Automotive Consumers Can Learn Five-Year Vehicle Ownership Costs in Their Own ZIP Codes

SANTA MONICA, Calif., May 13 -- Consumers can now easily review and consider all significant long-term financial costs when deciding which new vehicle to purchase. Edmunds today announced the launch of True Cost to Own(SM) research tool that provides the estimated five-year costs of automotive expenses for 2002 vehicles, regionalized by ZIP code.

The TCO tool, found at http://applications.edmunds.com/products/tco/TCOintroController , itemizes estimated regional year-by-year costs for depreciation, financing, insurance, taxes, fees, fuel, maintenance and repairs, including parts and service charges. These amounts are then totaled and presented in terms of the estimated cost for each of the first five years and the average cost per mile for that period.

In addition, the tool provides yearly ownership cost estimates for the selected vehicle's competitors, so that shoppers can see how a chosen vehicle compares to others that may also be of interest.

"The TCO tool provides meaningful information that smart consumers will use in making their new vehicle purchases, helping ensure that they buy vehicles they can afford to own," said Bob Kurilko, Vice President of Product Development and Marketing for Edmunds.com. "Before the launch of TCO, it would have been very difficult for consumers to predict post-purchase vehicle expenses in this detail."

Edmunds.com plans to enhance TCO in the near future by allowing further customization of the expense factors and extending the vehicle research options beyond the 2002 model year.

The following table displays today's purchase prices and estimated five- year ownership costs for a range of popular 2002 model year vehicles in the Chicago area:

     Vehicle*                           Purchase Price** True Cost to Own(SM)
     Honda Civic DX 2dr coupe
      (1.7L 4cyl 4A)                    $14,321          $21,349
     Chevrolet Cavalier 2dr coupe
      (2.2L 4cyl 5M)                    $15,730          $27,396
     Volkswagen Golf 2dr hatchback
      (2.0L 4cyl 4A)                    $17,676          $25,871
     GMC Sonoma 2dr Regular Cab SLS
      2WD LB (4.3L 6cyl 4A)             $19,115          $31,120
     Dodge Dakota 2dr Regular Cab SLT
      Plus 2WD SB (3.9L 6cyl 5M)        $19,130          $30,010
     Ford Taurus SES Deluxe 4dr sedan
      (3.0L 6cyl 4A)                    $24,712          $37,357
     Nissan Altima 3.5 SE 4dr sedan
      (3.5L 4cyl 4A)                    $27,433          $36,213
     Lexus RX 300 AWD 4dr SUV
      (3.0L 6cyl 4A)                    $41,043          $47,397
     Volvo XC AWD 4dr wagon
      (2.4L 5cyl 5A)                    $43,200          $49,058

     *  Vehicle description includes vehicle style, number of doors, engine
        size, number of cylinders and transmission type.
     ** Purchase Price is the sum of Edmunds.com True Market Value(SM) of the
        vehicle as typically equipped, destination charge and Illinois base
        sales tax. 
Editors Note: If you have some extra time and nothing better to do with it, click over to the edmunds link above 
and see how a big company wastes money and energy;

Here is a shorcut to the info...just add 10 grand or so to the price of the car and take that extra time you would have 
wasted and spend it here with us here on TACH!
 What do you think?? E Me bgordon@tach.com