[buescher]

Cars are a great example when you compare just about any used car to being able to finance a new $15K econobox - the econobox will win on TCO. (And at low interest rates, you are better off holding on to your cash and financing). But not when comparing new cars. A $16K Chevrolet Spark LS has a five-year TCO of $26460. Your Camry Hybrid LE (at least twice as much as a Spark in cash outlay) has a five-year TCO of $31903. The Corolla L, which is a sort of benchmark of frugality, has a five-year TCO of $28814.