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Car Buying CyberShoppers Still Value Dealer Relationship

15 July 1999

Car Buying CyberShoppers Still Value Dealer Relationship

     Annual CyberShopper Survey Reveals Internet User Auto Buying Trends
                     And Preferred Auto Web Site Features

    DENVER, July 14 -- While 83 percent of American Internet
users who are likely to purchase a new or used vehicle in the next year plan
to go online to gather information prior to making their next automotive
purchase, consumers still value certain aspect of their dealer relationship.
Ninety-two percent say it is still important to maintain a relationship with a
local dealership for information and service for a vehicle purchased online.
    Moreover, nearly two-thirds of respondents (61 percent) want to buy a
vehicle from a dealer located near their home or office, according to the
annual CyberShopper '99 Survey of 1,000 American Internet users.
    "These findings prove that dealers still are an integral part of the
online car buying process," said Michael Kranitz, president of DriveOff.com
Inc., a sponsor of the annual CyberShopper Survey.  "Although consumers are
becoming more comfortable shopping and even purchasing vehicles from the
Internet, they still value the after-market service relationship that only a
local dealer can provide."
    A J.D. Power and Associates survey released Monday reaffirmed that in just
one year, 25 percent more car buyers used the Internet to help them shop for
their vehicle.  CyberShopper '99 sheds deeper insight into the explosive
growth of automotive e-commerce -- the top three consumer demands from
automotive web sites are comparison shopping (82 percent), getting the
absolute lowest price (77 percent), and obtaining a guaranteed price on a
vehicle (65 percent) before ever stepping foot inside a dealership.
    According to CyberShopper '99, 85 percent of respondents want the online
ability to compare the actual dealer invoice to the sticker price, 81 percent
would like to price out options on various models, and 76 percent want to
compare vehicles feature-by-feature.  These percentages speak to the
tremendous influence the Internet is having on the traditional and online auto
buying process.
    "The Internet is educating auto buyers and empowering them to make better
purchasing decisions," Kranitz said.  "It saves consumers time and helps them
avoid the frustration that traditionally arises during the research and
negotiating process."
    Auto dealers also may be interested in knowing that 42 percent of
respondents said they would surf the Internet three or more months prior to
making a purchase, visiting an average of seven automotive web sites prior to
making a purchase.  If respondents have vehicle inquiries, nearly two-thirds
(60 percent) prefer an electronic response compared to the 28 percent who want
to be contacted by telephone.
    In addition, 57 percent of the respondents who plan to use the Internet in
their next vehicle purchase, plan to use the web to research new vehicles as
opposed to used.  Regardless of the make and model of the vehicle being
researched, 89 percent of those surveyed report being somewhat or very
satisfied with the Internet sites they did visit while shopping online.
    "The high level of consumer satisfaction with the online automotive
e-commerce experience and the overall increase in Internet purchases, leads us
to believe that nearly half of America's online population will use the
Internet to shop for and purchase a vehicle in the next two years," Kranitz
said.  "As technology improves, consumers become more secure about shopping
online, and automotive web sites respond to greater consumer demands, that
amount could skyrocket."

    About CyberShopper '99
    CyberShopper '99 is the third annual survey of the buying habits of
America's online population.  More than 1,000 American Internet subscribers
were surveyed via telephone.  The margin of error for the total survey results
is plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.  This error margin increases in
subgroups within the data.  The survey, funded by automotive e-commerce
company, DriveOff.com Inc. and e-business solutions provider, Navidec Inc., is
conducted annually by MGA Communications, a Denver-based marketing
communications and research firm.  The complete report can be purchased for
$795 by calling 800.797.7565 or visiting http://www.navidec.com/cybershopper.

    DriveOff.com Inc.
    DriveOff.com Inc. provides world-class auto buying and information web
sites including DriveOff.com, USWheels.com, CarWizard.com and LeaseSource.com.
The company is developing its premier Web site, DriveOff.com, which will
provide consumers with binding price and monthly payment quotes online,
allowing them to complete their entire vehicle transaction by visiting the
site.  DriveOff.com Inc., based in Englewood, Colorado, is a wholly owned
subsidiary of e-business solutions provider, Navidec Inc. .  Its
corporate web site is located at http://www.DriveOff.com.

    All statements in this press release, other than historical facts, are
forward looking statements.  These statements are based on certain assumptions
and analyses made by Navidec in light of its experience and its perception of
historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other
factors it believes are appropriate under the circumstances.  Such statements
are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including general and
economic business conditions, demand for automobiles, competition from other
automotive online services, market acceptance of its online automotive
solutions, the ability of Navidec to reach agreements with local media
partners and other risk factors indicated from time to time in Navidec's
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Those filings are
available online at http://www.freeedgar.com.