New Parade/Harris Poll Finds Americans Love To Drive - We Knew That!

NEW YORK, NY--(INTERNET WIRE)--Oct 3, 2002 -- Thirty-three percent of Americans love to drive and do so whenever they can, according to a new poll commissioned by PARADE magazine and conducted by Harris Interactive. Thirteen percent feel just the opposite and drive only when absolutely necessary.

The PARADE/Harris poll also finds that 35% of Americans put safety first when choosing a new vehicle; 21% go for practicality. Performance and price were the No. 1 considerations for 17% of the respondents. When asked which specific features were coveted in a new car, the No. 1 answer was a premium sound system (22%), with a navigational system a close second (21%) and a stolen vehicle tracking system a close third (20%).

And, even if price and performance were competitive with conventional automobiles, 39% of Americans would NOT be likely to consider purchasing a hybrid or alternative fuel vehicle; 56% would consider it.

The PARADE/Harris poll was conducted in August 2002 among a nationally representative sample of 1,011 adults aged 18 and older. The median age of respondents is 42 years and median household income is $41,800.

Parade Magazine Auto Poll

Response Summary

Conducted by Harris Interactive, August 2002
Total Respondents: 1,011 respondents age 18+

1. Which one of the following statements best describes your attitude
toward driving?

     33%     I love to drive; I drive whenever I can
     48%     I don't mind driving; I drive when I need to
     13%     I dislike driving; I drive only when I have to
      6%     I don't drive at all

2. Which one of the following does your car say about you?  Does your
car say that you are...?

     50%     Practical
     12%     Rugged
     10%     Professional
      7%     Fashionable
      6%     Sophisticated
      4%     Passionate
     10%     Not sure/no answer

3. Is your next auto purchase most likely to be a sedan, a sports
car, an SUV, a truck, or a minivan?

     27%     Sedan
     20%     SUV
     19%     Truck
     12%     Minivan
     10%     Sports Car
      6%     I don't plan on purchasing another vehicle
      6%     Not sure/no answer

4. What do you think is the most important factor when choosing a
vehicle: price, design, safety, practicality, or performance?

     35%     Safety
     21%     Practicality
     17%     Performance
     17%     Price
      5%     Design
      5%     Not sure/no answer

5. Which of the following features are on your wish list for your
next automobile purchase? (Choose all that apply)

     22%     Premium Sound System
     21%     Navigational System
     20%     Stolen Vehicle Tracking System
     19%     Personal Climate Control
     14%     Entertainment System (VCR/DVD Player)
      7%     Satellite Radio
      3%     Internet/Email Capability
     16%     None of these
      4%     I don't plan to purchase another automobile
      4%     Not sure/no answer

6. If price and performance were competitive with conventional
vehicles, how likely are you to consider purchasing an electric,
hybrid or alternative fuel vehicle?

     56%     Not Likely
     39%     Not Likely

     29%     Very Likely
     27%     Somewhat Likely
     14%     Not Very Likely
     25%     Not Likely At All
      5%     Not sure/no answer