|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Diamond Bar Honda Contact: Jerry Ng (866) 650-6840 |
525 Grand Avenue Diamond Bar, CA 91765 Dealer Specials | Website |
| |

2006 | Honda Civic EX Oxnard, California | Sedans | $14,790 | Blue | 52,142 |  | 85.5 mi |

2006 | Honda Civic LX Chula Vista, California | Sedans | $17,995 | Alabaster Silver Metallic | 32,827 |  | 98.6 mi |

2006 | Honda Civic EX Chula Vista, California | Coupes | $18,995 | Nighthawk Black Pearl | 13,104 |  | 98.6 mi |

2008 | Honda Civic LX Chula Vista, California | Sedans | $19,995 | Borrego Beige Metallic | 5,526 |  | 98.6 mi |

2005 | Honda Civic VP Cerritos, California | Sedans | $13,988 | Blue | 36,553 |  | 17.8 mi |
|
PROFESSIONAL REVIEW
Honda completely redesigned its Civic lineup last year, coming out with all-new sedan and coupe models. This year, Honda has revised the entire Civic line to further improve handling and to reduce noise and vibration. The interior also gets some upgrades, particularly to the LX trim. That makes the 2002 Civic line the state of the art in Honda compacts. Also new, is a hot new hatchback. The Honda Civic Si, a famous compact among performance enthusiast, adds some vinegar to the Civic lineup. Regardless of model, the new Honda Civics offer quality, efficiency, pleasant road manners, and a comfortable cabin. They are among the best compact cars available.
|
|
2008 Honda Civic vs. 2009 Toyota Corolla
You're likely to get 50/50 on opinions because there are those who are loyal to Toyota and those to Honda.. ...
07/17/2008 | 00:07 AM
|
|
|
1996 Honda Civic SiR2 for sale
1996 Honda Civice SiR2 EK4
150,000km
Black
5MT
We are based in Japan and an exporter of Japanese used cars.
Please...
06/18/2008 | 01:06 AM
|
|
|
Honda Civic thermostat question
I have a 97 honda civic EX coupe with the VTEC engine and a automatic trans (with A/C). I need to replace the...
12/20/2007 | 00:12 AM
|
|
|
1997 Honda Civic Type R for sale
1997 Honda Civic Type R EK9 5MT 125,000km WhiteWe are based in Japan.
If you are interested in this car, please check...
11/16/2007 | 02:11 AM
|
|
|
Honda Civic
Let me add to your anger. You now have to deal with recalls and other problems for the life of your vehicle. Its not a...
07/28/2007 | 02:07 AM
|
|
|
|
Competition Corner - August 2003
We left you last month after constructing the subwoofer enclosures, and previously I talked about how Chris and I built the mechanism to convert our 2002 Civic demo car to center-drive. This time, you...
more
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|