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New Car Price Reports
Prices
Q:
What will be included in my New Car Price Report?
A:
Comparisons of the manufacturer's suggested
retail price, also called the MSRP or the sticker price (the
price the dealer wants you to pay), the dealer invoice price
(the maximum amount the dealer paid for the car), and the
Consumer Reports Bottom Line Price (which takes into account any
dealer incentives, dealer holdbacks, and customer rebates).
The Consumer Reports Bottom Line Price is the place to start
when negotiating.
- Standard equipment and
options:
The equipment
that's included with your vehicle and the factory-installed
options that you may purchase separately.
- Equipment
packages:
Prices for all
available equipment packages.
- Consumer Reports equipment
recommendations:
The
equipment that we believe will make your vehicle safer and
more comfortable or convenient.
- Consumer Reports safety
data:
Our safety Ratings
for the model you selected.
- Alternate
models:
Other vehicles in
this class that we recommend.
- Definitions:
A guide to the language of the automotive
salesperson.
- The Consumer Reports guide to
buying and leasing:
Our
advice on negotiating your best deal and shopping for a
vehicle online.
Q:
What is the benefit of this report to me?
A:
Becoming a more informed consumer will save
you money. New-car buyers who use the service save an average
of $2,200 on their purchase.
Q:
How often are prices updated?
A:
Auto manufacturers and dealers do not have
standard times when they change prices. Consumer Reports
closely monitors the auto industry to reflect the most current
price changes. At any time during the model year, the prices
on your report will reflect recent price updates.
Q:
How much should I offer the dealer for
this vehicle?
A:
For most new models, 4 to 8 percent over
the Consumer Reports Bottom Line Price is reasonable. If the car
is in demand, however, you may find that you will have to pay
something very near the manufacturer's suggested retail price
(MSRP), also called the sticker price.
Q:
The price the dealer is quoting for my
vehicle differs from the base price listed in the Prices
section of my report. Why?
A:
The prices
listed in the "Prices" section of our new car reports are for
the base model and trimline for that vehicle. In many cases,
however, the base model for a vehicle may be for a manual
transmission. You may have to add the price for an automatic
transmission if you are interested in a vehicle equipped this
way; see Standard Equipment and Options section of the report
for this price.
Q:
What is the Consumer Reports Bottom Line
Price?
A:
The place to start when negotiating for a
new car. It takes into account the unadvertised dealer
incentives, dealer holdbacks, and consumer rebates that may be
in effect.
Q:
What is the dealer invoice price?
A:
The maximum amount the dealer pays the
manufacturer for a vehicle. It is no longer the bottom line
when vehicles are in good supply.
Q:
What is the base MSRP?
A:
The manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP),
also called the sticker price, for the vehicle, including standard equipment
and options only.
Q:
What is a dealer incentive?
A:
A discount or incentive given to dealers by
the manufacturer to help dealers move inventory. Dealer
incentives are not reflected in the total MSRP. A dealer may
be willing to share some or all of these unadvertised
incentives with you but is under no obligation to do so.
However, just knowing about the existence of dealer incentives
can give you a negotiating advantage.
Q:
What is a dealer holdback?
A:
Domestic automakers and some foreign
manufacturers give their dealers a "holdback"-a refund of 1 to
3 percent of the MSRP or sticker price-often at the end of the
year or quarter.
Q:
What is a consumer rebate? How often is
it updated in your reports?
A:
A cash rebate given directly to you, the
vehicle purchaser, by the manufacturer. We continually update
our price reports to reflect new consumer-rebate information
as we receive it.
Q:
Why is my dealer offering a consumer
rebate or incentive, but my price report lists none?
A:
We report on national rebates and
incentives. If your dealer is offering a rebate or incentive
not listed on your price report, it is probably only for your
region or that dealership.
Q:
Can you explain the meaning of the
destination charge?
A:
This is the manufacturer's fee for
transporting the vehicle from the assembly plant or port of
entry to the dealer. The destination charge is usually the
same anywhere in the country, though there are exceptions.
It's a legitimate charge, and it's non-negotiable.
