Motorists favor used cars due to budget constraints Zainal Abidin, 09/09/2024 When buying a second hand car in 2024, 58% of consumers’ primary motivation would be saving money, according to The Motor Ombudsman’s Opinion Matters poll of 2,050 motorists. Rather than buying a brand new equivalent, budgets and household bills would influence consumers to buy a used car. Bill Fennell, chief ombudsman and md at The Motor Ombudsman said: “Several million used cars change hands each year, and the second hand market, for some consumers, provides a more affordable and accessible proposition.” Four in ten respondents stated they would prefer buying a car that was previously owned by at least one person prior to avoiding the initial loss in value associated with buying a new car. In addition, 20% would hope to avoid waiting for their vehicle to be built and delivered. Showroom visits are important to one in four buyers. Showrooms allow buyers to familiarize themselves with the car’s history through its servicing record or any previous owner reviews indicating performance and reliability. When buying a used car, reassurance that checks have been completed are important and 48% of buyers would prefer to entrust an established bricks-and-mortar seller with this responsibility. If these buyers were to run into an issue, … Continue Reading
Role of dealership highly valued by used car buyers Zainal Abidin, 19/07/2024 Nearly half (48%) of those looking to buy a used car considering visiting an established bricks-and-mortar seller provides them with the added assurance that it has likely undergone rigorous checks. The findings emerged in the latest Opinion Matters poll of 2,050 UK driving license holders who were commissioned by The Motor Ombudsman, the independent watchdog for the automotive sector. Furthermore, 43% of survey participants wanted a safety net if something was to go wrong with their car after purchasing it, as they would have more legal rights compared to if they had sourced the vehicle via a private seller. The research showed that nearly one in four buyers (38%) would prefer to visit a showroom, as they would have a greater opportunity to view and understand a car’s history, including its servicing records and documentation. A similar proportion, 34%, said that there would often be an opportunity to purchase an extended warranty agreement to help protect them from costly mechanical or electrical failures. Lastly, if they were to buy a used car, a third of survey participants cited that they would steer away from a private individual, in favor of buying one from a seller that is accredited by The … Continue Reading