« April 2009 | Main | June 2009 »

May 28, 2009

2009 Toyota Sienna Wins AutoPacific's Vehicle Satisfaction Award for Minivan

2009_Toyota_Sienna_LE.jpgFor the second year in a row, the Toyota Sienna comes out on top in the Minivan segment. No, the Sienna does not come in first in every attribute, but it does extremely well, with first place (or tied for first place) finishes in 26 of 48 satisfaction measures, including many of those ranked most important. The Sienna is the class leader in: • Brand and vehicle reputation • Overall quality • Ride and handling • Quietness inside the vehicle • Safety features and feeling safe while driving • Innovative technology • Details like the feel of interior fabrics and materials • Financial considerations, including value for the money, anticipated resale value and operating costs

Posted by Stephanie Brinley at 10:32 AM | | Comments (0)


2009 Kia Sportage Wins AutoPacific's Vehicle Satisfaction Award for Compact CUV

2009_KiaSportage.jpgThe Kia Sportage wins the Vehicle Satisfaction Award for the Compact Crossover Sport Utility Vehicle segment on the strength of a combination of high-scoring product and financial characteristics. Sporting a fresh face for 2009MY, the four-year-old Sportage won against newer competition, including the Suzuki Grand Vitara and Jeep Compass and Patriot. Areas in which the Kia Sportage leads its segment include: • Ride and handling • Safety features and feeling safe while driving • Quietness inside the vehicle • Feel of interior fabrics and materials • Innovative technology • Warranty • Price, operating costs and value for the money

Posted by Stephanie Brinley at 10:29 AM | | Comments (0)


2009 Volkswagen Tiguan Wins AutoPacific's Vehicle Satisfaction Award for Mid-Size CUV

2009_VW_Tiguan.jpgVolkswagen seizes the lead in the Mid-Size Crossover SUV segment over strong competition including the well-regarded Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V and major change Ford Escape. How did they do that? With great owner satisfaction ratings for overall satisfaction, and specifically with respect to: • Fun-to-drive, power/acceleration, handling • Exterior and interior styling including instrument layout, the feel of interior fabrics and materials, and the quality feel/operation of controls • Durability/long lasting

Posted by Stephanie Brinley at 10:25 AM | | Comments (0)


2009 Toyota Venza Wins AutoPacific's Vehicle Satisfaction Award for Premium Mid-Size SUV

2009_Toyota_Venza.jpgThe new Toyota Venza wins the Vehicle Satisfaction Award for the Premium Mid-Size Crossover SUV category. The Venza wins with a combination of desirable product, brand reputation and financial attributes and is rated first-in-class in the following: • Brand reputation • Ease of entry/egress • Interior styling • Reliability/dependability, durability and quality • Safety features • Financial considerations, including value for the money, fuel economy and anticipated resale value

Posted by Stephanie Brinley at 10:18 AM | | Comments (0)


May 27, 2009

2009 Mazda CX-9 Wins AutoPacific's Vehicle Satisfaction Award for Large Crossover SUV

2009_Mazda CX-9.jpgMazda has a real winner on its hands with the CX-9 - a Large Crossover SUV that actually says Zoom-Zoom! The CX-9 is the outright winner in 26 of 48 satisfaction attributes, and is well rated in the rest. Winning attributes of the CX-9 include such important characteristics as: • Exterior styling and size • Fun-to-drive, power/acceleration and handling (the essence of Zoom-Zoom) • Seating capacity and flexible/changeable seating • Quality, reliability/dependable, durable/long lasting • Safety features and a feeling of safety while driving • Operating costs, anticipated resale value and value for money

Posted by Stephanie Brinley at 10:10 AM | | Comments (0)


2009 Land Rover LR2 Wins AutoPacific's Vehicle Satisfaction Award for Luxury CUV

2009_LandRoverLr2.jpgThe Land Rover LR2 wins the Luxury Crossover SUV Vehicle Satisfaction Award over strong domestic and import brand competition. In its second year in current form, the smallest Land Rover outscored the likes of the Acura RDX, Infiniti EX, BMW X3 and Lincoln MKX. LR2 scored well for product and financial attributes including: • Image • Ride • Ease of entry/egress • Durability • Fuel economy and operating costs • Value for the money, anticipated resale value • Warranty

Posted by Stephanie Brinley at 9:04 AM | | Comments (0)


