I received a survey a couple of days ago regarding a market research panel for a list of cars. The 8 was listed as one of them along with a handful of other manufacturer makes and models. I sent it back and I just received a call from the company asking me to participate in a hands on test drive with my car, along with a panel and 3 other cars.

Of course they will be compensating me for 5 hours my time (250.00 bucks richer). The lady that called me explained they will be providing me with a log book to evaluate my lifestyle and a disposable camera to take pics of my car. Has anyone else participated in this type of research?

I asked about the "other" cars that we will be testing but they could not give me specifics. All they said was the cars maybe in the market or a concept vehicle. Hmmm...I'm looking forward to this.

The research takes place next week on the 24th, I'll keep you guys posted once I finish.

 

Sounds nice but interesting. Did you look up the Research firm online yet? As in are they real and legit? That and if they are I'd get a piece of paper signed before hand stating your getting paid for this and how much to expect. Wouldnt wanna take hours off from work and find out your getting minimum wage a hour yanno. Other than that congratz man, make sure you use words on the survey like Unique, Rotary, Twisties, and Mulligans.... wait nix the last word.

 

^^ LOL yes, of course --that's what I kept on saying when I sent the form back --rotary, rotary, rotary, and yes --they are a legitimate company. Well here's my take , I'm an exempt employee so, I'm coming in work for a couple of hours then head out to the test.

As far as I can tell, I've participated with other research and focus groups before, but nothing like this. I've done advertisements (Ford), alcohol (various ales and wines), and various consumer products....so I'm crossing my fingers...hope the Kabura is one of them !!

 

Well Ford does own Mazda now aparently so maybe your name is in a database for market research and the choose you because you've been willing to participate in the past. I started doing little radio surveys and now I get calls for movies and at times "male grooming products" (I was bored that time way to bored). Have fun and bring a camera phone 'cause you know they are gonna tell you "No camera's beyond this point" so just sneak in those shots.

For me it would be a dream test session if it was the Kabura, Challenger, and Camaro hehe.

 

^^^yeah ...I got mine handy.

 

I did a "focus group" for political topics right around the time of the 2004 election. They paid me $75 for an hour.

My stepdad did something similar to the one you mentioned years ago with his 96 Chevy Tahoe he used to have, followed by a focus group about new vehicle changes and then gave them a discount form to fill out if they bought a new GM product within 30 days of the focus group. Basically he got a coupon and a vehicle first aid kit out of the deal and it took about six hours.

 

Wife got a call on Monday from company doing a research on CX-7 buyers. She is going in on the 24th also in Tustin. Is that where you are going?

 

Ok I got it. Take a picture of you losing in a drag race to another car while holding up a speech bubble (it's a picture after all) saying "I sure wish this thing had FI".

Just an idea. Don't wanna mess with your artistic creativity or anything.

 

Wow, sounds cool. I am down in Long Beach, CA. Let me know if they need another '05 Shinka

I just put my color-matched fender strakes on and I am ready to take some pictures

 

This one is in Weslake right off the 101. I guess they're having it at the Hyatt.

 

Okay -- done with this test. I didn't know that actual manufacturer folks will be at this shin-dig and actually participate through the whole thing.

First off question:

Does anyone know what Jeremy Barnes look like? I ask because I had three people in my panel, Jeremy and Dave which belong to the auto manufacturer that they could not disclose, and Bryan who works for Research Developemnt Specialists (Name of the Co). The Jeremy I met was tall, slim built, caucasian, about 6'1", 180 lbs.

Unfortunately, the research was for vehicles already out in the market. I had the chance to drive the following:

06' Missubishi Eclipse (V6)
06' Pontiac G6
06' V-Dub GTI

Questions they asked prior to driving and during driving the vehicles mainly focused on, feel (handling/maneuverability), performance, asthetics, comfort, looks, sound, etc. Nothing about the engines or mechanically related.

During our first run with my 8 (I still couldn't believe 4 people fit in my car yesterday, I meant these guys were as tall or even taller than me) I had a chance to show them some of the fun factor of driving this thing. We entered the freeway and I "beeped" it a couple of times to show them how nice the engine and exhaust sounds. Then the questions started coming: "How does the car feel (good,neutral,bad) when driving in and out of traffic?" Exited, and came to a stop and entered a rural residential area with lots of twisty roads, now comes the handling questions:"How does the car feel when you take the turns (good, neutral, bad) do you feel body roll, experience oversteer, understeer, etc.?" Then they go on to braking, how the ride feels when going over bumps, how the visibility is, comfort etc., etc. This goes on for about 20 minutes while driving--we did the same pattern through all the vehicles and kinda got repetetive and annoying at one point ...but oh well.

During our first drive we got to a point where they wanted me to test it's capability (RX8) of accelerating from a 40 mph roll, I guess to depict the action of passing someone, we did this going up a slight hill. I'm going 40 (third), then shift to second and BAM --- I felt embarassed. The torqueless wonder comes through...LOL.. I mentioned this to them and had quite a bit of a chuckle. I kept on mentioning to them that the RX8 needed just a bit more power and it would complete this vehicle. I had a feeling the two guys were from Mazda, but I didn't confirm-- all I kept doing that day is praising how the 8 is such a great car, the sound of the rotary and uniqueness of the engine--you know all that jazz.. how the short throw is close enogh so you can reach the audio controls, how the beep is music to our ears. Plus, I briefly mentioned customer satisfaction...and how it sways my descision when the service is top notch.

Well, we kept repeating the test with the other three vehicles and did the same route-- I was a little surprised on how the GTI accelerated and handled..that things got some pep on it.

All in all, I had a great time, except on my way home--a peice of tire hit the passenger side of my car and got some hairline scratches and smudges-- DAMN !!! Oh well--I'm 250 bucks richer and I think I'll get some Zaino for it.

 

intresting, hope we find out if they where from mazda

check out on rotary news Im sure they have a photo of Jeremy

 

I'll check it out-- I totally forgot his last name.

 

hmm i thought there wa sa pic aroun do fJeremy with the Kabura... cant find it rigth now. he's tall and british

 

Jeremy's the guy with the English accent.

 

that's what i said