Last week I was invited to participate in a discussion group conducted by a research firm. Because of it's close proximity to DC, I was a little nervous about making the journey. The discussion centered mainly around the differences between the Prius and the new Insight. It was very well thought out and the moderator made sure she had full participation from everyone. I really enjoyed the group of people I worked with because they were diverse and every one of them had something to bring to the table. They were intelligent and just a pleasure to be with. We were compensated very well for the two hors we spent there, which is good because it took me two hours to get home. It was very clear to us that this was driven by Honda and they were interested in what Prius owners thought about both cars. No brand was disparaged in any way. They fed us and took pretty good care of us during the whole process. The two hours flew for me and I have a new respect for Honda. They really want to make the vehicle people want and will buy. I would do this again and I would recommend to anyone that they participate in these if they become available.
Good for you. It's important that manufacturers seek and receive honest feedback from consumers. No one wins when advanced technology does not turn out as well as hoped. Especially, in my opinion, when it comes to hybrids and alternative fuel. I really wanted the Insight to work out and to get more and more people in hybrids. With luck, Honda will come back with a grand slam.
If it was in the Alexandria, VA area, it's the same one I got a phone call about. Toyota or my dealer must have given/sold my name and other info to somebody so they'd know who to call. Even with the nice compensation they were offering I didn't want the hassle of fighting traffic there and back, so I didn't follow up on the initial call inviting me to the 2 hour focus group.
Easy enough to check public DMV records to select a few recent Prius buyers. I was invited to one put on by Lexus a few years ago. In my case they were very focused on the Navigation/information system. Very nice group, we were well treated and they made it very clear they valued our input. A nice experience overall.
I got a call from some "20/20" group as part of the Fuel Economy survey/test program. However, after the call on Monday, nothing since, so maybe "I'm not worthy." Bob Wilson
