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IntelliChoice Value Rating
The chart above shows the purchase price versus ownership cost for each car from a specific vehicle class. The cars with better than average ownership cost/purchase price correlations are the best values, and these best value cars are represented by the dots below the curve. (i.e. the cars that have a lower ownership cost compared to its purchase price.) Those cars, which are worse than average or poor values, appear above the curve.
One way to view the graph is to draw a vertical line through any purchase price. You may see several dots that fall on this line - each of which is a car with a similar purchase price. However, notice the difference in ownership costs of each car represented by the vertical position of the dot. Two cars with the same purchase price can have thousands of dollars difference in ownership costs. This is what separates "good value" cars from "poor value" cars.
What is a good car value?
A "good car value" is one whose cost to own and operate is less than expected. The lower the cost to own and operate a car compared to what is expected, the better the value of that car.
But how do we know a car's "expected cost"?
For each car in the class, IntelliChoice plots the car's purchase price against the total five-year cost to own and operate it as determined by IntelliChoice research. Each dot on the above chart represents a specific car. Generally, we find that as the purchase price of the car increases, the cost to own and operate that car increases. This is why the dots on the graph tend to rise upward and to the right. This phenomenon also makes intuitive sense - as the purchase price rises, financing costs tend to rise, as do insurance, depreciation, taxes, and most other car ownership costs.
This is an important concept. It's normal for car ownership costs to rise as purchase price rises. Therefore, we can't just establish one "average" ownership cost number for each class, since cars in the class have different purchase prices. (This is why the "Relative" shown on each chart is different for cars in the same car class.)
Using statistical techniques, IntelliChoice "connects the dots" to form a curve that defines, for this car class, the relationship between the car's purchase price and car's ownership costs. This curve is our "expected cost" curve. The curve defines, for any car in the class, the five-year ownership cost that we would expect to see at each possible purchase price. If every car in the class were an average value, then all the dots would fall exactly on the curve. However, it's rare that any dot is exactly on the curve. Some dots are a little higher or lower, and some are a lot higher or lower. The dots that are a little lower are better than average car values, while the dots that are a lot lower are excellent car values (A dot that is a lot lower than the curve has ownership costs much lower than expected for a car of its purchase price). Conversely, a dot a little higher than the curve is a poorer than average car value, while a dot that is much higher than the curve is a poor car value.
Value is a relative term, not an absolute term. It is performing better than the logical expectation.
So is a Mercedes-Benz E320 expensive to own and operate? Certainly in an absolute sense. Most other cars cost less. But, when its cost to own and operate is plotted against cars with comparable invoice prices, the E320 costs less. So the E320 is not expensive to own and operate - it is a good car value. The Mercedes does not have low ownership costs, but it has low ownership costs for its invoice price.
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2006 | Mitsubishi Galant ES Boylston, Massachusetts | Sedans | $13,588 | Black | 42,700 |  | 166.8 mi |

2006 | Mitsubishi Galant ES Maywood, New Jersey | Sedans | N/A | Titanium | 51,105 |  | 18.9 mi |

2001 | Mitsubishi Galant GTZ Maywood, New Jersey | Sedans | N/A | Red | 82,366 |  | 18.9 mi |

2003 | Mitsubishi Galant ES Maywood, New Jersey | Sedans | $9,995 | Beige | 25,280 |  | 18.9 mi |

2003 | Mitsubishi Galant GTZ Maywood, New Jersey | Sedans | $9,995 | White | 30,489 |  | 18.9 mi |
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PROFESSIONAL REVIEW
Like so many midsize sedans, the Mitsubishi Galant has suffered from its market proximity to the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. With those two dominating the scene, it's hard to avoid anonymity. We think that's unfortunate, because the 1999 Mitsubishi Galant compares well when measured against the Accord and Camry. Completely redesigned, the new Galant is quieter, smoother, and more refined in every respect compared to the previous model. Now, for the first time, the lineup offers the option of a V6 engine, providing power parity previously absent. We drove the new Galant ES V6, which falls in the middle of the Galant range.
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2001 Mitsubishi Galant stalls sometime
That price for the IAC motor is about right, but you could probably get one for half that (or less) from a junkyard,...
10/03/2007 | 14:10 PM
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!994 Mitsubishi Galant ES alternator
If it is making noise on turns i would say it is the power steering belt that is loose, if they are the same belt the...
08/06/2007 | 20:08 PM
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1989 Mitsubishi Galant wont start...
If it is not getting spark how would it be the fuel filter. If you have no spark what are the DTCs in the system, is...
11/05/2006 | 16:11 PM
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Mitsubishi Galant ES (2002-2003)
As far I know, there were little problems with cooling system at some 2001 cars, so check it before. And the car is...
11/14/2006 | 09:11 AM
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2006 Mitsubishi Galant
I am having problems with sqeaky brakes on my 2006 Galant. It started about 6000 miles and the pads have been replaced...
09/23/2007 | 19:09 PM
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2004 Car of the Year Testing
How dare we compare the Pontiac GTO, BMW 5 Series, Acura TL and TSX, Nissan Quest and Toyota Sienna minivans, the premium-luxury
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2009 Mitsubishi Galant
With a mild refresh front and rear, the 2009 Galant looks to turn some heads away from Accords and Camrys.
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