After noting the dates of the Chicago Auto Show, I realized that the February results will have to be released on the 5th to avoid that media frenzy. Which will be tough, since the current survey won’t end until late at night on the 2nd.

Actually, it’s even worse. The press release firm we use requires a two-day lead time. So the release will have to go out hours after the survey ends.

So, TrueDelta’s research process will truly be put to the test the month. Usually we have about 90 percent of the analysis done by the time the survey period ends. This time it’ll have to be 99.9 percent.

Members are doing their part. Today’s email asked people to respond early in the month, so we’d have less to do later in the month. And the response rate so far is the strongest in the past two years, with 14.8 percent already responding in the first six hours.

A little perspective on growth. This month’s survey includes 25,040 cars. The survey in January 2008: 11,771. The survey in January 2007: 2,833.

If the response rate remains strong, this could be the first time we have 10,000 responses. Most likely we’ll end up between nine and ten, so this honor will fall to the April survey. But, maybe not. I’m hopeful.