Why Ownership Cost Matters More Than MSRP
Why ownership cost matters more than MSRP in the US—5-year cost is what you really pay; MSRP is just the starting point.
Ownership cost matters more than MSRP in the U.S. because what you really pay over 5 years is depreciation, fuel, insurance, and maintenance—MSRP is only the starting point. Here's why ownership cost matters more than MSRP.
TL;DR MSRP = sticker; it doesn't include tax, fees, or 5-year cost. Ownership cost = depreciation + fuel + insurance + maintenance over 5 years—that's what you pay. Use autopremo.com total cost of ownership to see 5-year cost. Use autopremo.com so you compare cars by real cost, not MSRP.MSRP Is Just the Starting Point
MSRP doesn't include tax, fees, or what you pay over time. Two cars with similar MSRP can have very different 5-year costs. Use autopremo.com total cost of ownership to see the full picture. Get total cost at autopremo.com.
Ownership Cost Is What You Really Pay
Over 5 years you pay: depreciation (often the biggest), fuel, insurance, maintenance. That's ownership cost. Compare cars by that number, not MSRP. Use autopremo.com total cost of ownership. See total cost at autopremo.com.
Compare by Ownership Cost
Same segment, different cars—run 5-year total cost for each. The lower-MSRP car can cost more to own. Use autopremo.com so you pick the car that actually costs less over time. Check total cost at autopremo.com.
Bottom Line
Ownership cost matters more than MSRP because it's what you really pay. Use autopremo.com total cost of ownership to compare by real cost so you don't choose a car that looks cheap on sticker but costs more to own.