FTF And Chrysler Team Up To Offer Road Trip Tips

Media Only, November 16, 2005: Family Travel Forum and Chrysler Pacifica Offer Road Trip and Fuel Efficiency Tips for Winter Holiday Family Travel.

Planning to Travel this Holiday Season? More than Half of Americans will take to the Road, according to a Survey Conducted by Chrysler Group:

• Forty-four percent of people surveyed say they are willing to drive up to 750 miles
• Slightly more than one in four adults (27 percent) prefer flying over driving regardless of travel distance
• Make your road trip more fun for everyone by using the back seat DVD player to keep passengers oriented in the same direction as the vehicle and help prevent carsickness
• Drivers can further enhance their fuel economy by following simple tips from Chrysler Group

Auburn Hills, Michigan and New York, NY – Research released today found that more than half of Americans are planning to drive more than 100 miles this holiday season despite slightly higher gas prices, according to a national survey conducted by Goodmind, LLC on behalf of Chrysler Group. With so many Americans taking to their vehicles this year, Chrysler partnered with family travel expert and editor of FamilyTravelForum.com, Kyle McCarthy, to offer parents tips on how to survive the 2005 holiday travel season.

New vehicle safety standards, entertainment features and enhancements in comfort have revolutionized the family road trip experience of today and make longer road trips more desirable to the traveler. Additional results of the survey of Americans’ travel experiences found that 55 percent of adults find road trips more enjoyable now than when they were kids and 60 percent wish their earlier vehicle had either a DVD system (35 percent) or navigation system (25 percent).

Chrysler Pacifica Road Trip Savvy Tips

“Thanksgiving is one of the biggest travel weekends of the year,” said Jeff Bell, Vice President – Chrysler Marketing, Chrysler Group. “Modern vehicles, like the Chrysler Pacifica which offers flexibility and utility without sacrificing comfort or style, give drivers and passengers the opportunity to enjoy time spent traveling on the road and allow them to do so at their own pace.” Here are some key travel tips:

· Enlist kids to help with the packing and it won’t take so long. Give each child his own bag for essential toys, books and entertainment, and tuck it safely between the Chrysler Pacifica’s individual seats.

· If you pack the cargo hold the night before departure, stash a family overnight bag with toiletries and PJs on top, so you won’t have to spend time unloading en route.

· While inventions like side-curtain air bags and the Chrysler Pacifica’s 5-Star safety rating make the road trip a much safer experience, it’s the innovative backseat entertainment system that keeps kids happily strapped in – and that contributes to safety.

· Ceiling mounted DVD players are more than entertaining; they help prevent carsickness by keeping passengers oriented in the same direction as the vehicle. Chrysler Pacifica offers a rear DVD video and entertainment system, so parents and kids can choose their own form of entertainment.

· Eyes-straight-ahead games like “I Spy” and books-on-tape are better than reading for kids who are prone to motion sickness. Older kids have fun polishing their grades with Language CDs. Bring along a kitchen timer, and all ages can play “20 Questions” or “Geography.”

· Many families find new Sports Tourers like the Chrysler Pacifica so comfortable that they have to remember to stop and stretch regularly, especially important for toddlers and grandparents. Every few hours, try this version of Musical Chairs: pull over in a safe place, use the satellite radio to find a new song, and get everyone out running around the car. When the music stops, each passenger grabs the nearest seat! Kids love getting to be driver.

· Kids can be a great help with remembering items for a trip. Determining a road trip allowance for each child, then letting them know they’ll have to chip in to buy any forgotten essentials will ensure that everything makes it into the suitcase.

“Even with higher gas prices, families will be traveling this holiday season,” said Kyle McCarthy, editor – FamilyTravelForum.com. “An old fashioned road trip in today’s vehicles allows families to spend quality time together, surrounded by the latest features in safety, comfort and fuel economy as compared to when mom and dad were kids.”

