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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 Motor Trend Magazine
Newcomers: Ford Harley-Davidson F-150 Super CrewLeather Tough: Some things never go out of style / all contributors: Mark Williams /
Article provided by: Motor Trend Magazine
What is it about 450-horse F-150s lately? First Saleen comes out with the new S331 Sport Truck, then Roush announces the Stage 3 Nitemare, and finally Ford is giving Chip Foose a chance to paint on the F-150 canvas with his own 450-horse version. Maybe there's something in the water in Dearborn. Take the newest version of the Ford Harley-Davidson F-150, for example, which will be the quickest and most powerful Harley F-truck truck to date, in large part due to the Saleen-developed inverted twin-screw supercharger and intercooler, reported to make 450 horsepower and 500 pound-feet of torque. If those numbers look familiar, it's because the same system is used on Saleen's S331 Sport Truck. The supercharger option adds about $6500 to the total price and requires the truck be rear drive only (all-wheel drive is still available on nonsupercharged models). The suspension's unique shock absorbers deal with the 22-inch aluminum wheels and monster high-performance tires. Contributing to the aggressive look are body-colored bumpers and trim pieces and several Bar & Shield badges (larger than the Ford logo). Inside, the Harley uses King Ranch-quality leather, in black. A special gauge cluster sits atop the center stack so driver and passenger can keep track of boost pressures and core temperatures. The interior features new glossless black paint that's somehow dull and shiny at the same time.  The 2007.5 S/C Harley will weigh in just under 5600 pounds, with towing 1000 pounds down from stock (meaning 600), and it'll carry about 1100 pounds of payload (about 300 down from stock). The vehicle's most defining characteristic is the smooth ramp-up of power that pulls longer and harder than you expect. This makes sense since the system runs on less than six pounds of boost; as a consequence, the stock four-speed shifts without the harsh slams typical of supercharged project trucks. Of note, the unique supercharger allows the engine bay to look unmodified (the air filter is even in the stock location). Base nonsupercharged versions likely will stay similar in price to the current models at $38,135, but expect supercharged versions to start at $44,635 and climb from there. Not a bad price, regardless, for a 450-horsepower predator. Look for Ford to release a new Super Duty Harley Edition, as well. | Ford Harley-Davidson F-150 Super Crew | | Base price | $44,635, including the $6500 S/C | | Vehicle layout | Front engine 5-pass, 4-door, 2WD, pickup | | Engine | 5.4L/450-hp/500-lb-ft supercharged SOHC 24-valve V-8 | | Transmissions | 4-speed automatic | | Curb weight | 5600 lb (mfr) | | Wheelbase | 139.0 in | | Length x width x height | 223.8 x 78.9 x 73.4 in | | 0-60 mph | 6.5 sec (mfr est) | | EPA city/hwy fuel econ | 13-18 mpg (MT est) | | CO2 emissions | 1.31 lb/mile (MT est) | | On sale in U.S. | October 2007 |
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1996 Ford F-150 4x4 4.9l 300 6cyl
Ok got some problems just rebuild my engine and got it back in the truck and its cranking but not starting. I've Check...
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2007 F-150: Bigger, bolder, and lower cost
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