CNW Research: Ford Products Fading on New-Car Shopping Lists; Toyota Leads

    BANDON, Ore., Aug. 13 Among new-vehicle buyers of
22 different brands, Toyota was given more consideration than Ford, according
to ongoing studies of buying habits conducted by CNW Marketing Research, Inc.
    For example, among people who eventually purchased a Chevrolet product,
Toyota was the first alternative brand name pushing Ford into second spot.
Among those who purchased a Pontiac, Toyota products were considered by more
than two-to-one over Ford products. Volvo buyers were three times more likely
to consider a Toyota than a Ford while Chrysler-product buyers had Toyota as
their primary alternative followed by Chevrolet with Ford a distant third.
    In all, Toyota was first alternative for seven brands, second alternative
for three brands and third alternative for three brands.
    Ford's position has slipped dramatically in the past three year, the
research company reveals. In 1998, a Ford product was the first alternative to
what individual consumers eventually purchased among 8 of the 22 brands
investigated. In 2001, that fell to zero.

    First Alternative:
     Toyota buyers: Honda
     Honda buyers: Toyota
     Saturn buyers: Honda
     Ford buyers: Chevrolet
     Chevrolet buyers: Toyota
     Pontiac buyers: Chevrolet
     Nissan buyers: Toyota
     Volvo buyers: Honda
     Chrysler buyers: Toyota
     Dodge buyers: Toyota
     Oldsmobile buyers: Toyota
     Lexus buyers: BMW
     Mercedes buyers: BMW
     Hyundai buyers: Nissan
     Mazda buyers: Toyota
     Mitsubishi buyers: VW
     Jaguar buyers: Mercedes
     BMW buyers: Mercedes
     Daewoo buyers: Kia
     Kia buyers: Daewoo
     Lincoln buyers: Cadillac
     Cadillac buyers: Lincoln

    Second Alternative:
     Toyota buyers: Nissan
     Honda buyers: Saturn
     Saturn buyers: Toyota
     Ford buyers: Toyota
     Chevrolet buyers: Ford
     Pontiac buyers: Toyota
     Nissan buyers: Ford
     Volvo buyers: BMW
     Chrysler buyers: Chevrolet
     Dodge buyers: Chevrolet
     Oldsmobile buyers: Ford
     Lexus buyers: Mercedes
     Mercedes buyers: Lexus
     Hyundai buyers: Chevrolet
     Mazda buyers: Daewoo
     Mitsubishi buyers: Honda
     Jaguar buyers: BMW
     BMW buyers: Audi
     Daewoo buyers: Hyundai
     Kia buyers: Chevrolet
     Lincoln buyers: BMW
     Cadillac buyers: Lexus

    Third Alternative:
     Toyota buyers: Saturn
     Honda buyers: Nissan
     Saturn buyers: Nissan
     Ford buyers: Mercury
     Chevrolet buyers: Honda
     Pontiac buyers: VW
     Nissan buyers: Kia
     Volvo buyers: Toyota
     Chrysler buyers: Ford
     Dodge buyers: Honda
     Oldsmobile buyers: Mercury
     Lexus buyers: Volvo
     Mercedes buyers: Audi
     Hyundai buyers: Toyota
     Mazda buyers: Hyundai
     Mitsubishi buyers: Toyota
     Jaguar buyers: BMW
     BMW buyers: Jaguar
     Daewoo buyers: Chevrolet
     Kia buyers: Saturn
     Lincoln buyers: GMC
     Cadillac buyers: GMC