Chrysler's "Let's Refuel America" incentive was pretty soundly panned when it was announced in May. Consumer Reports did the math and agreed that getting gas for $2.99 a gallon for the next three years is not a deal. Customers apparently agree that the gas card incentive isn't worth it, since only about 5-10 percent of Chrysler buyers have opted for the promo (which locks out other options). Still, Chrysler doesn't have much else to offer these days, and so has decided to extended the promotion through July 31 rather than let this thing die a quiet death.

The bright side for Chrysler is that, the company claims, "The program continues to help improve showroom traffic and drive sales of the company's most fuel-efficient vehicles." Customers who bought Chrysler Sebring Sedans, Dodge Journeys, Dodge Calibers and Dodge Avengers were most likely to opt in to this deal.

Who's waiting for the program to be extended yet again in a few weeks?

[Source: Chrysler LLC]

Following Chrysler's new "Let's Refuel America Gas Card" announcement, the critics spoke out quickly. While a guaranteed gas price of $2.99 a gallon for three years will certainly appeal to some people, other incentives might offer buyers better savings. To deal with the media fallout and to clarify a few questions about the card, Chrysler's media-only blog, The Firehouse, has tackled the topic with a post discussing the deal and the media coverage.

Stuart Schorr, the senior manager of sales for Mopar and Dealer Communications, wrote that there have been hundreds, possibly thousands, of stories about the incentive around the country (three of these videos are available after the jump). A TV station in Wisconsin calculated possible gas card savings to the customer of $8,760. Of course, they used gas prices of $6.65 a gallon to get that number. Also, Chrysler will be sending out official "Let's Refuel America" banners to dealerships in the coming days. Schorr also provided a list of ten questions (and answers) they've been hearing about the gas card, including one we've heard from our readers about what other incentives, if any, are available to people who sign up for the card. Check them out after the jump.

If you're trying to conserve fuel, making said fuel cheaper doesn't help the cause. If you're trying to sell cars, making the stuff they run on cheaper might help. But one thing is for certain, not everyone is a fan of Chrysler's new "Let's Refuel America Gas Card."

As we calculated this morning, the incentive will likely only save a driver a few hundred bucks a year. As ABG reader Dan pointed out in a comment on the original post, buyers need to give up any other incentives currently available in order to get the gas card, and some of those deals are much bigger than $1,200 (the gas plan is in effect for three years). Automotive News is reporting that the Union of Concerned Scientists has got their own phrase for the plan: a "cynical deal." Here's the kicker, the Union's statement continues:

But a mere 3-mpg boost would yield the same savings over the 15,000 miles per year typically driven in the first three years of ownership. Over the lifetime of a vehicle, such a fuel economy increase would save drivers more than $3,000. It wouldn't stop saving drivers money after just three years.

Still, Suzuki knows a way to attracts potential buyer eyeballs when it sees one, and has announced its own fuel program: buy a new Suzuki before the end of June and get three months of free - totally free - fuel. Of course, if you think $400 a year isn't a good reason to buy a new car, don't bother doing the math on three months of no cost fuel. The automakers are playing on fears of high gas prices and hope you can't, or don't, do the math.

[Source: Automotive News (subs req'd) via Autoblog]