REDMOND, Wash., Oct. 31, 2000 — The Carpoint™
online automotive service ( http://www.carpoint.com/ ), the most-visited car-buying and -ownership site on the Web, is helping consumers make more informed and personalized vehicle purchase decisions with its new Ratings & Reviews service.
This new feature provides consumers with a real-life perspective on vehicles by accessing personal reviews posted by actual vehicle owners who visit the Carpoint site. Providing details about favorite features, how specific models perform in bad weather, opinions on reliability and service requirements, this feature offers enhancements to the online car-buying experience for consumers by providing a vehicle ownership forum.
“The Ratings & Reviews feature makes it even easier for consumers to find a car they will love,”
said Mark Hickling, Carpoint editor and publisher.
“In addition to independent vehicle reviews by leading automotive journalists, this new feature provides 6 million monthly visitors to Carpoint with access to personalized reviews written by actual car owners.”
To submit a review, consumers select the
“Rate Your Vehicle”
link on the Carpoint home page and follow the simple three-step process to share their vehicle reviews with others. Reviews are categorized according to the make, model, trim and year of the car. Consumers use a scale of 1 to 10 to rate automobile features including style, performance, interior and quality. The site also lets consumers identify a vehicle’s pros and cons in their own words.
In an effort to make buying and owning a car easier, Carpoint also offers independent reviews from leading automotive journalists, side-by-side vehicle comparisons, 360-degree surround videos, online vehicle service and maintenance technology, as well as new- and used-car buying services.
About Carpoint
Launched in October 1995, Carpoint Inc. ( http://www.carpoint.com/ ) is the most visited online automotive marketplace, receiving more than 6 million consumer visits each month. From product reviews and surround video features to new- and used-car pricing, the Carpoint site helps consumers find the car they love at a price they can afford. With details on more than 10,000 models and 100,000 used vehicles, visitors can research and compare cars of virtually every make and model, identify local dealers, and receive instructions for post-purchase service and maintenance.
Carpoint generates more than $8 billion in auto sales each year for its network of more than 5,000 affiliated dealers nationwide. The American International Automobile Dealers Association exclusively endorses Carpoint. Carpoint also powers the Autos Channel on the MSN® network of Internet services ( http://www.msn.com/ ). MSN is the most popular destination on the Internet, attracting 210 million unique monthly visitors worldwide.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software – any time, any place and on any device.
Microsoft, MSN and Carpoint are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
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