Q:
What does "luxury tax" mean?
A:
A federal tax on vehicles that had a purchase price over $38,000. Luxury tax was phased out January 1, 2003 by the government.
Q:
What are dealer advertising fees?
A:
These fees may be added by some dealers to
cover local advertising expenses. The manufacturer sometimes
calls this a marketing adjustment. In some cases a portion of
these fees is already included in the price of the car. Dealer
advertising fees will vary and may even appear on the invoice
as a separate charge. Either way, you should ask the dealer to
verify this charge for you.
Q:
What is a gas-guzzler tax?
A:
A federal tax imposed on models with poor
gas mileage.
Q:
How do I calculate a final negotiation
price for the vehicle I'm interested in?
A:
To
calculate this price, first determine which trim line, such as
LX or GT, you're interested in. Locate the Consumer Reports
Bottom Line Price for this trim line. Next, add the dealer
invoice price for any factory-installed options or equipment
packages you want to add to your vehicle; see the options
section and the equipment-packages section of your price
report. Use the total price as a starting point in your
negotiations.
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Standard Equipment and Options
Q:
What is the manufacturer code?
A:
This number identifies and is used for
ordering each base vehicle, feature, and option package. We
provide it so you, the purchaser, can communicate clearly and
accurately with the dealer.
Q:
Do the reports come with all option
packages for the vehicle?
A:
Yes. All
factory-installed option packages for the vehicle, and their
prices, will be on the report. However, while we list
dealer-installed options, we do not provide prices, since they
vary from dealer to dealer.
Q:
Why are there two different prices listed
next to the options on my price report?
A:
The first
price is the dealer invoice price for that option. The second
price is the manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) for
that option.
Q:
What does the asterisk or "star" mean?
A:
A note applies to that option; it appears
to the left of the asterisk or star.
Q:
What is the difference between "no charge"
and "standard"?
A:
"No charge" means that you can choose
the option, but you don't have to pay for it. "Standard" means
that the option is automatically included by the manufacturer.
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Equipment Packages
Q:
The option group I am interested in
has a note that reads, "Price includes a discount ..." Do I
subtract the amount of the discount?
A:
No. The
dealer invoice price and the MSRP in the column are the
corrected prices; the discount has already been subtracted.
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Consumer Reports Safety Data
Q:
Why does my price report list safety data as unavailable?
A:
The vehicle you have requested has not been
tested or has not been tested recently, or the data collected
were unusable or not applicable.
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Consumer Reports Alternate Models
Q:
How do you
come up with the "predicted reliability" Rating?
A:
Consumer Reports' unique
Frequency-of-Repair, based on more than 1.3 million reader responses to our Annual Questionnaire, allow us to predict reliability for most new models.
Q:
Why does my report list predicted
reliability as "new"?
A:
"New"
indicates that the model is new or has been redesigned for
that year and that there are insufficient data for us to
predict reliability.
Q:
How do you come up with the "owner
satisfaction" Rating?
A:
Our latest
Annual Questionnaire to hundreds of thousands of our readers
asks whether they would buy their vehicle again. We compile a
Rating based on their responses.
Q:
How do you come up with the "depreciation"
Rating?
A:
Our prediction of how well a new model will
keep its value is based on the difference between the model's
original sticker price and its resale value three years later.
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Guide to Buying and Leasing
Q: Why should
I reject extended warranties, rust proofing, fabric
protection, "pre-delivery inspection" charges, and the like?
A:
They are generally worthless or overpriced,
particularly for vehicles that have a high reliability Rating.
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Calculations and Prices
Step A:
Base Value
Q:
Why are the used-car price ranges listed
on my report different from those of other companies that
offer similar services?
A:
The vehicle valuations we
provide are based on statistics and forecasts from our
resale-value forecasting database; industry surveys including
national valuation services; trends in new-car pricing,
supply, and demand; and trends in the used-car market.
Since no two used-car transactions are exactly the same, we
provide price ranges rather than exact values.
Q:
What if my
mileage is between the figures listed?
