Among new-vehicle buyers of 22 different brands, Toyota was given more consideration than Ford, according to ongoing studies of buying habits conducted by CNW Marketing Research, Inc.

For example, among people who eventually purchased a Chevrolet product, Toyota was the first alternative brand name pushing Ford into second spot. Among those who purchased a Pontiac, Toyota products were considered by more

than two-to-one over Ford products. Volvo buyers were three times more likely to consider a Toyota than a Ford while Chrysler-product buyers had Toyota as their primary alternative followed by Chevrolet with Ford a distant third.

In all, Toyota was first alternative for seven brands, second alternative for three brands and third alternative for three brands.

Ford's position has slipped dramatically in the past three years, according to CNW. In 1998, a Ford product was the first alternative to

what individual consumers eventually purchased among 8 of the 22 brands investigated. In 2001, that fell to zero.

First Alternative:

Toyota buyers: Honda

Honda buyers: Toyota

Saturn buyers: Honda

Ford buyers: Chevrolet

Chevrolet buyers: Toyota

Pontiac buyers: Chevrolet

Nissan buyers: Toyota

Volvo buyers: Honda

Chrysler buyers: Toyota

Dodge buyers: Toyota

Oldsmobile buyers: Toyota

Lexus buyers: BMW

Mercedes buyers: BMW

Hyundai buyers: Nissan

Mazda buyers: Toyota

Mitsubishi buyers: VW

Jaguar buyers: Mercedes

BMW buyers: Mercedes

Daewoo buyers: Kia

Kia buyers: Daewoo

Lincoln buyers: Cadillac

Cadillac buyers: Lincoln

Second Alternative:

Toyota buyers: Nissan

Honda buyers: Saturn

Saturn buyers: Toyota

Ford buyers: Toyota

Chevrolet buyers: Ford

Pontiac buyers: Toyota

Nissan buyers: Ford

Volvo buyers: BMW

Chrysler buyers: Chevrolet

Dodge buyers: Chevrolet

Oldsmobile buyers: Ford

Lexus buyers: Mercedes

Mercedes buyers: Lexus

Hyundai buyers: Chevrolet

Mazda buyers: Daewoo

Mitsubishi buyers: Honda

Jaguar buyers: BMW

BMW buyers: Audi

Daewoo buyers: Hyundai

Kia buyers: Chevrolet

Lincoln buyers: BMW

Cadillac buyers: Lexus

Third Alternative:

Toyota buyers: Saturn

Honda buyers: Nissan

Saturn buyers: Nissan

Ford buyers: Mercury

Chevrolet buyers: Honda

Pontiac buyers: VW

Nissan buyers: Kia

Volvo buyers: Toyota

Chrysler buyers: Ford

Dodge buyers: Honda

Oldsmobile buyers: Mercury

Lexus buyers: Volvo

Mercedes buyers: Audi

Hyundai buyers: Toyota

Mazda buyers: Hyundai

Mitsubishi buyers: Toyota

Jaguar buyers: BMW

BMW buyers: Jaguar

Daewoo buyers: Chevrolet

Kia buyers: Saturn

Lincoln buyers: GMC

Cadillac buyers: GMC