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1996 APEAL(Automotive Performance Execution and Layout)

Hi auto Enthusiasts,

Here is what 1996 APEAL is about...

          J.D. POWER RATES CAR AND TRUCK APPEAL 

 There is more to an appealing vehicle than fewer defects, according to a
new study from
          J.D. Power and Associates. Called the 1996 APEAL (Automotive
Performance,
          Execution and Layout) Study, it asks new owners to rate their
vehicle on more than 100 attributes and is based on responses from more than
25,000 new car and truck owners
          after three months of ownership and addresses eight specific
elements: 

          -- Vehicle Styling
          -- Engine and Transmission
          -- Comfort and Convenience
          -- Ride and Handling
          -- Seats
          -- Heating, Ventilation and Cooling
          -- Cockpit and Instrument Panel
          -- Sound System

The top-ranked, most appealing cars are:

 COMPACT CAR
Pontiac Sunfire 
 -- Uniqueness of overall styling
 -- Side profile and appearance
 -- Front-end styling
- -- Ergonomic comfort while driving

 ENTRY MID-SIZE CAR (TIE)
 Pontiac Grand Am 
- -- Ease of use of controls while driving
 -- Appearance of wheels/rims
 -- Rear-end styling
 -- Engine performance
 -- Automatic transmission performance

 Dodge Stratus
 -- Rear passenger leg/foot room
 -- Ease of passenger entry and exit
- -- Steering wheel position comfort
- -- Ease of use seat controls
 -- Front-end styling

PREMIUM MID-SIZE CAR

 Pontiac Bonneville 
 -- Smoothness of automatic transmission
- -- Engine performance during rapid acceleration
- -- Rear leg/foot room
- -- Number of cupholder
 -- Ease of passenger entry and exit
 -- Rear passenger head room

SPORTY CAR

 Volkswagen GTI 
- -- Overall rear seat comfort
- -- Seat belt ease of use
- -- Braking performance
- -- Automatic transmission performance
- -- Acceleration performance
- -- Rear passenger head room

ENTRY LUXURY CAR

BMW 328 
- -- Driving stability on winding roads
- -- Passing power at highway speeds
- -- Visibility of gauges and instrument panel
- -- Engine performance and smoothness
- -- Overall steering comfort
- -- Overall exterior styling

PREMIUM LUXURY CAR

Lexus LS 400 
- -- Overall ride quality
- -- Rear passenger head and leg room
- -- Quietness of AC/heater fan
- -- Overall rear seat comfort
- -- Storage space accessible to driver
- -- Location/number of cupholders

Awards for the Premium Sports Car category not given due to insufficient sample.


Sudesh.