IntelliChoice.com Announces Best New Car Deals of the Month for March 2008
CAMPBELL, CA (March 17, 2008)--IntelliChoice.com (www.intellichoice.com), the leading source for automotive ownership cost and value analysis, today announced its "Best Deals of the Month" for cars, trucks, and SUVs for March. The list reveals a new level of volatility among the list of winners due in large part to manufacturer incentives. It also delivers a message for car buyers: do your homework.
"IntelliChoice.com's Best Deals of the Month rank a vehicle's price according to its long-term cost of ownership, which is based on factors like fuel costs and resale value," said James Bell, publisher and editor of IntelliChoice.com. "Usually, rebates and other incentives are not enough to alter a car's or truck's overall ranking. But that's the not case this month, as automakers are putting a lot of money 'on the hood' of many new cars to help them sell."
"Huge rebates played a role with virtually all the significant changes we see in our list of winners such as the Hyundai Sonata taking the top spot from the Toyota Avalon. Is this the heaviest season I have seen for consumer belt-tightening PLUS attractive rebates? Quite possibly," said Bell. "There are models that have never been on our list, like the Nissan Xterra and Nissan Titan, which replaces the Chevy Silverado 1500 with help from a $5,000 rebate. Chevy had been king of the full-size truck segment for many months."
Bell added that the Nissan Xterra beating out the Toyota 4Runner was a big surprise--but one that shows the power of rebates. "The Xterra's inventory/overstock situation, paired with a higher rebate, gave Nissan the upper hand. The Xterra offers a $2,500 rebate as opposed to the 4Runner's $1,500. The Xterra is a good, solid vehicle. But money on the hood of a good car can turn it into a Best Deal," Bell remarked.
IntelliChoice.com's "Best Deals of the Month" identify new cars, trucks, and SUVs with the best ownership cost value in 33 respective classes. Selections are based on current car pricing, market conditions and the lowest national manufacturer consumer new car rebate. In addition, IntelliChoice.com uses the latest information from numerous automotive resources to evaluate what it costs to buy, own and operate each new model-year trim line over a five-year basis.
The following "Best Deals" for March 2008 are ranked by vehicle type and size:
| Class | Brand | Model |
| Subcompact Car | Toyota | Yaris Sedan |
| Compact Car over 16000 | Honda | Civic Hybrid |
| Compact Car under 16000 | Honda | Civic Sedan |
| Midsize Car over 21000 | Toyota | Prius |
| Midsize Car under 21000 | Toyota | Prius |
| Convertible | MINI | Cooper Convertible |
| Luxury Convertible | Audi | A4 Convertible |
| Near Luxury Car | Lexus | ES |
| Luxury Car | Infiniti | M35 |
| Large Car | Hyundai | Sonata |
| Base Sport Car | Volkswagen | R32 |
| Sport Car | Chevrolet | Corvette Convertible |
| Sport Sedan/Wagon over 38000 | Lexus | GS Hybrid |
| Sport Sedan/Wagon under 38000 | Pontiac | Grand Prix GXP |
| Compact Utility/Crossover | Mercury | Mariner Hybrid |
| Midsize Crossover | Honda | Pilot |
| Luxury Crossover | Lexus | RX 400h |
| Small Wagon | Scion | xB |
| Midsize/Large Wagon | Subaru | Outback Wagon |
| Intermediate SUV | Nissan | Xterra |
| Full-Size Utility | Chevrolet | Tahoe |
| Luxury SUV | Lexus | GX |
| Compact Pickup Truck 2WD | Toyota | Tacoma Regular Cab 2WD |
| Compact Pickup Truck 4WD | Toyota | Tacoma Regular Cab 4WD |
| Full-Size Pickup Truck 2WD 1/2 Ton | Toyota | Tundra Regular Cab 2WD |
| Full-Size Pickup Truck 2WD 3/4 Ton | Chevrolet | Silverado 2500 HD Crew Cab 2WD |
| Full-Size Pickup Truck 2WD One Ton | Chevrolet | Silverado 3500 HD Crew Cab 2WD |
| Full-Size Pickup Truck 4WD 1/2 Ton | Nissan | 2008.5 Titan King Cab 4WD |
| Full-Size Pickup Truck 4WD 3/4 Ton | Chevrolet | Silverado 2500 HD Crew Cab 4WD |
| Full-Size Pickup Truck 4WD One Ton | Chevrolet | Silverado 3500 HD Crew Cab 4WD |
| Minivan | Toyota | Sienna |
| Full-Size Van | Ford | E150 Passenger Van |
| Cargo Van | Chevrolet | Uplander Cargo Van |
IntelliChoice.com Helps Consumers Do Their Homework
IntelliChoice.com updates vehicle data several times a month in order to capture the many expiring car rebates and ongoing incentive programs offered by manufacturers--giving consumers the most up-to-date analysis.
IntelliChoice.com's "Best Deals" designation enables consumers to identify how car rebates affect a vehicle's value throughout ownership and not just at the time of purchase. Ownership costs can vary significantly among different trim lines of the same model. Additionally, IntelliChoice.com continuously updates fuel costs based on the latest data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Vehicles designated as "IntelliChoice.com Best Deals of the Month" are typically cars and trucks that have good to great ownership cost values before any manufacturer rebate. A rebate can often turn a good ownership cost value into a great value, and a great value into an "IntelliChoice.com Best Deal of the Month."
Please visit www.intellichoice.com for more information or to check the auto rebate section of any vehicle report for the most up-to-date incentives.
About IntelliChoice.com
IntelliChoice.com, part of Enthusiast Media's Automotive Digital, is the market leader in automotive ownership cost and value analysis. Founded in 1986, IntelliChoice.com is committed to empowering consumers to make better purchase decisions by providing independent and essential automotive information and tools. Through the IntelliChoice.com web site (www.intellichoice.com), consumers get the help they need to research, compare, configure and price vehicles. The site also connects buyers to the buying alternatives of their choice, including vehicle manufacturers and an online car buying guide. Enthusiast Media is a division of Source Interlink Companies, Inc., (NASDAQ: SORC), a media and marketing services company. Source Interlink (www.sourceinterlink.com) is one of the largest publishers of magazines and online content for enthusiast audiences and a leading distributor of home entertainment products, including DVDs, music CDs, magazines, games, books and related items.
