Category: Survey Results

Using data from its 2011 Replacement Tire Retailer Dynamics and Satisfaction Study, AutoPacific calculated the overall winner and the top rated Tire Retailer in each category. The top satisfying Tire Retailer, nationally, is Goodyear Auto Service Center, a large national chain. Closely following Goodyear nationally are Firestone Complete Auto Care, Les Schwab Tire Centers and Sam’s Club.

About 40% of new vehicle owners are women, but we know from experience that females influence 80% of new car and light truck sales. What are the features that each gender demands that differentiates them?

Drivers paid around one dollar more per gallon at the gas pumps this past July compared to the same month in 2010. Surprisingly, however, nearly the same number of drivers planned to purchase SUVs, pickups and V8 engines both years, proving that car buyers have become immune to the spikes in fuel prices when it comes to their vehicle-purchase decisions. In addition, nearly one in ten surveyed planned to modify their current vehicles with aftermarket parts hoping to attain increases in fuel economy.

Now is your chance to weigh in on the issue by taking the latest September 2011 Fuel Prices survey available to VehicleVoice panelists. Simply click here, or login using the email address for which you created your account, click the “Go to Surveys” button, and follow the “Fuel Prices” link to take the [...]

The Dodge Challenger is the top ranked Sporty Car in AutoPacific’s 2011 Ideal Vehicle Award Research.  Sporty Car owners are always seeking more and even though the Challenger won because its owners did not want much changed, there are some substantial areas they want changed.  First, almost 50% want more power.  This is characteristic of the Sporty Car buyer and Challenger buyers are no exception.  Challenger owners want better visibility – a characteristic sacrificed by the aggressive styling of the car.  They also want more infotainment technology.  They most like its exterior size (although some want it smaller), cargo room and seat comfort.  The Challenger handily outpointed the second place Volkswagen Eos for the Sporty Car trophy.

The Cadillac Escalade is the top ranked Premium SUV in AutoPacific’s 2011 Ideal Vehicle Research.  As the class winner, Escalade owners identify few things they would want changed.  Even the most technology-laden vehicles still have their owners wanting more.  About 30% of Escalade owners want more infotainment technology.  They also want better interior storage and, believe it or not, more cargo space and passenger room.  They most like its size, seat comfort and wheels.  Escalade wins its class over second place Land Rover LR4.    

The F-150 is the top-ranked Light Duty Full Size Pickup based on owner ratings in AutoPacific’s 2011 Ideal Vehicle Research.  As the class winner, owners don’t want much change, but there are some exceptions.  Over 35% of F-15 owners want better interior storage, 25% want their truck to be easier to get into and out of.  About 20% want larger wheels and tires.  Owners like their seat comfort, ride and roominess.  The F-150 outpoints the second place Chevrolet Avalanche by a wide margin.

 Large Light Duty Pickup

A Light Duty Pickup has a gross vehicle weight ratio under 8,500 pounds and includes the likes of the Ford F-150, Dodge Ram, and Chevrolet Silverado.  These pickups can be used for both commercial and personal use and have a wide range of capability and pricing.  Towing and horsepower [...]

The owners of the Porsche 911 rate the car so highly in AutoPacific’s 2011 Ideal Vehicle Research that the car wins the IVA for the Sports Car Class and is also the top rated vehicle overall.  As the overall and class winner, owners of the 911 do not want much changed.  When pressed, about 20% say they want more cargo room, easier ingress/egress and more infotainment technology.  They most like the seat comfort, ride and interior roominess.   The Porsche Boxster/Cayman were in second place in the class.  It was a Porsche sweep.

The all new Grand Cherokee is the top ranked Mid-Size SUV in AutoPacific’s 2011 Ideal Vehicle Research.  As the class winner, its owners identify few things they would want changed, but there are a few.  About 30% would like better visibility and more infotainment technology.  About 25% want the Grand Cherokee to be easier to get into and out of.  About 25% want it to have more power and more cargo room as well.  Grand Cherokee owners most like its ride, seat comfort, exterior size and the styling of the new vehicle.  Grand Cherokee handily outpoints the second place Nissan Xterra.

Cayenne is the top rated Premium Luxury XSUV based on owner ratings in AutoPacific’s 2011 Ideal Vehicle Research.  As the class winner, owners are pretty satisfied with the way the vehicle is executed with a few exceptions.  Almost 35% want better interior storage in their Cayenne.  About 25% want more cargo room and more infotainment technology.  Over 20% want better visibility and more power.  Owners like the ride, size and seat comfort.  Cayenne edges out second place BMW X5 for its category win. 

The Flex is the top ranked Large XSUV in AutoPacific’s 2011 Ideal Vehicle Research.  As the class winner, its owners identify few things they want changed, but inevitably there are a few.  About 30% want better interior storage.  Over 20% want more cargo room (!), more power (non-EcoBoost vehicles), and more infotainment technology.  Flex owners most like its ride, seat comfort, size, roominess and ease of getting in and out.  Flex handily outpoints second place GMC Acadia.