|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2007 Lexus GS450H Review
A hybrid joins line of high-performance sedans.
2007 GS450H Review Summary & Specifications
|
The Lexus approach to high performance isn't easily grasped by everyone, so it's easy to overlook the genuinely rewarding road manners of the Lexus GS sedan. This car has the calm, intuitive personality we associate with the Lexus brand, yet it has capability to get you to your destination as quickly as you dare. Even during a morning commute, you can seize a few moments of driving enjoyment. At the same time, the GS never feels heavy or clumsy like its German competition. Although the third-generation GS doesn't have the styling presence of its predecessor, this remains a first-rate driver's car. The Lexus GS is more like a Bentley than a BMW, a unique character that sets it apart from its sport-sedan competition.
|
|
| Vehicle Category | Luxury Cars |
| Editor | New Car Test Drive |
| Model Lineup | Lexus GS 350 ($44,150); GS 350 AWD ($46,100); GS 430 ($52,375); GS 450h ($54,900) |
| Engines (standard) | 3.5-liter dohc 24-valve V6 with hybrid electric motor |
| Engines (optional) | 303-hp V6; 290-hp V8; 340-hp hybrid V6 |
| Transmissions (standard) | CVT with three modes (Power, Normal, Snow) |
| Transmissions (optional) | 6-speed automatic (V6 and V8); CVT (hybrid V6) |
| Safety Equipment (standard) | driver and front-passenger front airbags; front and rear side-curtain airbag; seat-mounted side-impact airbag for front seats; driver and front passenger knee airbags; force-limiting seat belts with pre-tensioners for driver, front passenger and outboard rear seats; 3-point belts for all seating positions, including rear center position; height-adjustable front shoulder belt anchors; automatic locking retractor (ALR)/emergency locking retractor (ELR) seat belt function on all seating positions except driver (ELR only); Vehicle Stability Control system (VSC); four-channel, four-sensor anti-lock brakes (ABS) integrated with Brake Assist, VSC and Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD); tire pressure warning system |
| Safety Equipment (optional) | Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM) integrates and manages ECB, ABS, BA, EBD, VSC and Electronic Power Steering (EPS) for total-vehicle dynamics control; Electronic Controlled Brake system (ECB); Pre-Collision System (PCS) |
| Basic Warranty | 4 years/50,000 miles |
| Assembled In | Tahara, Japan |
| Manufacturer Phone | 1-800-USA-LEXUS |
| Manufacturer URL | www.lexus.com |
| Base Price MSRP | 44150 |
| Model Tested MSRP | Lexus GS 450h ($54,900) |
| Standard Equipment | automatic dual-zone climate control with smog sensor and micro dust/pollen removal filter; Regency leather-trimmed seats; wood and leather-trimmed steering wheel and shift knob; aluminum alloy stamped scuff plates on all door sills; carpeted floor mats; 10-way power driver's and front passenger's seat; heated front seats; 7-inch multi-information touch screen; steering wheel audio and multi-information display controls; electronic digital quartz clock; headlamp washer; rear sunshade; Bluetooth wireless telephone technology; push-button engine start; power tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel with automatic tilt-away; three-position memory system for driver and front passenger seats; one-touch up/down function with jam protection on all four windows; trunk pass-through; power door locks with anti lock-out feature; cruise control; electrochromic rearview mirror with compass and Homelink programmable garage door opener; retained accessory power feature for operation of power windows and moonroof; electric trunk and fuel filler door releases with valet lockout feature for trunk; rear A/C vents on the back of center console; sun visors with illuminated vanity mirrors; individual front and rear reading lamps |
| Destination Charge | |
| Options as Tested (MSRP) | active stabilizer suspension ($3400), Lexus pre-collision warning system with radar-type cruise control ($2850), navigation system with voice recognition including backup camera with park-assist warning ($1900), Mark Levinson 330-watt audio system with surround sound ($1780), rear spoiler ($200), Lexus Link ($900), summer run-flat tires ($480) |
| Gas Guzzler Tax | |
| Price as Tested | 65237 |
| Layout | rear-wheel drive |
| Horse Power | 340 @ 6400 |
| Torque | 267 @ 4800 |
| Fuel Economy | 25/28 |
| Wheelbase | 112.2 |
| Length/Width/Height | 190.0/71.7/56.1 |
| Track Front/Rear | |
| Turning Radius | 36.7 |
| Seating Capacity | 5 |
| Front Head/Hip/Leg room | 37.8/54.4/43.5 |
| Middle Head/Hip/Leg room | |
| Rear Head/Hip/Leg room | 37.0/51.4/36.4 |
| Trunk Volume | 7.5 |
| Payload | |
| Towing Capacity | |
| Front Suspension | independent, double wishbones with high-mount upper arms, coil springs, gas-filled shock absorbers, stabilizer bar, Adaptive Variable Suspension with driver selectable shock absorber damping |
| Rear Suspension | independent, multi-link with high-mount upper arms, coil springs, gas-filled shock absorbers, stabilizer bar, Adaptive Variable Suspension with driver selectable shock absorber damping |
| Ground Clearance | 5.1 |
| Curb Weight | 4134 |
| Stock Tires | 245/40WR18 summer tires |
| Brakes Front/Rear | disc/disc with ABS, EBD, Brake Assist; ECB brake-by-wire; VDIM electronic stability control |
| Fuel Capacity | 18.8 |
|
2006 Lexus GS450h Hybrid
Lexus is adding another weapon to their green-leaning arsenal as they unveilthe GS450h sedan, scheduled to reach dealerships in the spring of 2006. Itjoins Lexus's own RX400h SUV as the only luxury ve...
more
|
|
|
|
2007 Lexus GS450h Hybrid
Lexus has added another weapon to their green-leaning arsenal as they unveilthe GS450h sedan, in dealerships since the spring of 2006. Itjoins Lexus's own RX400h SUV as the only luxury vehicles to off...
more
|
|
|
|
|
|