UK car buyers less worried about keeping up appearances

Car buyers are becoming less preoccupied with having a cool-looking or gadget-loaded car and are focusing much more on thrift and spending less as high fuel prices continue to hit them in the pocket, according to new research.

The study of 2,000 buyers by national car supermarket Carcraft revealed that top concerns for car buyers are budget, value for money and fuel economy, while level of comfort, safety, image, gadgets and speed are ranked lower on the scale of importance. Amazingly however, almost half of all customers (45%) still make up their minds about purchasing a new motor within an hour of seeing it for the first time and almost a third (31%) make their decision within half an hour.

The research also found that car owners typically get bored of their car and are ready to trade it for a new model after four to five years. Only 13% kept their old cars for six to seven years and a tiny 3% for more than seven years.

Fuel consumption was identified as the biggest bugbear about their car by owners - beating other grumbles such as insurance costs, the vehicle’s size and its “boring” looks. Perhaps surprisingly, men tend to make up their minds more quickly than women, who prefer to spend more time considering a car’s merits.

A Carcraft spokesperson said : “It seems motorists are being more prudent and are choosing thrift over style when it comes to choosing a new car. There is a lot to be said for choosing a less flash and perhaps slightly older model of a car - they have proven trustworthiness and comfort and their specifications guarantee safety and reliability.

“The economic downturn has evidentially hit drivers in the pocket so it’s natural they need more assurance before spending their money. As such we provide a full one year Drive Happy Guarantee on every car sold.”

For more information about Carcraft, visit carcraft.co.uk.