A:
Select the
mileage that is closest to your situation. If your mileage
falls between the mileage points shown, the value of your
vehicle is between those two price ranges.
Q:
What if my mileage is above or below the
figures listed?
A:
We cannot
forecast a realistic value at mileage outside the ranges
given. Since so few vehicles are outside those ranges, there
is no firm market for those vehicles.
A vehicle with higher mileage than the
highest we show is obviously worth something less than the
figure for the highest mileage. If you're a buyer, try to
negotiate something much lower than the price listed. If
you're a seller, you might set the price at the value that we
show for the highest mileage. Ultimately, the final price will
depend on your negotiations.
If the vehicle has lower mileage than
the lowest we show, it's the opposite situation. If you're a
buyer, offer a price as if it were at the lowest mileage we
show. If you're a seller, set a price as high as you feel you can.
Q:
How do I know where my vehicle is in the price range?
A:
The price ranges we show are for vehicles
in average to above-average condition. The low end of the
range is for vehicles in average condition, and the high end
of the range is for above-average condition.
Q:
Why is the value for my car higher than
the manufacturer's suggested retail price for the vehicle when new?
A:
The price ranges we provide are based on a
vehicle equipped with a certain set of options and having a
particular amount of mileage. If a vehicle has an extremely
low rate of depreciation and low mileage, you may see a price
greater than its original manufacturer's suggested retail
price (MSRP).
Step B: Additional Equipment
Q:
What does "included" mean in Step B? And
why do some items have a check mark?
A:
Features
shown as "included" are figured into the prices shown in Step
A. If your vehicle is equipped with more features or options,
you need to add the prices for these additional features under
"total additions."
Q:
Why are options that are included with my
vehicle not listed on the report?
A:
The options
listed on the report are the options we have determined
currently affect the value of your vehicle.
Q:
What are deductions?
A: These are
features that, if missing, will reduce the value of your
vehicle. If your vehicle is not equipped with these features,
to obtain a more accurate value you need to subtract the
prices for these missing features under "total deductions."
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Consumer Reports Reliability Details and Summary
Q:
How do you
determine the "trouble spots" and your reliability verdict?
A:
Our reliability Ratings are based on more than 1.3 million reader responses to our Annual Questionnaire. These Ratings compare your vehicle with the "average car" for that model year.
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Username and Password - ConsumerReports.org
Subscribers
Q:
I currently have an account with
ConsumerReports.org. Should I use my
ConsumerReports.org Username and Password to order New and Used
Car Price Reports?
A:
Yes.
Current subscribers to ConsumerReports.org should use
their Username and Password when ordering New and Used
Car Price Reports -- that way, users who are subscribed to
ConsumerReports.org and New and Used Car Price Reports will
have to remember only one Username and Password.
Q:
I am a past subscriber to
ConsumerReports.org, but do not currently have an
account. Do I need to create a new Username and Password?
A:
No. You can use
the same Username and Password when ordering New and Used Car
Price Reports -- once you log in using this Username and
Password, your order information will automatically populate the
order form.
Q:
Why do I need to pick out a Username and
Password?
A:
To re-access your Consumer Reports New and
Used Car Price Service Reports for a period of 30 days.
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Username and Password - New and Used Car Price Service
Customers
Q:
Why do I need to create a Username and Password?
A:
To
re-access your Consumer Reports New and Used Car Price Service
Reports for a period of 30 days.
Q:
I currently have access to a New or Used
Car Price Report. Should I use my Username and
Password to order additional New or Used Car Price Reports?
A:
Yes. To order additional New and
Used Car Price Reports, please use your current Username
and Password.
Q:
I have ordered Consumer Reports New
and Used Car Price Reports in the past, but currently do not
have an active account. Do I need to create a new
Username and Password?
A:
No.
You can use the same Username and Password when ordering New
and Used Car Price Reports -- once you log in using this
Username and Password, your order information will
automatically populate the order form.
Q:
I currently have access to a New or Used
Car Price Report but do not have an active subscription to
ConsumerReports.org. Will I have full access to
ConsumerReports.org using my current Username and Password?