2009 Jeep Liberty Wins AutoPacific's Vehicle Satisfaction Award for Mid-Size SUV

2009_JeepLiberty_a.jpgThe freshest entry in the segment, Jeep Liberty wins the Vehicle Satisfaction Award for the Mid-Size Sport Utility segment. The Liberty offers serious off-road capability in a comfortable size and in a familiar shape. It earns class-leading scores in such critical categories as: • Safety features and feeling safe while driving • Value for the money, always an important consideration • Audio system performance • Driver's seat comfort • Ease of entry/egress

Posted by Stephanie Brinley at 8:58 AM | | Comments (1)


2009 Ford Explorer Wins AutoPacific's Vehicle Satisfaction Award for Premium Mid-Size SUV

2009_FordExplorer.jpgFord Explorer is the vehicle that started it all, way back in 1991. As the first of the modern four-door SUVs, Explorer turned the market around. The 2009 Explorer continues its excellence as a vehicle for all seasons. Owners rate it tops in the Premium Mid-Size Sport Utility category, with a high score in most categories. Rather than class-leading scores all around, the key to this win is having no low score in any area. In addition, the Explorer is segment leader in the following areas: • Ride and handling • Safety features • Controls have quality feel/operation • Seating capacity and comfort • Flexible/changeable seating • Cargo space/capacity • Ease of loading/unloading cargo • Overall dealer experience was also best in class

Posted by Stephanie Brinley at 8:55 AM | | Comments (0)


May 26, 2009

2009 Chevrolet Tahoe Wins AutoPacific's Vehicle Satisfaction Award for Large SUV

2009_ChevyTahoe.jpgThe Chevrolet Tahoe is the Vehicle Satisfaction Award winner in the Large Sport Utility Vehicle segment. In addition to the Tahoe's traditional virtues, Tahoe owners rate their new vehicle highly in some unexpected areas, perhaps reflecting the availability of the high technology Two-Mode Hybrid model. The Tahoe rates tops in its segment with respect to: • Value for the money • Exterior and interior styling • Ride and handling • Durability • Safety features and a feeling of safety while driving • Instrument layout and audio system performance • Innovative technology • Environmental friendliness, and fuel economy

Posted by Stephanie Brinley at 8:49 AM | | Comments (0)


2009 Cadillac Escalade Wins AutoPacific's Vehicle Satisfaction Award for Luxury SUV

2009_CadillacEscalade.jpgThe Cadillac Escalade dominates the Luxury Sport Utility segment with top-of-the-segment scores in no fewer than 30 of 48 attributes. The Escalade, also a 2008 winner, comes out on top despite tough domestic and import brand competition. Leading Escalade attributes include: • Brand reputation, vehicle reputation and image • Exterior and interior appearance • Dynamic characteristics including ride, handing and braking • Quality, reliability and dependability • Safety features (and large size) give Escalade owners a strong feeling of safety while driving

Posted by Stephanie Brinley at 8:46 AM | | Comments (0)


2009 Ford Explorer Sport Trac Wins AutoPacific Vehicle Satisfaction Award for Compact Pickup

2009_FordExplorerSportTrac.jpgFor the third year in a row, the Ford Explorer Sport Trac takes top honors in the Compact Pickup segment. The four-door crew-cab configuration in combination with a usable bed size proves to be a winning combination. Owners give the Explorer Sport Trac leading ratings for: • Both exterior and interior styling • Several package-related characteristics, including exterior size, ease of entry/egress, rear seat comfort, and driver's visibility • Vehicle dynamics, with high scores for ride and handing • Quietness inside the vehicle was also best in segment

Posted by Stephanie Brinley at 8:42 AM | | Comments (0)


2009 Dodge Ram Wins AutoPacific's Vehicle Satisfaction Award for Large Pickup

2009_Dodge_Ram_1500_front.jpgThe Dodge Ram is all-new for 2009, and Dodge is setting a new and higher standard for the full-size pickup segment with this generation Ram. It offers class-leading strength in many important areas, and dramatic styling and a new coil-spring rear suspension contribute to the class win. Attributes where the new Ram is the class leader include: • Exterior and interior appearance, and image • Dynamic characteristics, specifically including ride, handling and braking • Overall quality, and warranty • Safety features, and a feeling of safety when driving • And, perhaps most important of all, value for the money

Posted by Stephanie Brinley at 8:40 AM | | Comments (0)


