IntelliChoice Announces June Best Deals
CAMPBELL, Calif., June 6 -- Consumer rebates offered by automakers each month don't just lower a car's purchase price and your monthly finance payment. By lowering depreciation and/or the cost of financing, consumer rebates also lower a car's total ownership costs -- the costs you incur month after month in owning and operating a car.
Now, IntelliChoice, the market leader in automotive ownership cost and value analysis, launches a new initiative to identify the best car and truck values offered by the carmakers each month. Each month, IntelliChoice looks at what it costs to buy, own, and operate each new model-year trim line. In doing so, we take into consideration the car's current purchase price (vehicle pricing often changes over the course of the year), including any national manufacturer consumer rebates. We also update fuel costs based on the latest data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Based on this information, we identify the month's "Best Deals" -- those trim lines that are the best ownership cost value in their class.
"The market place is always changing and now automotive shoppers have the data needed to stay on top of those changes. The Best Deals designation is a great way for consumers to identify how rebates affect a vehicle's value over the time they own it and not just at the time of purchase" said David Wurster, Publisher of PRIMEDIA'S IntelliChoice. "It's not what you pay for your vehicle that's important, it's what it costs you to own it that really matters."
Ownership costs can vary significantly among different trim lines of the same model (e.g., total ownership costs for a Honda Civic DX Sedan can, and do differ from those of a Honda Civic EX Sedan, or a Honda Civic LX Sedan). Often, manufacturer consumer rebates also vary by trim line. And, while the more expensive trim lines generally have bigger manufacturer consumer rebates, they also tend to have steeper depreciation costs. Often, one just offsets the other, so a more expensive trim line with a bigger manufacturer consumer rebate isn't, necessarily, a better ownership value than a less expensive trim line with a smaller rebate.
In fact, if a trim line is a good enough ownership cost value from the beginning, a manufacturer rebate isn't even necessary to make it an IntelliChoice Best Deal of the month. Likewise, a manufacturer rebate, by itself, doesn't necessarily make a car an IntelliChoice Best Deal of the month, or turn a poor value into a great value. Cars that win IntelliChoice's Best Deal of the month designation are usually cars that are good to great ownership cost values before any manufacturer consumer rebate. A rebate, however, can often turn a good ownership cost value into a great value, and a great value into a Best Deal of the month.
According to John Cobb, Vice President, General Manager of the PRIMEDIA Automotive and Action Sports Internet Groups, "Best Deals are an excellent example of how IntelliChoice helps consumers find those vehicles that offer the greatest consumer value. We are happy to make IntelliChoice Best Deals available on over 50 web sites throughout the PRIMEDIA Automotive Network including, www.intellichoice.com, www.automobilemag.com and www.motortrend.com."
