W-b Man 
Found Guilty 
In Sex Case

Annette Meil 
Nov. 29, 1992 
Annette Meil, 72, Of City Line Avenue, Phoenixville, Died Sunday In Stanford 
Hospital, Stanford, Calif.

Thursday, December 03, 1992 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 1B/5B QUICK WORDS: TOYS 





THE COUPE SCOOP &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Toy car leaves adult-size competition in the dust &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Reported by Associated Press Writer Lisa Cornwell and Times Leader Staff &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Writer Jennifer Learn &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The top-selling car in America isn't made by Honda or any of The Big
ThreeBut it might be made by The Little One. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Although the Cozy Coupe has a limited customer base -- it's designed for
the 2-to-5-year-old market -- there are lots of them on the pavement. Little
Tikes Co. sold 500,000 of the plastic coupes last year. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Sorry, Honda, you sold only 399,000 Accords. The Ford Taurus? Only 299,000. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The Coupe, with an average sticker price of $40, is more affordable than
the $13,300 Accord and $16,649 Taurus. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "The car business is so competitive that the Cozy Coupe has gotten the jump
on us," says Ross Roberts, a Ford Motor Co. vice president and general manager
of the Ford Division. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The reasons for the Cozy Coupe's popularity can be found in the comments of
those who test-drive the car. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I like it because it has a top and you can take it out in the rain," says
4-year-old Michael Kelley of Kent, one of the children at a day care center
the company runs for employees in this Ohio community near Cleveland. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Four-year-old Patrick Tenney of Cuyahoga Falls says the engine, powered by
his two feet on the floor, makes it go faster than a race car. Three-year-old
Angela Porello of Bedford really likes the horn. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 That kind of customer satisfaction translates into booming cash registers
at the many retail outlets throughout the Wyoming Valley that sell the sporty
roadster. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "The Cozy Coupe has always been popular, but sales really skyrocketed this
past year," says Dean Sherwood, merchandise manager at Kmart in Wilkes-Barre. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I think people are more value conscious and want something that's going to
last. The Cozy Coupe is very durable and a good value for the money," he says. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Little Tikes says it expects to outsell the Accord and Taurus again this
year. Here's what the company is hoping the smart buyer finds attractive in
the Cozy Coupe: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 A red body and yellow roof. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 At 34 inches high, just the right size for the driver. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 A door that swings open and shut. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 A horn (always a popular item). &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 A clicking key. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 A storage compartment behind the seat. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Jim Mariol, who designed the car, says the Cozy Coupe was revolutionary
when introduced in 1979 because it had a roof and a door that could be opened. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "The roof makes kids feel more secure, because it gives them a sense of
having their own little space," he says. "And I've seen children just get
enjoyment out of opening and closing the door." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The company made some design changes in the past few years to make the car
more appealing, such as a key that makes a clicking sound. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 One of the most popular features seems to be a gas cap that opens and
closes. The company also offers a gas pump with a nozzle designed to fit the
car and a crank that rings when turned. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "The best part is that you don't have to worry about paying cash at the
pump," says company spokeswoman Leslie Mapes. "A peanut butter and jelly
sandwich or two now and then provides all the fuel needed." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The plant in Hudson, Ohio, turns out about 1,000 Cozy Coupes a day. The car
is among the company's top five products in terms of dollar amounts and units
sold, according to Mapes. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Parents are equally attracted to the vehicle. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "You can't tear it up," says Kingston resident John Carter, whose three
daughters drove the family Cozy Coupe when they were under 6 and too young to
handle a bicycle. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Children also get a workout driving the vehicle Fred Flinstone-style. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "It really strengthens their leg muscles, and I don't have to buy batteries
for it," Carter says. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The Cozy Coupe scores high with Joanne Oppenheim, who edits Oppenheim Toy
Portfolio, an ad-free consumer guide for parents. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "The Cozy Coupe is not trendy, it's solidly built, and parents don't have
to worry about splinters or rust," she says. "Also, it's not confined to one
gender and it doesn't tip over easily." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Shirley Mattison of Wellsville, N.Y., says she and her husband bought a
Cozy Coupe for their grandson nine years ago, and it has survived through
seven more grandchildren. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "How the car stood up under that kind of abuse, I don't know," she says. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Despite its success, the Cozy Coupe is facing the same kind of competition
that threatens many adult-size cars -- the minivan. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Little Tikes this year introduced a minivan that offers options such as a
cordless car phone, simulated wood panels and a sunroof.

The Coupe Scoop 
Toy Car Leaves Adult-size Competition In The Dust 
Reported By Associated Press Writer Lisa Cornwell And Times Leader Staff 
Writer Jennifer Learn 
The Top-selling Car In America Isn't Made By Honda Or Any Of The Big Three.

The Coupe Scoop Toy Car Leaves Adult-size Competition In The Dust Reported By Associated Press Writer Lisa Cornwell And Times Leader Staff Writer Jennifer Learn The Top-selling Car In America Isn't Made By Honda Or Any Of The Big Three.