I wonder how much it matters what Dealership you buy it from. That's got to be where they get my name, right? 'Cause I've gotten, literally, maybe 20 in the last year and 5 months since I bought my '04 HCH.

I just got one that was clearly conducted on behalf of Ford. If anyone's interested, they had a "help" e-mail that I sent the following message to:

The survey I just took is never going to capture the consumer opinion of my demographic. My qualifying car was a Honda Hybrid Civic. I would actually have preferred to buy a FORD HYBRID 'cause I'd rather drive a car ostensibly "made in USA." Unfortunately, Ford didn't get their **** together in time to release the Hybrid Escape when I needed to buy a car.

You could have just asked, "Why did you buy a Honda Civic Hybrid instead of an Escape or Mariner Hybrid?" My answer would have been because 1) it gets at least 20 mpg more than the escape hybrid, and 2) I'm not as scared about it breaking down as I would be if it was a Ford.

If Ford wasn't so concerned about navigation systems and leather seats and instead worked on creating a hybrid diesel engine (preferably a rotary diesel engine) that Ford would warranty for biodiesel use, then I'd pay 50 or 60 thousand dollars for it as long as it got better gas mileage than my Honda Civic.

Until American car manufacturers wake up and stop worrying about heated side mirrors, integrated running boards and folding passenger seats and start paying attention to making technological innovations that excite people who can think, y'all are doomed to junk bond status.

And my Toyota and Honda stock appreciates you for it, suckas.

--steve--

I don't actually have stock in Toyota or Honda, but it was for EMphaSIS.

the address was: 'm050127bhelp@morpace.com'