Here are the IntelliChoice Best Deals for June for each class. (Listed alphabetically by brand within class. More than one trim line per class is listed in case of ties.):
Class Brand Model Bodystyle Rebate
Subcompact Ford Mustang Convertible $3,000
Honda Civic DX Coupe $0
Honda Civic EX Coupe $0
Honda Civic HX Coupe $0
Honda Civic LX Coupe $0
Compact under $17,000
Honda Civic DX Sedan $0
Honda Civic LX Sedan $0
Toyota Corolla CE Sedan $0
Toyota Corolla LE Sedan $0
Toyota Corolla S Sedan $0
Volkswagen Golf GL TDI Hatchback $0
Volkswagen Golf GL TDI Hatchback $0
Compact over $17,000
Honda Accord LX Coupe $0
Honda Civic EX Sedan $0
Honda Civic Hybrid Sedan $0
Toyota Prius Sedan $0
Volkswagen Jetta GL TDi Sedan $0
Small Wagon Toyota Matrix Wagon $0
Toyota Matrix XR Wagon $0
Volkswagen Jetta GL TDi Wagon $0
Midsize under $21,000
Honda Accord DX Sedan $0
Honda Accord LX Sedan $0
Toyota Camry LE Sedan $0
Toyota Camry SE Sedan $0
Midsize over $21,000
Honda Accord EX Sedan $0
Volkswagen Passat GL Sedan $0
Volkswagen Passat GLS Sedan
1.8T $0
Midsize/Large Wagon
Ford Focus SE Wagon $2,000
Ford Focus ZTW Wagon $2,000
Subaru Legacy L Wagon $0
Subaru Outback Wagon $0
Large
Ford Taurus SE Sedan $3,000
Mercury Grand Sedan
Marquis GS $3,500
Mercury Marauder Sedan $3,500
Mercury Sable GS Sedan $3,000
Toyota Avalon XLS Sedan $0
Near Luxury
BMW 325 Ci Convertible $0
BMW 330 Ci Convertible $0
BMW 330 Ci Coupe $0
BMW 330 I Sedan $0
Lincoln LS V8 Sedan $3,000
Luxury
Lexus LS 430 Sedan $0
Mercedes-Benz CLK320 Coupe $0
Mercedes-Benz CLK320 Convertible
Cabriolet $0
Mercedes-Benz CLK430 Convertible
Cabriolet $0
Mercedes-Benz E320 Sedan $0
Mercedes-Benz E320 Wagon $0
Mercedes-Benz E320 AWD Wagon $0
Base Sport
Honda S2000 Convertible $0
Mercedes-Benz SLK230 Convertible
Kompressor $0
Toyota MR2 Spyder Convertible $0
Sport
Chevrolet Corvette Convertible $0
Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe $0
Porsche 911 Carrera Convertible
4 Cabriolet AWD $0
Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe
4S AWD $0
Porsche 911 Carrera Convertible
Cabriolet $0
Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe
Targa $0
Mini-Van under $26,000
Ford Windstar Pass Ext Van $3,000
Ford Windstar Cargo Ext Van $3,000
Honda Odyssey LX Pass Ext Van $0
Toyota Sienna CE Pass Van $0
Toyota Sienna LE Pass Van $0
Mini-Van over $26,000
Chrysler Town & Country eX Pass Ext Van $0
Chrysler Town & Country LX Pass Ext Van $0
Honda Odyssey EX Pass Ext Van $0
Toyota Sienna XLE Pass Van $0
Full-Size Van
Ford E150 XL Wagon Pass Van $3,000
Ford E150 XLT Wagon Pass Van $3,000
Ford E350 Super Duty Pass Van
Wagon $3,000
Compact Pickup 2WD
Ford Explorer Sport Trac
Extended Cab $2,000
Ford Ranger XL Supercab
Extended Cab $3,000
Ford Ranger XLT Supercab
Extended Cab $3,000
Toyota Tacoma PreRunner Double Cab
Extended Cab $0
Toyota Tacoma S-Runner Extended Cab $0
Toyota Tacoma Xtracab Extended Cab $0
Compact Pickup 4WD
Ford Explorer Sport Trac 4WD
Extended Cab $2,000
Ford Ranger Edge 4WD Regular
Cab $3,000
Ford Ranger XLT Supercab 4WD
Extended Cab $3,000
Subaru Baja Extended Cab $0
Subaru Baja Sport Extended Cab $0
Full-Size Pickup 2WD
