Consider Total Cost of Ownership, Not Just Sticker Price

The Problem

You buy the cheapest option. 3 years later, you've spent more on fuel, insurance, and repairs than the price difference.

The Hack

Calculate 5-year ownership cost: purchase price + insurance + fuel + maintenance + depreciation. Edmunds TCO tool does this automatically. Compare total cost, not sticker price.

Why It Works

A Toyota Corolla costs ~$6,000/year to own. A BMW 3 Series costs ~$10,000/year. Over 5 years, the BMW costs $20,000 more in ownership despite a similar purchase price. Sticker price is misleading.

Pro Tips

• Edmunds.com True Cost to Own (TCO): calculates everything
• Fuel: compare MPG and calculate annual fuel cost
• Insurance: get quotes before buying
• Japanese cars (Toyota, Honda) consistently have lowest TCO