Data & Methodology

What the vehicle dataset represents

Each model page starts with a representative recent U.S.-market configuration, not a live dealer quote and not a promise that a particular trim can be ordered at that price. Manufacturer suggested retail prices and published specifications are the starting point. Efficiency is cross-checked against official manufacturer material and the U.S. government's FuelEconomy.gov database where a matching configuration is listed.

Residuals, depreciation curves, insurance, and maintenance are modeled estimates. They synthesize publicly visible listing ranges, auction outcomes, published lease programs, owner-cost surveys, service schedules, and specialty-insurance planning ranges. They are deliberately rounded because a false extra digit would imply precision the market does not have.

Lease calculation

The calculator uses the standard U.S. closed-end lease structure: monthly depreciation plus the rent charge, then tax. Residual value is calculated from MSRP. The rent charge is the net capitalized cost plus residual value, multiplied by the money factor. APR and money factor use the conventional 2,400 conversion.

Estimated residual adjustments for term and mileage are planning aids only. The leasing bank's residual table controls the real transaction and is not negotiable. Taxes are simplified to one user-entered rate because states differ in what they tax and when they collect it.

Lease-versus-buy comparison

Buying is measured on a net-cost basis: cash paid plus loan payments, minus the equity remaining in the car. Equity equals modeled market value less outstanding loan principal. Leasing is measured as the economic value surrendered at signing plus all scheduled payments. This prevents a trade-in credit or down payment from disappearing merely because it lowers the monthly bill.

Total cost of ownership

TCO adds depreciation, insurance, maintenance, fuel or electricity, and annual registration or property-tax estimates. It does not include financing opportunity cost, parking, storage, detailing, track use, fines, accident damage, or income-tax treatment. Maintenance is lighter during early warranty years and rises as the car ages. EV energy uses the EPA definition of 33.7 kWh per gallon-equivalent.

Watch and yacht estimates

Watch pages compare authorized-dealer retail with rounded secondary-market asking ranges, then add insurance and scheduled service to a five-year holding model. A market premium is not treated as guaranteed investment return: dealer access, condition, box and papers, transaction fees, and the bid-ask spread can change the result materially.

Yacht pages combine value loss with crew payroll, premium dockage, insurance, maintenance and refit reserve, and fuel at a user-selected operating profile. Charter comparisons use base weekly rates before taxes, crew gratuity, and the advance provisioning allowance. Builder quotes, surveys, marina contracts, and actual duty cycles should replace every default before a purchase decision.

How to use the estimates responsibly

• Replace the money factor and residual with the bank's exact numbers.
• Use an insurance quote for your driver profile and garaging address.
• Enter the negotiated transaction price, not an advertised monthly payment.
• Stress-test resale value above and below the modeled curve.
• Confirm tax treatment with the relevant state or local authority.

Corrections and update policy

Luxemetry reviews the dataset at least annually and sooner when a model is replaced or the market moves materially. If you spot a stale specification or a calculation that does not reproduce, email hello@luxemetry.com with the model, the value, and a public source. We prioritize corrections that change a user's decision.

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