A:
No. In order to gain full access to ConsumerReports.org, please
click here to subscribe.
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Report Delivery
Q:
How will I receive my car price
report(s)?
A:
New and Used Car Price Reports are
available by fax and mail or can be viewed online.
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Markets Served
Q:
Is the New and Used Car Price Service
available outside the U.S.?
A:
Our New Car Price Service is available for both the US and Canadian marketplace. Unfortunately, our Used Car Price Service is only available in the U.S., since the information contained in our reports is relevant only for vehicles sold in this country.
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Viewing and Re-Accessing Online
Reports
Q:
Do I need
any particular software to be able to view my car reports
online?
A:
No. New and Used Car Price Reports can be viewed through your web browser. We recommend using Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher or Firefox 2.0 for PCs and Safari 2.0 or Safari 3.0 for MACs along with a screen resolution of 800x600 or larger.
Q:
I have completed entering my order
information and have chosen the "view online" delivery option.
What should I do next to view my reports?
A:
Once you
complete your order and click on "submit Order," you will be
taken to a page that confirms your order. This page will allow
you to access the report(s) you have just ordered simply by
clicking on the name of the vehicle report you would like to
view.
If you have ordered more than one
report, you'll be able to view the other reports in your order
by clicking on the report list in the upper-right corner of
each report page.
Q:
I ordered an online report last week and
would like to view it again. How do I re-access this report?
A:
There are several ways to re-access "view online"
reports ordered within the past 30 days. You will need to enter
your account username and password; you may click on the "re-access
reports" link at top of this page or you may re-access
the report by clicking on the link located in the order confirmation
sent to you by e-mail.
Please note that
only reports that have been ordered as "view online" can be re-accessed
online, and are available for 30 days from the time you
have placed your order.
Q:
I would like to re-access the "view
online" reports I ordered more than 30 days ago, but my
re-access privileges appear to have expired. May I continue to
view these reports?
A:
If you are
no longer able to view your car reports online because your
re-access privileges have expired, you will need to reorder
these reports to view them again.
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Fax Delivery
Q:
When will I receive my faxed price report(s)?
A:
Your report should reach you within four
hours of placing your order, during business hours: Monday to
Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time; Saturday
and Sunday, 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
Q:
I ordered my price report more than three
hours ago and haven't received it.
Please make
sure that your fax machine is set to receive faxes only and
that it has enough paper. If, after four hours, you still
haven't received your report, please call 800-333-6300.
What if my fax machine is connected to my
answering machine or computer?
A:
To ensure
that you receive your report, we ask that your fax machine not
be connected to your answering machine or computer. We will
attempt to fax your order to a fax machine attached to an
answering machine or computer if it is turned on to accept
faxes only. However, if we experience difficulties in sending
the fax, we will send your order by first-class mail; it
should arrive in five to seven business days.
Q:
Do I have to include my daytime telephone number?
A:
We would like to have this number in case
we have a problem delivering your report and need to contact
you.
Q:
Why do I have to
include my e-mail address on a fax or mail order?
A:
We require that you include your e-mail address so that we
can provide you with an email confirming your order.
Q:
How long are New Car and Used Car Price Reports?
A:
Each New Car Price Report averages 10 to
20 pages. Used Car Price Reports are 4 pages. Please be sure
you have enough paper in your fax machine.
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Mail Delivery
Q:
When will I receive my mailed price
report?
A:
We send price reports by first-class mail;
yours should arrive in five to seven business days.
Q:
I submitted my order more than seven days
ago but haven't received my price report. Why?
A:
Generally, we ask our customers to allow
five to seven business days to receive a price report by mail.
If you haven't received your price report by that time, please
call 1-800-333-6300.
Q:
May I receive my price report by express
mail, such as overnight, next day, second day, or priority mail?
A:
Price reports are currently available by
first-class mail only. However, when youorder, you can choose
to view and print your price reports online.
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Payment
Q:
I placed an order earlier today and would like to order an additional report for $12.