2009 Scion tC Wins AutoPacific's Vehicle Satisfaction Award for Sporty Car

2009_Scion_tC.jpgWinning for a third year in a row, owners in the Sporty Car segment have kept the Scion tC number one. Beating out noble competitors, both import and domestic, owners within the segment prove once again that the tC is a real winner. The tC earned class-leading scores in such critical categories as: • Flexible/changeable seating, rear (second-row) seat comfort (rear seats recline) and ease of loading/unloading cargo • Fuel economy/gas mileage • Price/monthly payments along with top marks for operating costs

Posted by Stephanie Brinley at 8:34 AM | | Comments (0)


May 22, 2009

2009 Porsche 911 Wins AutoPacific's Vehicle Satisfaction Award for Sports Car

2009_Porsche911.jpgTaking pole position in the Sports Car segment, owners prove once again that there is no substitute for this timeless icon. After winning AutoPacific's Ideal Vehicle Award in 2008, the 911 is back in 2009 earning the Vehicle Satisfaction Award in the Sports Car segment. The 911 dominated the segment, winning 24 of the 48 satisfaction measurements. Some of those winning attributes include: • Overall satisfaction • Driver's seat comfort, visibility and instrumentation • Vehicle and brand reputation • Interior styling with top marks for feel of fabrics and materials • Fun to drive with segment-leading handling • Controls have quality feel/operation • Safety features and a feeling of safety while driving • Overall quality, with top marks for reliability, dependability, durability, longevity and warranty added to the win

Posted by Stephanie Brinley at 8:24 AM | | Comments (0)


2009 Honda Fit Wins AutoPacific's Vehicle Satisfaction Award for Economy Car

2009_HondaFitSport2.jpgWithin the Economy Car segment, the Honda Fit blew the competition into the weeds. There is simply not much owners don't like about the Fit. From overall satisfaction to anticipated resale value, the Fit dominated the Economy Car segment, scoring highest in no fewer than 34 of 48 attributes. A few of those class-leading attributes include: • Overall quality with top scores for reliability, dependability, durability and longevity • Ease of getting in and out with flexible changeable seating - a clever interior with interior storage/ compartments • Ease of loading/unloading cargo • Brand and vehicle reputation along with image • Fun to drive with best in segment ride and handling • Controls have quality feel/operation • Perhaps most important, value for the money including operating costs, fuel economy and anticipated resale value • Top marks for seat visibility and instrument layout • Innovative technology and safety features received top marks and helped owners feeling safe while driving

Posted by Stephanie Brinley at 8:21 AM | | Comments (0)


2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Wins AutoPacific's Vehicle Satisfaction Award for Compact Car

2009_Mitsu_LancerRalliart.jpgFor the second year in a row, the Mitsubishi Lancer has won the Compact Car segment. Lancer owners have weighed in on the eighth-generation Lancer. They rate it highly, giving it the segment win against worthy competition like the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla. With a class-leading image, the Lancer looks the part. Attributes for which the Lancer strongly scored include: • Image and exterior styling • Safety features that help owners feel safe while driving • Vehicle dynamics which include fun to drive, handling, braking, power and acceleration • Lancer is great to look at and a blast to drive

Posted by Stephanie Brinley at 8:18 AM | | Comments (1)


2009 Toyota Prius Wins AutoPacific's Vehicle Satisfaction Award for Image Compact Car

2009_Toyota_Prius.jpgWith an unmistakable image, both literally and figuratively, it was no surprise that the Toyota Prius won out against the competition in the Image Compact Car segment. Prius dominates the segment with owner's satisfaction scores, especially in terms of reputation and innovation. Areas in which the Prius leads the segment include: • Innovative technology and environmental friendliness • Vehicle and brand reputation • Interior storage/compartments • Fuel economy/gas mileage • Quietness inside the vehicle and vehicle ride

Posted by Stephanie Brinley at 8:14 AM | | Comments (0)


May 21, 2009

2009 Ford Fusion Wins AutoPacific's Vehicle Satisfaction Award for Mid-Size Car

2009_FordFusion.jpgFending off import competition from Volkswagen and Mitsubishi and domestic competition from Chrysler and GM, the Ford Fusion pulled through a win in the Mid-Size Car segment. The Fusion took top marks for its combination of size, safety, and comfort. Leading characteristics include: • Safety features, which give Ford Fusion owners a strong feeling of safety while driving • Interior package was applauded for driver's seat comfort, storage/compartments, quietness inside the vehicle, instrument layout and audio system performance • Exterior size • Braking

Posted by Stephanie Brinley at 8:08 AM | | Comments (0)


