IntelliChoice Announces Best Values for 2000 Model Year
9 February 2000
IntelliChoice Announces Best Values for 2000 Model Year CAMPBELL, Calif., Feb. 9 -- The analysis is complete and the
car cost experts at IntelliChoice are announcing which new car and truck
models are the best overall values for the 2000 model year.
IntelliChoice's value calculation accounts for the price of a vehicle and
the accumulated costs of depreciation, maintenance, repairs, fuel, fees,
financing and insurance. It analyzes data compiled on more than 800 car and
truck models and projects what these costs will be for the upcoming five-year
ownership cycle.
For the 14th consecutive year, IntelliChoice's "Best Overall Value of the
Year" (BOVY) awards are going to those cars and trucks that will cost
significantly less to own than would be expected of vehicles at their purchase
prices.
"Vehicles with the same purchase price can have very different overall
ownership costs," said IntelliChoice President John Hammond. "Buyers who know
this can save $500, $1,000, $5,000 or more over five years."
BOVY overall winners for 2000 are:
Honda Civic CX Hatchback Best Car Value Under $20,000
Mercedes-Benz E320 AWD Sedan Best Car Value Over $20,000
Ford Ranger XL SuperCab 4WD Extended Cab Best Truck Value Under $18,000
Chevrolet Silverado K1500 2 Door Extended Best Truck Value Over $18,000
Cab 4WD
Honda CR-V LX 2WD Best SUV Value Under $25,000
Infiniti QX4 4WD Best SUV Value Over $25,000
(The final pages detail projected five year ownership costs for the above
listed overall winners and ownership cost assumptions.)
Depreciation is the biggest cost associated with owning a new vehicle and
is determined by resale value. IntelliChoice calculates depreciation costs
over five years because depreciation costs are minimal after then.
Of all car costs, insurance is the most variable. IntelliChoice bases its
cost calculations on the assumption that the owner has a good driving record,
drives about 14,000 miles per year and has no inexperienced drivers in the
household.
Finance costs assume that owners make a downpayment of 20 percent, take a
60-month loan with an interest rate of just under 9 percent.
Registration fees and taxes vary by state.
Fuel costs assume that prices will rise by the rate of inflation and that
owners will drive 14,000 miles per year.
Maintenance costs assume that services are performed by authorized
dealerships. Repair expenses are calculated over five years or at least
70,000 miles.
In addition to six "overall winners," IntelliChoice determines best values
in 28 classes. These winners are:
Honda Civic CX/DX/HX Series Best Subcompact Value Under $14,000
Hatchback, Sedan, Coupe
Honda Civic LX/VP/EX Series Best Subcompact Value Over $14,000
Sedan and Coupe
Saturn SL and SL1 Sedan Best Compact Value Under $15,000
Honda Accord LX and EX Coupe Best Compact Value Over $15,000
Saturn SW2 Wagon Best Small Wagon Value
Honda Accord LX/DX/SE Series Sedans Best Midsize Value Under $20,500
Honda Accord EX/LX V-6 and Best Midsize Value Over $20,500
EX V-6 Series Sedan
Subaru Outback Wagon Best Midsize/Large Wagon Value
Toyota Avalon XLS and XL Sedan Best Large Value
BMW 323i Sedan Best Near Luxury Value
Mercedes-Benz E320 AWD Sedan Best Luxury Value
BMW Z3 2.3 Roadster Convertible Best Base Sport Value
Porsche 911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet Best Sport Value
Convertible
Nissan Quest GXE 4 Door Van Best Mini-Van Value Under $22,500
Honda Odyssey LX 4 Door Van Best Mini-Van Value Over $22,500
GMC Savana 1500
3 Door Cargo and Passenger Van Best Full-Size Van Value
Nissan Frontier XE King Cab Best Compact Pickup 2WD Value
Extended Cab
Ford Ranger XL SuperCab 4WD Best Compact Pickup 4WD Value
Extended Cab
Ford F150 XL Styleside SuperCab Best Full-Size 1/2 Ton Pickup
and Regular Cab 2 Door 2WD Value
Extended Cab and Regular Cab
Ford F250 XL Super Duty Styleside Best Full-Size 3/4 Ton
SuperCab and Crew Cab 2 Door and Pickup 2WD Value
4 Door Extended Cab
Ford F350 XL Super Duty Crew Cab Best Full-Size 1 Ton Pickup 2WD Value
4 Door Extended Cab
Chevrolet Silverado K1500 Best Full-Size 1/2 Ton Pickup
2 Door Extended Cab 4WD Value
Ford F250 XL Super Duty Styleside Best Full-Size 3/4 Ton Pickup
Crew Cab and SuperCab 4WD Value
4 Door and 2 Door Extended Cab
Ford F350 Super Duty Crew Cab Best Full-Size 1 Ton Pickup 4WD Value
4 Door Extended Cab
Honda CR-V LX 2WD and 4WD Best Compact Utility Value
Toyota 4Runner 4 Door 2WD Best Intermediate Utility Value
Under $25,000
Infiniti QX4 4WD Best Intermediate Utility Value
Over $25,000
Lexus LX 470 4WD Best Full-Size Utility Value
An independent information research firm, IntelliChoice is recognized as
an authoritative, objective source of data and trends in the automotive
market. Its ownership cost data is presented regularly in AutoWeek and
Automobile magazines.