A:
Our multiple-report price discount applies only to reports requested in the same order. Therefore,
before submitting your order, please add as many price reports as you like for only $12 each.
Q:
I am not comfortable with using
my credit card online.
A:
Please be assured that the personal information you provide
to purchase Consumer Reports New and Used Car Price Reports,
including your credit-card number, is secure. See our security page
for more details.
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Tips on Ordering Truck Reports
Q:
I'm interested in obtaining a New Car Price Report for a
Chevrolet or GMC pickup truck, but I'm not sure whether to
choose the 1500, 2500, or 3500 model.
A:
On
Chevrolet and GMC pickup trucks, "1500," "2500," and "3500"
represent the vehicle's weight. The 1500 models are half-ton
trucks, the 2500 models are three-quarter-ton trucks, and the
3500 models are full-ton trucks. Chevrolet also manufactures a
Silverado 1500 and a Silverado 2500 truck. Each vehicle is
available as an individual price report.
Q:
Will my Dodge Ram New Car Price Report
include the club cab and quad cab as well as the regular cab
trim line?
A:
Yes. All Dodge Ram pickup-truck New Car Price Reports
include information about the regular, club, and crew cabs.
However, since the two-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive
versions are considered separate models, each is available as
an individual price report, so you must specify which report
you would like to order.
Q:
I'm interested in obtaining a New
Car Price Report for a Ford pickup truck, but I'm not sure
which model and trim line to choose.
A:
Selecting a Ford pickup truck report
requires that you know the vehicle's weight (F150 or half-ton, F250 or
three-quarter ton, F350 or full ton), cab size (regular, super, or crew
cab). You may also have to choose whether the model you
are interested in has two-wheel drive or four-wheel drive.
For example: 2002 Ford F150Supercab 4WD.
Q:
Do I need to specify whether I would like
information on a two-wheel-drive or a four-wheel-drive model
for sport-utility vehicles?
A:
The Ford Explorer and Jeep Grand Cherokee two-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive models are divided into separate reports, so you must specify which report you would like to order.
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Here is a guide to select the correct truck:
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1) Is this a new or used truck?
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2) What is the year?
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3) Who is the truck's manufacturer?
(i.e. Ford, GM, etc)
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4) What is the truck's tonnage?
(i.e. 1/4 ton, 1/2 ton, etc)
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5) What body style is it?
(How many doors does it have - - only 2 doors, 2
full-size and 2 small doors, 4 full size)
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6) Is it 2 or 4 wheel drive?
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7) Does it have any special features? (i.e. dual rear wheels, heavy duty, etc)
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Chevrolet Silverado Trucks:
- 1500 is 1/2 ton
- 2500 is 3/4 ton
- 3500 is a full ton
- HD = Heavy Duty
- Has separate reports for the 2WD and the 4WD trimlines except when not specified
- Cab Styles
- Regular Cab has 2 doors and full size front seats
- Extended Cab
has 2 full size and 2 small doors; full size seats in the front and jump seats in the back
- Crew Cab
has 4 full size doors and full size seats in the front and a full size seats in the back
GMC Sierra Trucks:
- C = 2 wheel drive
- K = 4 wheel drive
- 1500 is 1/2 ton
- 2500 is 3/4 ton
- 3500 is a full ton
- HD = Heavy Duty. This means
that the model is available with a diesel engine
- Cab Styles
- Regular Cab has 2 doors and full size front seats
- Extended Cab
has 2 full size and 2 small doors; full size seats in the front and jump seats in the back
- Crew Cab
has 4 full size doors and full size seats in the front and full size seats in the back
Nissan Trucks:
- The Frontier and the Titan are available with two Cab Styles -> King Cab and Crew Cab
- Both are available either with 2WD or 4WD.
- Cab Styles
- King Cab
has 2 full size and 2 small doors; full size seats in the front and jump seats in the back
- Crew Cab
has 4 full size doors and full size seats in the front and full size seats in the back
Mazda Trucks:
- The B-Series Pickup is available as regular cab only for the B2300 trimline. All other trimlines are Cab Plus 4.
- 4WD is standard on the B4000 series and is not available on any other trim level.
