[jyl]

All of you guys are ignoring the cost of fuel. Which could easily be $23,000 over your ownership of the car (100,000 miles / 20 mpg x $4.50 per gal, if gas isn't even higher over the next 5 years). Make that a 35 mpg car, and it is $13,000. Saving $10,000 is a huge factor in getting the lowest total cost, so I'm not sure why "choose a fuel-efficient car" isn't right up near the top of the recommendations.