J. D. Power and Associates has just released its study of 65,000 new car buyers who were asked about 135 potential problems with their vehicles during the first 90 days of ownership.

While Toyota and Honda took first and second place and GM took third, DaimlerChrysler took a respectable fourth, ahead of Ford.

The good news is that overall automobile quality has improved 10 percent, the biggest gain since 1997.

That's great for brands, but what about individual models? The problem with the report are that it measures short-term satisfaction which without longer term data is subjective at best. Second, the information about individual car models is not made public, but is sold to the car manufacturers who are sworn to secrecy. They take the report as gospel, to the point of regearing their plants to improve their scores on subsequent models.

But consumers are left wondering if the car model of their dreams is in first or last place.

Chrysler is determined to be the number one domestic car maker by 2004, says its CEO Dieter Zetsche. A lot of people think it already is. Chrysler is known for its stylish designs which extend to crossover models such as the PT Cruiser, the hot rod Prowler, and new for 2004, the Pacifica wagon/SUV. Jeep has been the brand to beat in the hot SUV market, and has extended its reach with the new Liberty.

Why talk about Chrysler/Jeep? If you are considering a new car, as a REALTOR(tm), you can get an additional $500 off any best deal, thanks to the NAR's VIP program affiliation with Chrysler/Jeep. You can build your own model online, and the NAR Chrysler/Jeep page, built by Chrysler for the NAR, will give you retail sticker price.

To find best pricing and negotiating information, you'll want to visit a variety of carbuying sites.

Like shopping for houses online, several Web sites like MSN's Carpoint.com and Edmunds.com offer anonymous full-featured ways to look into the inner workings of the automobile industry. You can compare manufacturers, models and features. You can even click 'n build your own car and printout a photo of your favorite model with a feature list so that when you go shopping in person, you can remember all the features and their prices. You can even order your car online through local participating dealers.

Of the carbuying sites, Edmunds.com offers the most in terms of carbuyer education, because there are a lot of ways to pay more if you aren't careful. The site takes you through dealer cashbacks, MSRP, incentives, and more. As you build your car, you will get feature-by-feature pricing on the base model as well as options. The grand total is divided into dealer invoice, MSRP, and TrueMarketValue, an Edmunds feature which gives you a recommended negotiating price. Another This printout is handy to have when you are comparing models online or at the showroom. It shows that you are a serious buyer, that you know what you want, and that you have a ceiling on dealing.

Before you choose your car, take a look at Edmunds' True Cost To Own feature. It's an eyeopener to see what it will cost you to drive a certain model per mile for the next five years.

While car sales slumped in May for GM (12 percent) and Ford (11.5 percent,) the slowest pace in three years, Chrysler posted a 4 percent gain mostly due to a nationwide sales promotion for its minivans which also lifted sales of other models. The company plans to continue its minivan promotion through June 8th as well as its seven-year, 100,000 mile protection for engines and transmissions.

Published: June 5, 2002

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