- Cab Styles
- Regular Cab
has 2 doors and full front seats
- Cab Plus 4
has 2 full size and 2 small doors; full size seats in the front and jump seats in the back
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Ford Trucks:
- F150 is 1/2 ton
- F250 is 3/4 ton
- F350 is a full ton
- DRW = dual rear wheels
- Box Styles
- Styleside
– pickup box that matches the contours of the front fenders/cab
- Flareside
– pickup box with separate fenders that usually don’t match the contours of the front
fenders/cab and may have a step on the side of the pickup box.
- Cab Styles
- Regular Cab has 2 doors and full size front seats
- SuperCabhas 2 full size and 2 small doors; full size seats in the front and jump seats in the back
- SuperCrew Cab has 4 full size doors and full size seats in the front and full size seats in the back
Ford Explorer
- 2WD and 4WD reports are all 4-door models
- Sport is the 2-door model, includes both 2WD and 4WD
- SportTrak has the short truck bed in the rear
Dodge Dakota and Dodge Ram Trucks:
- The Dodge reports are divided by the vehicle tonnage: 1500, 2500, and 3500
- Has separate reports for the 2WD and the 4WD trimlines except when not specified
- WS stands for Work Special on the 1500
- Cab Styles
- Regular Cab has 2 doors and full front seats
- Club Cab has 2 full size and 2 small doors; full size seats in the front and jump seats in the back
- Quad Cab has 4 full size doors and full size seats in the front and a full size seats in the back
- Mega Cab is a similar configuration to Quad Cab except it has larger interior space .
Toyota Trucks:
- Toyota offers all Cab styles with available 2WD or 4WD
- The Prerunner trim level for the Tacoma has the essential features of the 4WD trims like an upgraded suspension and larger tires, but it’s 2WD.
- Box Styles
- Stepside (Tundra) – the pickup box has separate fenders that don’t match the contours of the front
fenders/cab and has a step on the side of the pickup box.
- Cab Styles
- Regular Cab has 2 doors and full front seats
- Access Cab has 2 full size and 2 small doors; full size seats in the front and jump seats in the back
- Double Cab has 4 full size doors and full size seats in the front and a full size seats in the back
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General Pickup Truck Acronyms
LWB – Long Wheel Base
SWB – Short Wheel Base
Other Possible Variations:
MWB– Mid Wheel Base
DRW – Dual Rear Wheels
Box Styles
"Styleside" is Ford’s equivalent to what some others call "Fleetside" - pickup box that
matches the contours of the fenders/cab.
"Flareside" is Ford's term for what some others call the "Stepside" or “ Sportside” - pickup box with separate fenders that usually doesn’t match the contours of the front fenders/cab and may have a step on the side of the pickup box.
Cab Styles
- Regular Cab
- Two doors leading to one row of seating.
- Extended Cab
- Two full sized doors and two small doors leading to two rows of seating.
- Crew Cab
-
Four full sized doors leading to two rows of seating. Crew cabs typically have more leg room in rear seating compared to extended cabs.
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Privacy
Q:
Do you sell name, address and phone number lists?
A:
No. We do not sell any names
or numbers to any outside organization. We keep all consumer information strictly confidential.
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Consumer Reports
Q:
Can you help me with my magazine subscription, Consumer Reports on Health, Consumer Reports Money Adviser or Consumer Reports ShopSmart?
A:
I do apologize but you have reached the Car Price Service. Let me give you the phone number directly to subscriptions and they will assist you with that. That number is 1-800-449-8575.
Q:
Can you help me with my book order?
A:
I do apologize but you have reached the Car Price Service.
Let me give you the phone number directly to our book order department and they will assist you. That number is 1-800-500-9760.
Q:
Can you help me with an article published in Consumer Reports?
A:
I do apologize but you have reached the Car Price Service. Please call our home office directly at 914-378-2300 between the hours of 9:15AM and 5:00PM Eastern Standard Time Monday – Thursday and 10:15AM and 5:00PM Eastern Standard Time on Friday.
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Questions 