Ford F150 Lariat Extended Cab
Styleside SuperCrew $ 2,500
Ford F150 XL Regular Cab
Flareside $3,000
Ford F150 XL Extended Cab
Flareside SuperCab $2,500
Ford F150 XL Regular Cab
Styleside $3,000
Ford F150 XL Extended Cab
Styleside SuperCab $2,500
Ford F150 XLT Regular Cab
Flareside $3,000
Ford F150 XLT Extended Cab
Flareside SuperCab $2,500
Ford F150 XLT Regular Cab
Styleside $3,000
Ford F150 XLT Extended Cab
Styleside SuperCab $2,500
Ford F150 XLT Extended Cab
Styleside SuperCrew $2,500
Ford F250 XL Extended Cab
Super Duty Styleside
Crew Cab $2,500
Ford F350 XL Extended Cab
Super Duty Crew Cab $ 2,500
Ford F350 XL Extended Cab
Super Duty DRW Crew Cab $2,500
Ford F350 XL Extended Cab
Super Duty DRW SuperCab $2,500
Ford F350 XLT Extended Cab
Super Duty DRW Crew Cab $2,500
Full-Size Pickup 4WD
Ford F150 Lariat
Styleside
SuperCrew 4WD Extended Cab $2,500
Ford F150 XL Flareside
4WD Regular Cab $3,000
Ford F150 XL Flareside
SuperCab 4WD Extended Cab $2,500
Ford F150 XL
Styleside 4WD Regular Cab $3,000
Ford F150 XL Styleside
SuperCab 4WD Extended Cab $2,500
Ford F150 XLT
Flareside 4WD Regular Cab $3,000
Ford F150 XLT Flareside
SuperCab 4WD Extended Cab $2,500
Ford F150 XLT
Styleside 4WD Regular Cab $3,000
Ford F150 XLT Styleside
SuperCab 4WD Extended Cab $2,500
Ford F150 XLT Styleside
SuperCrew
4WD Extended Cab $2,500
Ford F250 XL Super Duty
Styleside Crew
Cab 4WD Extended Cab $2,500
Ford F250 XL Super
Duty Styleside
SuperCab 4WD Extended Cab $2,500
Ford F350 Lariat Super
Duty DRW Crew
Cab 4WD Extended Cab $2,500
Ford F350 XL Super Duty
Crew Cab 4WD Extended Cab $2,500
Ford F350 XL Super Duty
DRW Crew
Cab 4WD Extended Cab $2,500
Ford F350 XL Super Duty
DRW SuperCab
4WD Extended Cab $2,500
Ford F350 XLT Super Duty
DRW Crew Cab
4WD Extended Cab $2,500
Compact Utility under $20,000
Ford Escape XLS Sport Utility $1,500
Honda CR-V LX Sport Utility $0
Honda CR-V LX 4WD Sport Utility $0
Toyota RAV4 Sport Utility $0
Toyota RAV4 4WD Sport Utility $0
Compact Utility over $20,000
Ford Escape XLS Sport Utility
4WD $1,500
Ford Escape XLT Sport Utility $1,500
Subaru Forester Sport Utility
2.5 X $0
Subaru Forester Sport Utility
2.5 XS $0
Intermediate Utility under $30,000
Ford Explorer XLS Sport Utility $3,000
Ford Explorer Sport Utility
XLS 4WD $3,000
Ford Explorer Sport Utility
XLS AWD $3,000
Toyota 4Runner Sport Sport Utility $0
Toyota 4Runner SR5 Sport Utility $0
Toyota 4Runner Sport Utility
SR5 4WD $0
Toyota Highlander Sport Utility $0
Toyota Highlander 4WD Sport Utility $0
Intermediate Utility over $30,000
Acura MDX Sport Utility $0
Lexus RX 300 Sport Utility $0
Lexus RX 300 4WD Sport Utility $0
Nissan Murano SE AWD Sport Utility $0
Toyota 4Runner Limited Sport Utility $0
Toyota 4Runner Sport Utility
Limited 4WD $0
Toyota 4Runner Sport Utility
Sport 4WD $0
Utility under $40,000
Ford Excursion XLT Sport Utility $4,000
Ford Excursion XLT Sport Utility
4WD $4,000
Ford Excursion Sport Utility
XLT Premium $4,000
Ford Expedition XLT Sport Utility $3,000
Ford Expedition Sport Utility
XLT 4WD $3,000
Utility over $40,000
Ford Excursion Sport Utility
Eddie Bauer $4,000
Ford Excursion Sport Utility
XLT Premium 4WD $4,000
Lincoln Navigator Sport Utility $3,000
Toyota Land Cruiser Sport Utility
4WD $0
