says buyers are betting on gas prices and if they think they will go up to unspeakable highs they are guaranteed not to pay more than $2.99. If they drop to $2.75, well, the deal is not so good.
The offer ends June 2 at your local Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep dealers.

THE OTHERS
Chrysler's competitors, Ford, Toyota, GM and Honda all say they will not follow with their own subsidies.
However, Suzuki has made a similar offer in the U.S. with free gas for the summer.