2009 Hyundai Sonata Wins AutoPacific's Vehicle Satisfaction Award for Premium Mid-Size Car

2009_HyundaiSonata.jpgEvolving through four generations and sporting a fresh facelift for the 2009 model year, the Hyundai Sonata won against extremely strong competition. Facing off against the segment-defining Honda Accord and Toyota Camry, the Hyundai Sonata won owners over and pulled off a significant class win in the Premium Mid-Size Car segment. Attributes where the Sonata is the clear class leader include:

• Value from its reasonable operating costs, its solid warranty - 100,000 mile powertrain, and its affordable price and monthly payments
• Exterior size
• Interior storage/compartments
• Driver's seat forward and rearward visibility

Posted by Stephanie Brinley at 8:04 AM | | Comments (3)


2009 Lexus ES350 Wins AutoPacific's Vehicle Satisfaction Award for Luxury Mid-Size Car

2009_Lexus_ES350.jpgLexus ES wins the Vehicle Satisfaction Award for the Mid-Size Luxury Car segment, collecting high marks for attributes we have come to expect from the Lexus brand. In its fifth generation, ES owners still report solid satisfaction with their vehicles. This is the second year in a row for the Lexus ES to take home a VSA. Of the 48 measurements included in AutoPacific's vehicle satisfaction calculations, the ES won 23 outright.

• Vehicle and brand reputation
• Overall quality, durability, reliability and dependability
• Vehicle's ride along with interior controls with a quality feel/operation
• Feel of fabrics and materials along with top marks for driver's seat comfort
• Anticipated resale value

Posted by Stephanie Brinley at 7:59 AM | | Comments (0)


2009 Lincoln Town Car Wins AutoPacific Vehicle Satisfaction Score for Large Car

2008_LincolnTownCar.jpgIn the Large Car segment the Lincoln Town Car took top honors. Capturing 29 out of the 48 measurements for satisfaction, owners of this American icon appreciate the generous dimensions and loads of standard features. Town Car excels in areas that lead to a comfortable environment, allowing this stately sedan to age gracefully. Among the areas Town Car earned top scores are: * Vehicle's reputation with winning scores for durability and longevity * Feeling safe while driving * Several package related characteristics, including cargo space/capacity and both forward and rearward driver's seat visibility * Vehicle's ride

Posted by Stephanie Brinley at 7:55 AM | | Comments (0)


May 20, 2009

2009 Hyundai Genesis Wins AutoPacific Vehicle Satisfaction Award for Aspirational Luxury Car

2009_Hyundai_Genesis_1.jpgGenesis won the 2009 North American Car of the Year Award, but the AutoPacific 2009 Vehicle Satisfaction Award is the first opportunity owners have had to weigh in on their satisfaction. After all, it is the people who choose the car for their driveway that count, right? With top ratings from where it counts, Genesis took home the win in the Aspirational Luxury Car segment. Owners thought about it, reported back and pushed their car beyond the competition. • Genesis overachieves with affordable operating costs, good value for the money, and extraordinary warranty. All were rated as best in segment • Quietness inside the Genesis along with controls that are easy to understand and use also beat out the competition

Posted by Stephanie Brinley at 11:15 AM | | Comments (0)


Cadillac Wins AutoPacific Vehicle Satisfaction Award for Highest Brand Satisfaction

logocadillac2.jpgFor the second year in a row, Cadillac wins the AutoPacific Vehicle Satisfaction Award for top-scoring brand. Earning an overall score higher than thirty-six other major American, Asian and European brands including Lexus, Lincoln, Jaguar, Mercedes-Benz and BMW proves Cadillac understands their owners and satisfies them. Cadillac is successful across a range of attributes and an all-round winner, scoring highly in categories including: • Brand and vehicle reputation • Exterior and interior styling • Dynamic characteristics, including ride, handling and braking • Quality, reliability and durability • Safety features, and a feeling of safety when driving

Posted by Stephanie Brinley at 11:12 AM | | Comments (0)


2009 Lexus LS Wins AutoPacific Vehicle Satisfaction Award for Premium Luxury Car

2009_LexusLS460L.jpgOwners in the Premium Luxury Car segment return the Lexus LS to the top as the leader of the pack, a position the LS has taken seven of the past ten years. Owners tout the vehicle's reputation and give the LS top marks for overall quality, reliability and dependability. Lexus has proven successful with this winning combination year after year.