Maximize Fuel Economy

While today’s vehicles are more fuel efficient compared to years ago, there are still additional measures people can take to further enhance their fuel economy. Following are a few ideas from Chrysler Group to modify driving habits.

· Slow down — every 5 mph over 65 mph can decrease fuel economy by as much as 7 percent
· Reduce speeds — 65 mph is much better than 75, sometimes improving fuel economy by more than one mpg
· Use modest acceleration when possible, minimizing “jack rabbit” starts
· Use cruise control to help maintain a steady speed
· Limit extended idles and warm up periods — don’t leave vehicles idle while running in for the cup of coffee in the morning
· Plan your trip to avoid rush hour, if you can, to avoid idling in traffic

Check Vehicle Condition

· Ensure proper vehicle maintenance
· Replace dirty air filters — a clogged air filter can reduce fuel economy as much as 10 percent
· Check tire pressures — tires underinflated by just 2 psi can reduce fuel economy as much as 1 percent
· Remove extra weight from vehicles — an extra 100 pounds in the trunk or pick up box can lower fuel economy 1 to 2 percent
· Reduce aerodynamic drag on vehicle by taking empty cargo carriers, bike racks, ski racks, etc off — at highway speed, 50 percent of the engine power is used to overcome aerodynamic drag
· (deleted this point)
· Keep vehicle engine tuned up as a noticeably out of tune engine can reduce fuel economy as much as 4 percent
· If vehicle engine light is on, have the vehicle serviced — faulty components such as an oxygen sensor can reduce fuel economy as much as 40 percent

Survey Says

Chrysler and Goodmind, LLC conducted a national survey to determine how men and women viewed family travel. According to those surveyed, the two biggest changes in the way we travel today are in safety (31 percent) and entertainment/DVD systems (31 percent). Additional survey results showed:
· Prep Time: Families spend an average of nine hours packing for road trips; parents spend 23 percent longer packing for a road trip than adults without children
· On The Road Again: Eighty-three percent of the respondents take at least one road trip with their families every year, with nearly one in five (19 percent) taking four or more trips annually
· On The Road with Children: Seventy percent of families with children go on two or more road trips each year, which means parents take an average of 39 percent more trips annually than adults without children
· Trip Down Memory Lane: Fifty-five percent of those surveyed say that long road trips are more enjoyable now than when they were kids; the “License Plate Game” was identified by 32 percent of adults as their favorite travel game when they were young followed by reading (21 percent)
· Forget Me Not: The two most forgotten items when preparing for a road trip were cameras/video cameras (25 percent) and toothbrush/toiletries (22 percent)
· Keeping Busy: Twenty-eight percent of adults play games with their children to keep them entertained on road trips, while 26 percent of parents give their children snacks

About the Chrysler Pacifica

With its segment-busting innovative flexibility, abundant safety features and classy styling, the 2006 Chrysler Pacifica offers the best features of an SUV, minivan and car all rolled into one. The Pacifica features a first-class interior, easy step-across entry and exit, available all-wheel drive, three-row side-curtain air bags, driver’s side inflatable knee blocker, driver and passenger advance multi-stage air bags, anti-lock brakes and fold-flat second- and third-row seats.

The stylish flexibility of the 2006 Chrysler Pacifica is available in three different models. With an entry-level five-passenger Chrysler Pacifica, a nicely equipped six-passenger Touring model and a top-of-the-line Limited model, Chrysler Pacifica offers clever utility, oceans of value and safety features. Optional equipment includes rear DVD, Sirius Satellite Radio (maybe a few other comfort features could be included here).

Methodology

Goodmind, LLC, a New York City-based research and consulting firm, fielded the 11 question survey on behalf of Chrysler Group. The study was conducted using online methodology to assess consumers’ traveling experiences, specifically family road trips. A total of 1,099 adult respondents 18 years of age or older participated in the survey.

The data were statistically tested against subgroups using t- and z- tests; with an overall confidence level of 90 percent.