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How
happy is your car? If your automobile could talk, it might tell you it wants frequent
trips to the car wash, traffic-free commutes, and fill-ups with high-quality gasoline.
And if your automobile lives in New Orleans, then it's probably very happy indeed.
According to the "Shell America's Autopias" study released today by
Shell Oil Products US, New Orleans is the city where cars would most want to live
if they had their way.
Shell
believes using high-quality gasolines is an important aspect of overall car care,
and the company commissioned the "Shell America's Autopias" study to
better understand how vehicles are cared for and maintained in the United States.
The study evaluated the 50 largest metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) in the
contiguous United States and found that New Orleans is "America's Autopia,"
followed by St. Louis; Kansas City, Mo.; Atlanta; and Phoenix. The study measured
a variety of factors to identify which metro areas are best suited for automobiles,
including traffic congestion, road conditions, motorists' use of quality gasolines
and motor oils, and routine car maintenance practices.
"The
study showed that some cities clearly have an edge in how vehicle-friendly they
are, and New Orleans topped the list, thanks to the time and effort local drivers
invest in caring for their vehicles," said Mary Jackson, an automotive expert
and author of the best-selling book "Car Smarts." "A vehicle is
typically the second largest purchase that most consumers make, so it's important
to protect that investment. And while motorists may not be able to control traffic,
road conditions and other factors that affect the wear and tear of their automobiles,
they can take an active role in protecting their cars by performing routine maintenance
and using high-quality products, such as gasolines that meet TOP TIER Detergency
Standards." The
Criteria for an Autopia or Car Care Utopia
To
determine the rankings, researchers from Decision Analyst, Inc., a Texas-based
independent research firm, scored and ranked each MSA in three primary areas that
can impact the overall care and operation of a vehicle — quality of fuel and motor
oil, routine car care and maintenance, and road conditions and congestion. Within
each of these key areas, the research organization weighed the following variables
equally to determine each metropolitan area's level of car care and identify America's
Autopias:
Quality
of Fuel and Motor Oil. Variables included the percentage of gasoline
sold by retailer based on consumer survey data, specifically taking into account
those retailers that sell TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline, as well as the amount of
high-mileage, semi-synthetic and full-synthetic oil that is purchased. TOP TIER
Detergent Gasoline is a new standard for gasoline that surpasses minimum government
standards for gasoline detergency additives. According to BMW, General Motors,
Honda and Toyota, the automakers that developed the standard, TOP TIER Detergent
Gasoline will help keep vehicle engines clean and reduce deposit-related problems,
helping vehicles achieve optimal performance as well as reduced emissions.
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