• LS owners value both Brand and Vehicle reputation highly
• Vehicle image is a key purchase motivator.
• Dependability, quality and reliability remain Lexus hallmarks
• Safety features, which give owners a strong feeling of safety while driving, are very important in their selection process

Posted by Stephanie Brinley at 10:34 AM | | Comments (0)


May 19, 2009

2009 Lexus IS250: A Wonderful Sports Sedan Grooming the Next Generation of Lexus Loyalists

Lexus_2009_IS250_front.JPGWe all know Lexus products as being paragons of quality and refinement, but many younger enthusiast drivers have long passed over the brand in favor of established performance names like BMW and Audi. No surprise there; Lexus products tend to be amazingly refined and quiet, providing a driving experience akin to manning a hyperbaric chamber. Given Lexus' 20 past years of wresting away market share from the Germans and the fact that they've been the best-selling luxury brand in the US for years, we'd have to say they've got the American luxury buyer licked. The majority of American luxury buyers really do want to waft along in utter silence, and no one does that better than Lexus.

The coveted entry luxury buyer (who represents a long-term opportunity to retain and move up through the brand), however, is younger and often wants a more engaging drive. And to those buyers, the BMW 3-Series has long been the default choice. There's good reason: in addition to looking great and possessing a really aspirational badge, the 3-Series has been generally peerless in terms of handling, steering, and that elusive "feel" that makes the car so wonderful to drive. No pretender, in my opinion, has ever really been able to mix those components into a cocktail quite as tasty as the BMW.

Continue reading "2009 Lexus IS250: A Wonderful Sports Sedan Grooming the Next Generation of Lexus Loyalists"

Posted by Ed Kim at 2:56 PM | | Comments (0)


2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe: No New Ideas, Just Flawless Execution

Hyundai_2010_GenesisCoupe_drift.JPGI approached the 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe with great interest. Yeah, sure, it's got all the things to make a car enthusiast swoon: great styling, rear wheel drive, and lots of power. But what made the car of particular interest to me was the fact that I had a small hand in the development of the car. I wanted to see how the finished product had turned out.

Yup, not that long ago I used to work for Hyundai as a product planning manager, and I watched the car's development as it progressed from simple sketches to computer generated 3D images to full-size clay models. I even got to drive early prototypes of the car over two years ago on Hyundai's test track in Namyang, Korea.

Continue reading "2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe: No New Ideas, Just Flawless Execution"

Posted by Ed Kim at 1:04 PM | | Comments (0)


AutoPacific Rising Star Winner - Hyundai

AutoPacVSAlogo_Blog.jpg

Hyundai is the winner of the first Rising Star Award from AutoPacific. The Rising Star Award is given to the brand climbing the most positions in AutoPacific's Vehcile Satisfaction Award research. Hyundai climbed eleven positions year-to-year. This is testament to Hyundai Motor America and Hyundai dealers selling vehicles that satisfy their customers and good customer handling at the dealerships.

Hyundai had two category winning vehicles - the Hyundai Genesis won the Aspirational Luxury Car Category and the Sonata won the Premium Mid-Size Car Category.

Other Rising Stars were Infiniti climbing ten positions and Mercury climbing nine.

Posted by George Peterson at 9:34 AM | | Comments (0)


AutoPacific Announces 2009 Vehicle Satisfaction Awards

AutoPacific's 2009 Vehicle Satisfaction Award Highlights Consumer Opinion As Industry Struggles

National Survey Measures Satisfaction with New Vehicles

AutoPacVSAlogo_Blog.jpg

TUSTIN, Calif. (May 19, 2009) -- In the most challenging auto sales market in years, AutoPacific today announced its 13th Annual Vehicle Satisfaction Awards (VSA). For the second straight year, Cadillac ranks highest among new car owners, taking the Highest Satisfaction Brand honors even with the turmoil surrounding General Motors and the industry as a whole.

Overall brand satisfaction ratings among Hyundai purchasers jumped 11 positions earning Hyundai 2009 Rising Star honors. This positive move was more than any other manufacturer in the survey. Hyundai scored higher in 40 of 48 rating categories in 2009 compared with 2008. Two Hyundai products took VSAs this year: the Genesis in the Aspirational Luxury Car category and the Sonata in the Premium Mid-size car class.

"These are difficult times, with news of automaker bankruptcies, companies restructuring and dealer closures a daily occurrence," says George Peterson, president of AutoPacific. "Clearly, the dynamics surrounding the Vehicle Satisfaction Award in 2009 are far different from anything we've seen in many years. Winners needed to overachieve to earn their awards."

