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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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2008 Scion TC Review
Restyling freshens fun-to-drive coupe.
2008 TC Review Summary & Specifications
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The 2008 Scion tC delivers on the promise of stylish and sporty transportation at affordable prices. A long list of options and accessories let owners personalize it. The Spec Series model, particularly, offers a good foundation for owners who want to customize its appearance or increase its performance capabilities. NewCarTestDrive.com correspondent Jim McCraw is based in Dearborn, Michigan.
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| Vehicle Category | Compact Cars |
| Editor | New Car Test Drive |
| Model Lineup | Scion tC Spec Series manual ($15,300); Spec Series automatic ($16,100); core series manual ($17,000); core series automatic ($17,800) |
| Engines (standard) | 2.4-liter dohc 16-valve inline-4 |
| Engines (optional) | 161-hp 2.4-liter dohc 16-valve inline-4 |
| Transmissions (standard) | 5-speed manual |
| Transmissions (optional) | 5-speed manual; 4-speed automatic |
| Safety Equipment (standard) | front airbags, knee air bag; ABS, EBD, tire pressure monitor |
| Safety Equipment (optional) | side-impact and roof airbags |
| Basic Warranty | 3 years/36,000 miles |
| Assembled In | Tasumi, Japan |
| Manufacturer Phone | 866-707-2466 |
| Manufacturer URL | www.scion.com |
| Base Price MSRP | 15300 |
| Model Tested MSRP | Scion tC core series manual ($17,000) |
| Standard Equipment | air conditioning, power windows, power locks, power mirrors with integrated turn signals, power hatch release, audio cover, cargo cover, remote entry, engine immobilizer, AM-FM CD 6-speaker stereo, cruise control, panorama moonroof, chrome exhaust tip, 17-inch alloy wheels |
| Destination Charge | 580 |
| Options as Tested (MSRP) | side and roof air bags ($650) |
| Gas Guzzler Tax | |
| Price as Tested | 18230 |
| Layout | front-wheel drive |
| Horse Power | 161 @ 6000 |
| Torque | 162 @ 4000 |
| Fuel Economy | 20/27 |
| Wheelbase | 106.3 |
| Length/Width/Height | 174.0/69.1/55.7 |
| Track Front/Rear | |
| Turning Radius | 36.1 |
| Seating Capacity | 5 |
| Front Head/Hip/Leg room | 37.6/53.2/41.6 |
| Middle Head/Hip/Leg room | |
| Rear Head/Hip/Leg room | 36.6/47.3/33.6 |
| Trunk Volume | 12.8 |
| Payload | |
| Towing Capacity | |
| Front Suspension | independent, MacPherson strut, anti-roll bar |
| Rear Suspension | independent, double wishbone, anti-roll bar |
| Ground Clearance | 5.2 |
| Curb Weight | 2932 |
| Stock Tires | P215/45ZR17 |
| Brakes Front/Rear | disc/disc with ABS, EBD |
| Fuel Capacity | 14.5 |
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