As most now know, Chrysler is embarking on an ambitious incentive plan for new car & truck buyers, offering a guaranteed ceiling of $2.99 per gallon of gas on select models over the next 3 years. The offer is good during the month of May (up to June 2nd). Hot on the heels of this deal, Suzuki has come out with their own promotion, promising to pick up the entire cost of gas for the summer if you buy a Suzuki vehicle before June 30th.

If you're in the market for a new car or truck either one of these deals could generate real savings, but Auto Espionage wanted to dig a bit deeper into the fine print, to see which deal was really the best (or if either were really worth it).

How The Incentive Plans Work

• The Chrysler "Let's Refuel America" Plan
  If you buy select Chrysler, Jeep or Dodge vehicles, Chrysler will provide a gas card, tied to the purchased vehicle, which guarantees you will pay no more than $2.99 per gallon of gas. According to a US News article, "each qualifying buyer will get a 'gas card' that has been linked to their own credit card" which can be used at select service stations across the US. The Detroit Free Press lists eligible models.
  
  
• The Suzuki "Free Gas for Summer" Plan
  Accoring to Kicking Tires, Suzuki is promising to pick up the entire cost of gas for the summer if you buy a Suzuki vehicle before June 30. You'll get 0% financing AND a debit card good for three months of fuel, up to 1,000 miles driven per month. The Suzuki plan covers all Suzuki models.

Reading Between The Lines

• What You Need To Know About "Let's Refuel America"
  Here are some of the finer points of the Chrysler plan to consider:
  
  
  • As indicated above, the plan only covers select makes and models.
    
    
  • Chrysler factors an average of 12,000 annual driving miles divided by each vehicles' average MPG to determine the total gallons for each gas card. Make certain to run the numbers beforehand.
    
    
  • The customer’s card must be connected to an active Visa or MasterCard credit card.
    
    
  • You must use select service centers, although as discussed in the Auto Credit Express interview, they cover almost 97% of service stations in the country.
    
    
  • The gas incentive plan is offered as one of 3 possible incentive options, which include choices of $2,500 cash incentive and 0% financing (for qualified buyers)
    
    
  • On certain vehicles, like the Dodge Ram, the Gas Program includes additional bonus cash.
    
    
• What You Need To Know About "Free Gas for Summer"
  Here are some of the finer points of the Suzuki plan:
  
  
  • Also indicated above, Suzuki is offering the plan on all models.
    
    
  • That being said, the plan covers 1,000 miles per month for 3 months, which means the overall value changes based on the vehicle you purchase (factoring each vehicles' average MPG).
    
    
  • For specific gas card savings per vehicle, check out the Suzuki website's specials section, which outlines the rates per vehicle.
    
    
  • The gas card is prepaid, so it does not appear the card is tied to a personal credit card.
    
    
  • The Suzuki plan is offered in addition to their 0% financing promotion.

Figuring Out What Makes Sense for You
Now that we have the details, the next step is figuring out what makes the most sense for you, the individual car buyer, in your situation. Ask yourself the following questions:

• Were you in the market for either of these manufacturers before learning of the gas incentive plan?
• How long were you considering keeping your new car and was leasing an option?
• If you were thinking of other manufacturers, what's the average MPG of the competition?
• Do you need to finance your purchase and how's your credit history?
• How often do you drive your vehicle on an annual basis?

While these questions are probably important in any car buying situation, they may shift your decisions if the manufacturer was less important in factoring your choices. Based off of how you may answer the questions above, here are some reasons why you may want to think longer about your options.

• What's important to you in a car?
  If gas savings is important to you and manufacturer is not, then it may make sense to look at other options. Consumer Reports has an interesting article which offers comparisons between Chrysler models and comparable competitors. Make sure to take a look at some of the vehicle options out there which could potentially save equal or more money, without a discounted gas program.
  
  
• Financing can matter
  The fact that the Chrysler plan is a choice between gas savings or financing options presents a potential cost challenge for those needing credit to purchase their vehicle. 0% financing on a Subaru vehicle may actually save the car buyer more money in the long run, depending on the comparable rates for your Chrysler purchase. And don't forget how an unfavorable credit history can impact financing rates as well.
  
  
• Understand your driving habits
  When I lived in Cambridge, MA, I rarely drove my vehicle outside of the weekend and that usually meant I was driving well under 1,000 miles per month. When I commuted to and from RTP and Raleigh, NC, I drove nearly 20,000 miles per year in that time period. The point being is that if you don't drive very often or are a road warrior, these plans may make even less sense.
  
  
• Are you really looking for a new car
  If you're not looking for a new car, these deals make even less sense, in particular the short-term cash savings associated to the Suzuki deal. Consider that accoring to NADA Guides, the 2007 Suzuki Forenza can sell for nearly $3,000 less than the 2008 version.

Final Thoughts and Conclusions
If you're in the market for a new car, it definitely makes sense to evaluate these incentive plans for their potential cost savings, but don't commit to buying either without comparing your options. The car buying experience is different for everyone, so make certain you've done your homework and know what is most important for you in a new (or used) vehicle purchase. In the end, it may make sense to look at either of these gas incentive plans as a nice perk in addition to the other reasons you chose a Chrysler or Suzuki vehicle, but not necessarily the main factor in your car buying decision.