Continue reading "AutoPacific Announces 2009 Vehicle Satisfaction Awards"

Posted by Stephanie Brinley at 12:00 AM | | Comments (0)


May 12, 2009

Would You Recommend Your Car To A Friend?

AutoPacific's Research Reveals the Most Highly Recommended Vehicles

TUSTIN, Calif. (May 12, 2009) -- Who do you go to for advice when buying a new car? What about owners themselves? AutoPacific has just analyzed recommendation intentions from 25,000 new-car owners, and the results offer interesting insights.

AutoPacific, which has provided automotive analysis to carmakers since 1986, bases its findings on a just-completed comprehensive survey of more than 25,000 consumers who purchased or leased new cars or light trucks in the period from September to December 2008.

82879226.jpg

"Typically, car buyers are very pleased when they first drive their new car off the dealer lot. But just as a vehicle's worth depreciates over time, some car owners' level of confidence depreciates," says George Peterson, president of AutoPacific. "We have quantified their level of confidence to see which new car owners will recommend their model most and this is information which will help new car shoppers make informed, confident buying decisions. While many owners can be happy with their new cars, it takes another level of confidence to recommend it."

Continue reading "Would You Recommend Your Car To A Friend? "

Posted by Stephanie Brinley at 12:00 PM | | Comments (0)


May 11, 2009

2010 Toyota Prius: Wait...Did They Actually Make it Fun to Drive?

Toyota_2010_Prius_lineup.JPGThe second generation Prius, which debuted for the 2004 model year, has become an icon on many levels. It's a green statement. It's a political statement. It's even a technology statement. I've been saying for quite a while now that history will look upon the little lozenge-shaped car as THE iconic vehicle of this decade, much as the 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air was the iconic car of the 1950s.

The second generation Prius was the car that brought hybrids to the mainstream. The dorky first generation car looked and felt somewhat like a science project...and the quirky original Honda Insight even more so. But Prius v2.0 boasted a really usable interior package, decent performance, and a unique look that proclaimed to the world that you were ready for something beyond the status quo.

There was just one problem: it was just so boring to drive. There was absolutely nothing rewarding about the way it drove, so it had zero appeal to anyone who actually enjoyed the act of driving. Its steering felt completely detached from the road, it rode harshly, and it squealed like a pig through corners. For the Prius fanbase, none of this really mattered much as driving appeal wasn't the car's point.

Continue reading "2010 Toyota Prius: Wait...Did They Actually Make it Fun to Drive?"

Posted by Ed Kim at 9:58 AM | | Comments (0)


May 5, 2009

Research Shows Moms Lead The Way In Using Hi-Tech Conveniences

Think Minivan Moms are Behind the Times? Think Again.

TUSTIN, Calif. (May 5, 2009) -- The stereotype would have us expect that today's moms, often drivers of minivans or SUVs, care more about a Diaper Genie than the latest techno-gadgets. Time to catch up with today's driving mom.

In fact, today's moms find the convenience and connection the latest technology provides valuable. Of eleven electronic technologies important to new-car buyers that are measured by AutoPacific, a marketing research company based in Tustin, California, moms have a higher ownership in seven of the categories than the general car-buying population. These include wireless computer networks, Bluetooth cell phones, digital video recorders, video game consoles, Blackberries, and MP3 players. But Apple iPods are where moms are really out front. In ownership of the popular music and video device, moms lead men and female vehicle owners who are not moms by twelve percentage points.

"The lesson here is to look at the data before making assumptions," says George Peterson, president of AutoPacific. "Clearly, moms are very interested in using the latest technology. Moms are multi-taskers at the highest level and desire convenient technologies that allow them to safely accomplish their daily routine, while also making sure that the latest Hannah Montana song is available at the push of a button."

Continue reading "Research Shows Moms Lead The Way In Using Hi-Tech Conveniences"

Posted by Stephanie Brinley at 1:22 PM | | Comments (0)


2009 Dodge Ram: So, So Sad. Not the Truck, Mind You

Dodge_2009_Ram_front78.JPGAs I write this, much attention is focused on Chrysler, a company now entering Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings amidst an automobile industry that has collapsed. It's quite a backdrop to consider as we evaluated the latest Dodge Ram pickup truck. Let's get this out of the way first: the latest Dodge Ram is the best driving pickup I've ever driven, and its interior is the best I've ever seen from Chrysler.

Continue reading "2009 Dodge Ram: So, So Sad. Not the Truck, Mind You"

Posted by Ed Kim at 12:04 PM | | Comments (0)


« April 2009 | Main | June 2009 »