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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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Review From Truck Trend Magazine
Six 2008 Chrysler Vehicles Earn Five Stars in Government Crash TestsDecember 7, 2007 /
Article provided by: Truck Trend Magazine
The 2008 Jeep® Liberty, 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 2008 Dodge Nitro, 2008 Dodge Caliber, 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan, and the 2008 Chrysler Town & Country received the U. S. government's highest safety ratings for frontal- and side-impact crash protection from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). "Through a broad range of engineering technologies, Chrysler is offering its customers the safety they expect and deserve," said Frank Klegon, Executive Vice President -- Product Development, Chrysler. "Both passive and active safety systems enhance the inherent stability and safety we design into all of our Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge vehicles." When it comes to safety, Chrysler employs a twofold approach: conventional features such as pretensioning and load-limiting seat belt retractors and supplemental air bags are combined with accident-avoidance features including improved steering, handling and braking. 2008 Jeep Liberty
The 2008 Jeep Liberty is equipped with 35 safety and security features including the company's side-occupant protection system. The system includes supplemental side-curtain air bags with extended up time, tethers and multiple sensors in case of a rollover. Adding to the mid-size SUV's long list of standard safety and security features are Electronic Stability Program, Electronic Roll Mitigation, anti-lock brake system, tire pressure monitoring (TPM), rain-sensing wipers and three new technologies -- Trailer Sway Control, Hill Start Assist, Hill Descent Control.  2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee
The 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee offers technologies such as electronic limited slip differentials and Electronic Stability Program that help to contribute to the vehicle's on-road and off-road dynamics. Advanced multistage front and supplemental side curtain air bags, tire pressure monitoring system, ParkView(TM) Rear Back-up Camera (with or without navigation), ParkSense® Rear Park Assist System, SmartBeam® headlamps, high-intensity discharge headlamps and rain-sensing wipers offer the latest innovation in occupant protection, safety and security on the road. The Jeep Grand Cherokee also features three new safety and security technologies for 2008 -- Hill Descent Control, Hill Start Assist and Trailer Sway Control.  2008 Dodge Caliber
Reinforcing Chrysler's commitment to safety and security, the 2008 Dodge Caliber gives customers an outstanding level of technology in the value- conscious compact car segment. More than 25 advanced safety technologies are available including standard supplemental side-curtain air bags, optional seat-mounted supplemental side air bags, standard driver and passenger front air bags, available Electronic Stability Program and a tire-pressure monitoring system. 2008 Dodge Nitro
The 2008 Dodge Nitro offers a full range of active and passive safety systems. Among the vehicle's standard equipment is the advanced electronic chassis controls -- Electronic Stability Program, Electronic Roll Mitigation, All-speed Traction Control, brake assist and advanced anti-lock brakes. 2008 Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan
The all-new 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country minivans are equipped with many standard safety and security items such as advanced, multi-stage driver and passenger air bags; all-row supplemental side-curtain air bags with added rollover protection; driver and front-passenger knee blockers; Electronic Stability Program with traction control and brake assist; a patented energy-absorbing steering column and three Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren (LATCH) child seat anchors. The new minivans also feature an Enhanced Accident Response System. This system switches on the interior lamps, unlocks doors, turns on hazard-flasher exterior lamps and turns the engine off by cutting off fuel in the event an impact causes air bag deployment. Other safety and security features include a rearview interior conversation mirror; power-adjustable pedals; remote, keyless, illuminated entry; power sliding passenger doors; power liftgate; tire pressure monitoring system; ParkSense® rear back-up assist system and ParkView® rear back-up camera.   Source: Chrysler LLC
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