Funny Man Kay Would be Top Choice for Sat Nav Voice

(Editor's Note: This study was done in Britain, so you may not recognize all the names. For the U.S, Canada, and Australia, send in your suggestions to info@theautochannel.com.)

MANCHESTER, England - February 21, 2006: Funny man Peter Kay would be the choice of motorists if they could pick the voice of their satellite navigation device and Joe Pasquale would drive them around the bend.

Following the success of the new technology that allows Tom Baker's voice to deliver text messages to landlines, The Co-operative Bank asked motorists who they would most like to tell them where to go.

49 per cent of those asked thought that Bolton comic Kay would help to keep them on the right track, but 35 per cent said Pasquale's squeaky twang would send stress levels soaring - an interesting statistic given the current ongoing debate over safety issues surrounding satellite navigation.

When it came to sexy voices women went for former James Bond actor Sean Connery (38 per cent) and men chose Carol Vorderman (32 per cent) closely followed by Fiona Bruce (28 per cent).

Mark Byrne, Head Marketing Management at Co-operative Financial Service (CFS), which recently launched Deal Check, a free valuation service for car buyers, in conjunction with What Car?, said: "This isn't science fiction. In the near future we could be changing sat nav voices like we download ring tones to our mobile phones.

"It has got to be better than a robotic voice or even worse relying on our partners to give us directions."

Research findings:

    
               Favourite comedy voice
    Peter Kay                         49%
    Homer Simpson                     24%
    Dawn French                       12%
    Jonathan Ross                     9%
    Victoria Wood                     6%

    
                Least favourite voice
    Joe Pasquale                      35%
    Janet St Porter                   29%
    Cilla Black                       16%
    David Beckham                     12%
    Tony Blair                        8%

    
                Favourite male voice
    Sean Connery                      39%
    Trevor Macdonald                  20%
    Tom Baker                         14%
    Terry Wogan                       11%
    Kelsey Grammer                    11%
    Other                             4%

    
               Favourite female voice
    Carol Vorderman                   32%
    Fiona Bruce                       28%
    Mariella Frostrup                 25%
    Kathleen Turner                   10%
    Miriam Margoyles                  4%

What Car? has been the car buyer's champion for over 30 years. The What Car? stable now includes What Car?, What Car? New Car Guide, and the What Car? Price Guide, What Car? Video Road Tests and Whatcar.com. Independent research shows that almost a quarter of all car buyers read What Car? before making a decision.

For further information contact: Dave Smith, Co-operative Financial Services Press Office, Tel: +44(0)161-829-5397, Fax: +44(0)161-829-4590, e-mail : david.smith@cfs.co.uk