This is a great move on their part. It could cost them a lot depending on how things go, but it certainly is a good way to compete against hybrids.

 

How does it work? Do you have a link to direct us to?

 

I just saw it advertised on tv. I was kind of hoping others might have more details. But from what I saw it was basicly they would pay for your gas for a year.

 

In the very small, fine print I saw quickly flashing by at the end of the commercial, I saw "12,000mi", and "2.95/gal". So they may either discount the car by a like amount, or give you a gas card / similar. There's probably a section that says "per EPA estimate of the car you buy" (I only saw this commercial once myself, so cut me some slack here)

$2.95/gal may be a bit pricey, considering how prices had gone down over the last couple of weeks, post-Katrina.

However, had Rita taken out the refineries to the extent that was forecast, $2.95 would be a bargain from their standpoint.

 

Just rough numbers, but if it were a 30 mpg car...

That's about 400 gallons for the year, at 12K miles annually. $2.95/gal for the year would come out to $1180.

Personally, I'd take a "employee cost" deal rather than the "free gas for a year." Mostly, because for the few cars I had considered before buying the HAH, the employee cost was worth a few more thousand dollars than the $1180 saving from Mitsubishi.

 

I found a link...

http://www.mitsubishicars.com/MMSA/GasCardOffer

Most of our questions are answered in the fine-print disclaimers at the bottom.

It seems to imply that they've made deals with several gas companies to provide a gas card. You have to pick one of the "qualifying" companies (so you can't buy your gas just anywhere).

They also indicate that this can't be combined with any other offers -- so it's not over-and-above other common things like rebates and financing deals, it's instead-of other offers -- you have to pick what you want... cash-back rebate, lower interest rates if you're financing through them, or the gas card.

I still don't understand how they establish the specific value they intend to credit to your card. Is it
(12000 / you cars EPA fuel economy rating) * $2.95?
Do they adjust it based on actual average price of gas (so $2.95 is just a cap -- when gas is $2.65 they pocket the 30 cents)?
If it is based on EPA, then it is city or highway rating or something in between?

 

There are a few more details in the press release at http://tinyurl.com/8walf