|
|
|
|
Value Rating
Below Average
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dodge Avenger Recalls
| Recall Date: |
MAR 15, 2007 |
| Component: |
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH |
| Model Affected: |
AVENGER |
| Units Affected: |
11191
Recall Details
|
Recall Date:
MAR 15, 2007
Model Affected:
2008 DODGE AVENGER
Summary:
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FRONT DOOR LATCH CABLE MAY BECOME PARTIALLY UNSEATED FROM THE INTERIOR RELEASE HANDLE HOUSING CAUSING THE DOOR LATCH TO STICK IN THE OPEN POSITION AND NOT BE SECURED TO THE STRIKER.
Consequence:
DURING CERTAIN CRASH CONDITIONS, THE POSSIBILITY OF A DOOR OPENING COULD CAUSE AN UNBELTED PASSENGER TO BE EJECTED, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURIES.
Remedy:
THIS ACTION IS SUPERSEDED (PLEASE SEE 07-V414.) DEALERS WILL ADD FREE OF CHARGE A SECONDARY FEATURE TO BOTH FRONT DOORS TO PREVENT THE DOOR LATCH CABLE FERRULE FROM BECOMING UNSEATED AT THE INTERIOR FRONT DOOR RELEASE HANDLE HOUSING. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 30, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
Units Affected:
11191
Notes:
DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION G12
| Recall Date: |
SEP 12, 2007 |
| Component: |
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH |
| Model Affected: |
AVENGER |
| Units Affected: |
72333
Recall Details
|
Recall Date:
SEP 12, 2007
Model Affected:
2008 DODGE AVENGER
Summary:
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE FRONT DOOR LATCH CABLE MAY BECOME PARTIALLY UNSEATED FROM THE INTERIOR RELEASE HANDLE HOUSING POSSIBLY CAUSING THE LATCH TO STICK IN THE UNLATCHED POSITION OR THE LOCK FUNCTION TO BECOME INOPERATIVE.
Consequence:
DRIVING A VEHICLE WITH AN UNLATCHED DOOR CAN RESULT IN AN UNBELTED FRONT SEAT OCCUPANT FALLING OUT OF THE VEHICLE OR BEING EJECTED IN A CRASH, CAUSING INCREASED RISK OF INJURY.
Remedy:
DEALERS WILL ADD A SECONDARY RETENTION FEATURE TO BOTH FRONT DOORS. THIS ACTION WILL SUPERSEDE AND EXPAND A PREVIOUS SAFETY RECALL (PLEASE SEE 07V-104). THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 29, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
Units Affected:
72333
Notes:
DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION G33
| Recall Date: |
SEP 13, 2007 |
| Component: |
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY |
| Model Affected: |
AVENGER |
| Units Affected: |
1158
Recall Details
|
Recall Date:
SEP 13, 2007
Model Affected:
2008 DODGE AVENGER
Summary:
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES WITH ALL WHEEL DRIVE, THE FUEL TANK STRAPS WERE IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED AND COULD SEPARATE. THIS CAN CAUSE THE FUEL TANK TO LOOSEN AND LEAK FUEL.
Consequence:
FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN AN UNDERBODY FIRE.
Remedy:
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK RETENTION STRAPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING OCTOBER 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
Units Affected:
1158
Notes:
DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION G38
| Recall Date: |
APR 02, 2008 |
| Component: |
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING |
| Model Affected: |
AVENGER |
| Units Affected: |
180963
Recall Details
|
Recall Date:
APR 02, 2008
Model Affected:
2008 DODGE AVENGER
Summary:
CHRYSLER IS RECALLING 180,963 MY 2007-2008 SEBRING AND DODGE AVENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A STANDARD TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS). UNUSED ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS FOR THE TPMS MAY BECOME CORRODED AND COULD SHORT CIRCUIT, WHICH CAN CAUSE A VARIETY OF CONDITIONS INCLUDING ENGINE NO-START, DEAD BATTERY, AN INOPERATIVE CRUISE CONTROL OR REMOTE START SYSTEM, AND/OR ENGINE STALLING.
Consequence:
ENGINE STALLING COULD CAUSE A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy:
DEALERS WILL SEAL THE WIRES FOR THE TPMS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 15, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
Units Affected:
180963
Notes:
CHRYSLER LLC. H07
| Recall Date: |
JUN 13, 2007 |
| Component: |
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL |
| Model Affected: |
AVENGER |
| Units Affected: |
798
Recall Details
|
Recall Date:
JUN 13, 2007
Model Affected:
2008 DODGE AVENGER
Summary:
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FRONT SEAT TRACK POSITION SENSORS UTILIZED FOR THE AIR BAG SYSTEM MAY NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY.
Consequence:
THIS COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY TO FRONT SEAT OCCUPANTS DURING CERTAIN CRASH CONDITIONS.
Remedy:
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FRONT SEAT TRACK POSITION SENSORS AND REPLACE THEM FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALLBEGAN ON JUNE 18, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
Units Affected:
798
Notes:
DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION G14
| Recall Date: |
OCT 10, 2007 |
| Component: |
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY |
| Model Affected: |
AVENGER |
| Units Affected: |
102042
Recall Details
|
Recall Date:
OCT 10, 2007
Model Affected:
2008 DODGE AVENGER
Summary:
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.4 LITER ENGINES, THE ENGINE COOLANT MAY BE DRAWN INTO THE LEFT RADIATOR COOLING FAN MOTOR CONNECTOR.
Consequence:
THIS CAN CAUSE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT AND RESULT IN AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.
Remedy:
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE CONNECTOR FOR CONTAMINATION OR DAMAGE, INSTALL A WIRING HARNESS OVERLAY, AND REPLACE THE FAN MOTOR FREE OR CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 19, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
Units Affected:
102042
Notes:
DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION G39
|
Dodge Avenger takes on Paris
If you were a fan of the original Dodge Avenger, keep your eyes peeled next month when what many analysts consider the...
04/23/2007 | 21:04 PM
|
|
2008 Dodge Avenger Debuts at Detroit Auto Show
The first generation of the Dodge Avenger was a joint project between then pre-DaimlerChrysler Chrysler Corporation and...
04/23/2007 | 21:04 PM
|
|
Dodge Avenger – More pics, more family resemblance
Mobile Magazine and Carscoop secured some more spy shots of the upcoming Dodge Avenger R/T, the replacement to the...
04/23/2007 | 21:04 PM
|
|
Dodge Survey Discovers Glove Box Dangers
Auburn Hills, Mich., Jun 28, 2007 -While its name is universal and it's a standard feature in nearly all automobile...
07/09/2007 | 14:07 PM
|
|
Dodge Wants You To Share Your Stress
Auburn Hills, Mich., Mar 26, 2007 -- From the congested I-405 in Los Angeles to the overcrowded I-87 in New York,...
04/23/2007 | 21:04 PM
|
|
|
|
|
|