The average Irish car buyer now spends just under eight hours researching used cars cars online (and 4.88 hours for a new car) before committing. But what are the most important things they want to know ? A new survey reveals all.
The main findings from the Carzone.ie survey are that we are pretty savvy when it comes to buying either a new or second-hand car and that transparent pricing, followed by vehicle history, are the most important factors for buyers.
The respondents in the survey say they would spend on average 7.59 hours researching online and, surprisingly, 3.32 hours with the dealer or seller.
They would also spend 2.6 hours discussing their choice with family and friends. It all adds up to a lot of research but its a wise investment, given the cost of cars in this country.
Commenting on the research Eoin Lally, operation director at the company said: "Aside from a house, for most of us a car is one of the most significant purchases we make so it’s no surprise that people are spending a huge amount of time researching before deciding on what car to buy.
"The research shows that reviews, transparent pricing, timely responses and vehicle history all play an important role in the buying process so it’s important for brands and dealerships to take this into account when selling."
Over four respondents in ten said they would only consider buying a used car versus one in five who would only consider a brand-new car and almost half say they have a shortlist of car brands they want to buy.
The survey looked at the entire car buying process from research phase to end purchase.
Online research is mostly used to investigate the cost of a car (82%), while two thirds (67%) use the internet to compare different car models. 65% go online to find cars for sale, while over a third (39%) use it to locate a local dealership.
Unsurprisingly for a Carzone survey, Carzone emerges as the most popular website, with 72% of people logging on to check out the latest vehicles for sale.
Transparent pricing of cars is the most important requirement for buyers.
"Transparent pricing is the most important factor for Irish shoppers. A resounding 85% cite this as number one on their list when buying a car.
"The vehicle’s history is a close second with 83% saying they want this information before making a purchase, while 70% say car testimonials and reviews are an important part of their decision-making process.
"80% say a timely response from a dealer or seller is key, indicating that dealers or sellers who respond quickly are more likely to make a sale", says Carzone.
Almost half of all buyers (42%) say they have a shortlist of cars they are interested in purchasing, while 37% say they knew the make and model they wanted to buy and focused their search on that marque.
Only 10% of those questioned say they had no idea of the type of car they wanted to buy when looking to purchase.