IntelliChoice's analysis of 2000 models is available to consumers in the
2000 edition of The Complete Car Cost Guide(TM) and The Complete Small Truck
Cost Guide(TM) and on the Internet at http://www.intellichoice.com .
IntelliChoice is a wholly owned subsidiary of Primedia Inc.
Overall Winners
Honda Civic CX Hatchback Best Car Value Under $20,000
Projected Ownership Costs Resale Value Overall Winner Cost compared
with Expected Cost at that
Price Point
Depreciation $3,577 2000 $10,880 Five Year Expected
Cost Cost
Financing $2,178 2001 $9,923 $19,653 $24,371
Insurance $8,760 2002 $9,222
State Fees $459 2003 $8,547
Fuel $2,438 2004 $7,880
Maintenance $1,778
Repairs $463
Mercedes-Benz E320 AWD Sedan Best Car Value Over $20,000
Projected Ownership Costs Resale Value Overall Winner Cost compared
with Expected Cost at that
Price Point
Depreciation $20,177 2000 $50,270 Five Year Expected
Cost Cost
Financing $10,112 2001 $45,492 $52,418 $60,998
Insurance $11,516 2002 $41,176
State Fees $2,032 2003 $37,037
Fuel $4,085 2004 $33,004
Maintenance $3,091
Repairs $1,405
Ford Ranger XL Supercab 4WD Best Truck Value Under $18,000
Extended Cab
Projected Ownership Costs Resale Value Overall Winner Cost compared
with Expected Cost at that
Price Point
Depreciation $6,965 2000 $14,998 Five Year Expected
Cost Cost
Financing $3,471 2001 $13,627 $27,526 $29,038
Insurance $9,057 2002 $12,411
State Fees $764 2003 $11,147
Fuel $4,313 2004 $9,846
Maintenance $2,203
Repairs $753
Chevrolet Silverado K1500 Best Truck Value Over $18,000
2 Door Extended Cab 4WD
Projected Ownership Costs Resale Value Overall Winner Cost compared
with Expected Cost at that
Price Point
Depreciation $7,724 2000 $24,000 Five Year Expected
Cost Cost
Financing $4,820 2001 $21,190 $31,541 $33,768
Insurance $9,246 2002 $20,329
State Fees $1,069 2003 $18,955
Fuel $5,094 2004 $17,625
Maintenance $2,795
Repairs $793
Honda CR-V LX 2WD Best SUV Value Under $25,000
Projected Ownership Costs Resale Value Overall Winner Cost compared
with Expected Cost at that
Price Point
Depreciation $8,008 2000 $16,665 Five Year Expected
Cost Cost
Financing $3,653 2001 $15,144 $26,678 $30,415
Insurance $8,328 2002 $13,872
State Fees $776 2003 $12,527
Fuel $3,514 2004 $11,205
Maintenance $1,930
Repairs $469
Infiniti QX4 4WD Best SUV Value Over $25,000
Projected Ownership Costs Resale Value Overall Winner Cost compared
with Expected Cost at that
Price Point
Depreciation $15,619 2000 $31,336 Five Year Expected
Cost Cost
Financing $6,703 2001 $28,122 $43,184 $47,344
Insurance $10,617 2002 $25,248
State Fees $1,457 2003 $22,388
Fuel $5,094 2004 $19,645
Maintenance $3,052
Repairs $642
