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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 Automobile Magazine
2008 Subaru TribecaBy Rusty Blackwell /
Article provided by: Automobile Magazine
The crossover segment is hotter than a kitchen fire at Buffalo Wild Wings, so Subaru could ill afford to wait to update its Tribeca, which landed with a thud two years ago when it was launched with a strange face, an overworked powertrain, and a pointless B9 prefix. Deep slashes from the styling surgeons' knives have resulted in a more conventional mug that's now more Chrysler Pacifica than overgrown cicada. Larger sideview mirrors and rear quarter windows, new taillights, and a modified rear valance complete the face-lift. Only the doors, the roof, and the rocker panels carry over. The handsome interior is essentially unchanged, although it's now easier to climb into the still-cramped third-row seats. The new front end permits better cooling for the bored-and-stroked engine that has gained a significant 631 cubic centimeters of displacement. The boxer six also features new variable valve timing, and--even though it now slurps regular 87-octane gasoline instead of premium--output has been bumped to 256 hp (up from 245 hp) and 247 lb-ft of torque (up from 215 lb-ft). The engine's torque curve is flatter and rises more quickly at the low end, so the Tribeca hustles more readily when the tach isn't pegged. The increased spice is optimized by a five-speed automatic transmission that no longer downshifts at the slightest brush of the gas pedal. And since the gearbox shifts more quickly and blips the throttle automatically on downshifts, Ferrari-style, driving the Tribeca briskly on challenging roads is even more satisfying than before. The original Tribeca couldn't take the heat, but Subaru is wise to step back into this raging kitchen with a crossover that will please more people.
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Subaru Tribeca is Value leader among Used Crossovers
CHERRY HILL, N.J., Oct. 24, 2007 -- The 2008 Subaru Tribeca was named best resale value in the crossover utility...
11/29/2007 | 22:11 PM
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2008 Subaru Tribeca Sees Ten Stars In Safety
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2008 Subaru Tribeca Gets Facelift For New York Auto Show
New York, NY April 4, 2007 -- Subaru today unveiled the redesigned and newly named 2008 Subaru Tribeca at the New York...
04/23/2007 | 21:04 PM
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2008 Subaru Tribeca Gets Free Maintenance Up North
All eyes were on Subaru a couple of years ago, as the Japanese automaker unveiled its new minivan, the B9 Tribeca....
07/09/2007 | 14:07 PM
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Subaru Impreza Leads May Sales With Double-Digits
CHERRY HILL, N.J., June 1, 2007 -- Subaru of America, Inc. today reported May sales of 16,282 total units. Sales of...
06/04/2007 | 16:06 PM
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Subaru Vs. Toyota
i really dont think subaru is more expensive than toyota. there has to be specific models in mind. your also...
07/20/2007 | 15:07 PM
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July is good-no-GREAT! month for Subaru
SUBARU OF AMERICA SALES SOAR TO BEST JULY IN COMPANY HISTORYSales of Subaru Impreza and Legacy 2.5i models lead company...
08/01/2006 | 16:08 PM
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Saabaru #2 coming
Saab has given the OK to build a version of Subaru’s news B9 Tribeca crossover SUV. The 9-6X was supposed to be...
06/07/2005 | 17:06 PM
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Road Test: 2008 Subaru Tribeca
The 2008 Subaru Tribeca drives much as it did before, which is to say nice, although quicker and more communicative steering would be welcome. But it's now competitive with the rest of the segment.
more
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Newcomers: 2008 Subaru Tribeca
The 2008 Subaru Tribeca drives much as it did before, which is to say nice, although quicker and more communicative steering would be welcome. But it's now competitive with the rest of the segment.
more
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Newcomers: 2008 Subaru Tribeca
The 2008 Subaru Tribeca drives much as it did before, which is to say nice, although quicker and more communicative steering would be welcome. But it's now competitive with the rest of the segment.
more
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2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca
Moving beyond the Forester, Subaru finally makes an SUV. While the new corporate face may not be for everyone, the Tribeca has a
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2008 Subaru Tribeca
The crossover segment is hotter than a kitchen fire at Buffalo Wild Wings, so Subaru could ill afford to wait to update its Trib
more
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