---

IntelliChoice Announces May Gold Star Lease Winners

12 May 1999

IntelliChoice Announces May Gold Star Lease Winners

    CAMPBELL, Calif.--May 12, 1999--May has traditionally been the sweet-spot of the vehicle-purchase season, but that hasn't stopped manufacturers from offering incentives to entice consumers into a dealership. Effective net interest rates as low as 3.12% are helping make May an ideal time to lease a new car or sport-utility vehicle.
    Heading IntelliChoice's list of the best automotive lease values for the eleventh consecutive month is a 1999 Saab 9-3. For the second consecutive month, the convertible model has the lowest effective net interest rate. The rate is under 3 1/2 percent when all leasing costs are considered. These costs include lease term, monthly payment, down payment, end of lease purchase price, net capitalized cost, vehicle price, residual discount, fees and deposits, mileage penalty and maintenance discount.
    Every month, IntelliChoice announces the best deals (Gold Star Leases) across the U.S. for leased cars and trucks. Lease evaluations and reports are based upon information supplied by manufacturers and secured from nationally advertised lease offers. Each lease must meet two standards to receive designation as a Gold Star Lease recipient: it must be in the lowest 25th percentile of the lowest net interest rates of all evaluated leases; and the net interest rates must be at least two percentage points less than the average bank loan interest rate or average credit union loan interest rate, whichever is lower. This month, eight vehicles made the list.

                  The May Gold Star Lease winners are:

                            Ttl Net Int  Ad Rate  Term       Up Front 
Model                           Rate       Month              Costs(a)

1999 Saab 9-3 Convertible       3.12%      $419     30         $2,893 
1999 Saab 9-3 5 Door            3.82%      $319     36         $2,093 
1999 Saab 9-5 SE V6             4.69%      $459     36         $2,383 
1999 Isuzu Trooper S            5.31%      $309     48           $804
1999 Isuzu Rodeo LS 4WD         5.74%      $289     48         $1,084 
1999 Nissan Pathfinder XE 4WD   6.76%      $299     36         $1,999 
1999 Isuzu Rodeo S              7.19%      $209     48           $954 
1999 Chrysler LHS               7.31%      $399     36         $2,299 

Model                        Expiration Date  Availability

1999 Saab 9-3 Convertible       05.31.99        National
1999 Saab 9-3 5 Door            05.31.99        National
1999 Saab 9-5 SE V6             06.01.99        National
1999 Isuzu Trooper S            05.31.99        National
1999 Isuzu Rodeo LS 4WD         06.30.99        National
1999 Nissan Pathfinder XE 4WD   06.01.99        National
1999 Isuzu Rodeo S              06.30.99        National
1999 Chrysler LHS               07.07.99        National

(a) Does not include tax, license or registration. Totals may be higher in some areas. Please see Gold Star Lease Evaluation for details

    Founded in 1986, IntelliChoice is the only company that develops and distributes consumer automobile ownership and leasing cost data. Gold Star Lease evaluations and AutoLease evaluations are available at no charge in an easy-to-read format on the IntelliChoice Web site (www.intellichoice.com).
    Ownership information can be found in the annual editions of The Complete Car Cost Guide and The Complete Small Truck Cost Guide and are available (at a suggested retail price of $49 each, plus shipping and handling) by calling 1-800-CARBOOK (227-2665). IntelliChoice also publishes Just the Facts(TM) reports which are new and used vehicle purchasing summaries available on paper or at IntelliChoice's Web site. IntelliChoice is a Primedia company.