TUSTIN, CA -- Everybody wants a new car. There’s nothing like the intoxicating smell of a new car’s interior and the feel you get when you drive away from the dealership. But besides an olfactory rush what do most people look for when they buy a new car? Recent data from the automotive consulting firm AutoPacific shows that overall reliability and durability tops the list of things new-vehicle buyers want when they buy a car.
With all the talk about global warming what kind of car would it be? An overwhelming 65% of the respondents said they still plan to purchase a vehicle with a conventional gasoline engine but 26% indicated they planned to buy a hybrid. This would be a massive change from the 1.5% of overall sales hybrids earned in 2006. Another growth area is diesel. The survey showed 7% would make diesel power their next vehicle choice. And small seemed to equal better. A majority (54%) of those surveyed said they will purchase a six-cylinder engine, 29% a V8 and 14% a four-cylinder engine the next time they purchase a vehicle.
To conduct their Future Vehicle Study, AutoPacific sent out a survey to 23,958 consumers (59% male and 61% female) and asked them what features, characteristics and types of vehicles they look for when thinking about buying. On a scale of one to five, people were asked to rate car characteristics in terms of importance. Surprisingly (at least to me) scent wasn’t one of them.
Top 10 characteristics New Vehicle Buyers Want When Making Their Purchase
1. Reliable/Dependable 4.6
2. Overall Quality 4.5
3. Durable/Long Lasting 4.4
4. Feeling Safe While Driving 4.3
5. Value For The Money 4.3
6. Handling 4.3
7. Brand’s Reputation 4.3
8. Deriver’s Seat Visibility 4.2
9. Driver’s Seat Comfort 4.2
10. Traction In All Weather Conditions 4.2
Source: AutoPacific
AutoPacific also asked these prospective new-vehicle buyers to tell them what vehicle features they want on their next vehicle. In order to get a more accurate reading, typical costs of each of the features were provided next to each item. It was clear that new-vehicle buyers have safety in mind when thinking about their next vehicle. So much for the theory that safety doesn’t sell.
Top Ten Features Buyers Want On Their Next Vehicle
1. Steering Wheel Controls (+$150-300) 70.4%
2. Side Curtain Airbags (+$250-400) 66.1%
3. Traction Control Sysem (+$200-800) 60.8%
4. Automatic Climate Control (+$50-150) 56.5%
5. Energy Efficient Air Conditioning (+$300-500) 53.4%
6. Tilt/Telescoping Steering Wheel (+$250-500) 52.9%
7. Automatic Windshield Fog Prevention (+$75-150) 46.7%
8. Memory Driver’s Seat (+$300-400) 45.9%
9. Power Open/Close Trunk/Lift Gate (+$50-150) 43.8%
10. Added Insulation to Reduce Engine & Road Noise 43.8%
Source: AutoPacific
The survey revealed that, despite rising gasoline prices and a clear interest in hybrids a large number of people are still considering buying SUVs and pickups. While this may change, and be partly due to the fact that these are the vehicles consumers are aware of, these vehicles were surprisingly well represented in the top 10.
Types Of Vehicles Considered For Next Vehicle By New Vehicle Buyers
1. Mid-size sedan 28.2%
2. Mid-size sport utility 24.1%
3. Luxury sedan 22.8%
4. Luxury sport utility 14.8%
5. Crew cab pickup – Large 12.8%
6. Mid-size crossover 12.6%
7. Large sedan 11.9%
8. Sporty coupe 11.4%
9. Extended cab pickup – Large 11.3%
10. Large sport utility 10.7%
Source: AutoPacific
What’s clear is that any mass-market automaker that ignores quality, durability, fuel efficiency and safety is courting disaster.
For more information about AutoPacific and more car news, visit www.autopacific.com.
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