LAS VEGAS, Nov. 15, 1998 — From the Model-T to the Corvette to the new Beetle, Americans have an ongoing love affair with their cars. But do they have what it takes to sustain the relationship? A recent survey* by MSN
™
CarPoint
™
found that, while 70 percent of Americans vow to take good care of their car, three out of five people feel they could be doing a better job. MSN CarPoint ( http://www.carpoint.MSN.com/ ), one of the Internet’s leading online automotive services, now makes it easier for people to care for their cars with the Personal Auto Page, a new personalized online car maintenance program created to help consumers maintain healthy relationships with their vehicles.
MSN CarPoint to the Rescue
Unique to MSN CarPoint and an industry first, the Personal Auto Page makes it easy for consumers to make smart, informed decisions about their car’s ongoing care by providing essential maintenance and repair information customized to a consumer’s car(s) and driving habits free of charge (connect-time charges may apply). When registered for a Personal Auto Page, car owners receive e-mail notifications from the CarPoint online automotive service reminding them when it is time for their 30,000-mile check-up, next oil change and other regular service. From automated scheduled maintenance tracking and recall alert notices to updated Kelley Blue Book values and discount coupons from auto vendors, the Personal Auto Page helps consumers maximize the quality and timeliness of their car care while saving money.
“With the introduction of the Personal Auto Page, MSN CarPoint is the first online automotive site that supports consumers through every stage of their car relationship, from researching and buying to maintaining their cars,”
said Alex Simons, MSN CarPoint group product manager.
“We listened to what CarPoint users asked for and made it an integral part of our site.”
What Color Is Your Mini-Van?
A car and how it is cared for says a lot about its owner. Now people can explore their car relationship with Dr. Will Miller’s Car Care Analysis, an MSN CarPoint site feature from Nov. 16, 1998, to Jan. 18, 1999. Dr. Will Miller, the resident pop-psychotherapist for CarPoint and
“Nick-at-Nite”
guru, has created a simple way for car owners (and aspiring owners) to find out what their own car and car-care habits say about them. After car owners answer a few questions, Dr. Will provides a detailed personal
“analysis”
based on car color, make, age and commitment to ongoing maintenance. Dr. Will’s analysis also provides a
“treatment plan”
to help car owners get their car relationship back on track.
“If you’re not treating your car well, then you’re not treating yourself well,”
said Dr. Will Miller.
“By offering this Car Care Analysis, I hope to help car owners have long, loving and healthy relationships – after all, six out of 10 Americans consider their car to be a member of the family and should treat it accordingly.”
A few of Dr. Will’s
“patients”
will receive the ultimate
“prescription”
– free car care. Analysis participants will be entered to win free car-care prizes in the MSN CarPoint Car Care Sweepstakes. Prizes include Goodyear tires, a year’s worth of free oil changes from Jiffy Lube, and great car-care products from Turtle Wax and Dirt Devil.
MSN CarPoint is a comprehensive automotive Web site offering users complete car-buying and car-care information. First available in August 1996, CarPoint gives users fast, convenient access to detailed specifications and pricing information, reviews and advice from leading automotive writers, interactive decision management tools, and a new and used car buying service. MSN CarPoint is available free on the World Wide Web at http://www.carpoint.MSN.com/ (connect-time charges may apply).
MSN is the network of Internet services from Microsoft Corp. that helps people better organize the Web around what’s important to them. The network of MSN services, located on the Web at MSN.com ( http://MSN.com/ ), helps people easily stay in touch with friends and colleagues, make smart and secure purchasing decisions, and get more done. MSN offers award-winning e-mail functionality; personal communications services; customizable access to news; popular sites for travel, investing, automotive services, shopping and more; an online community; a Web search engine and directories; and top-rated Internet access.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.
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*Survey conducted by Market Facts Inc. and International Communications Research for MSN CarPoint. Survey findings have a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points. Copies of the survey are available from Edelman Public Relations at (415) 433-5381.
Microsoft, MSN and CarPoint are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
Other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.
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