Do you want to make a purchase on luxury car this year? Having analyzed all 2011 vehicles sold in the U.S. market, Forbes analysts suggest getting a truck. Toyota Highlander and the Lexus RX450h may be your fine choice regarding to value defeating sedans which price are usually higher than $40,000. The 2011 Chevrolet Volt topping the list may be an exception. Promoting its fuel-saving hybrid technology and federal tax discount, the Volt is priced at $40,280 placing the model as the most affordable expensive car of the year. The average lower price tagged is benefited from the government credit.
Behind the Numbers
To be included in luxury car list, the vehicle should be lineup in price of higher than $40,000. The costs components are total costs of fuel in five-year, and other costs of maintenance, insurance, and depreciation and taxes.
Data considers an annual rate for fuel which includes a 3.5% inflation rate. Depreciation is the biggest figure in determining how much a vehicle costs the owner. Luxury cars show more depreciation values than the others. The post-sale price after five years should be considered also by the buyer, since there is a strong connection between MSRP and total ownership cost.
The list is exactly dominated by vehicles cost under $41,000. Overall cost, however, is not only determined by single initial price, but sales taxes and fuel costs also contribute to the total.
Trucks like the Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid came in fourth and GMC Sierra Hybrid got in sixth. High demand for such vehicles directly affects post-sale price and depreciation rate.
However, you’ll find more than just a truck with heated leather seats and DVD screens installed as the interior feature. In addition, chrome-heavy trims proposed a comfortable atmosphere in most pickups. You may not be aware if you’re riding in a truck at all.
I keep reading articles that say hybrid vehicles are much better for the environment by using much less gasoline and producing far fewer emmisions. I understand that the vehicles themselves produce far fewer emmisions and get better mileage. What I want to know is how much more pollution are we generating in other ways as a result of using hybrid vehicles. Some hybrids are charged using a standard electrical outlet. The electricity comes from a power plant that can be burning coal, natural gas, trash, etc. Has anyone calculated how much each charge equals in pollution at the power plant? If you combine that pollution with the hybrid vehicle pollution, is it REALLY better for the environment? What about the batteries? All batteries contain heavy metals and / or acids, and all batteries eventually die and need replacing. How much energy are we wasting manufacturing new batteries and what is happening to the heavy metals & acids when the old batteries die? Any info would be appreciated.