America, lets be honest with ourselves for a moment. When it comes to our material possessions, we tend to be a picky bunch. How else can you explain the variety of choices we have when we buy just about, well, anything. This is especially true about cars.
And oh how our tastes do change. Just a few years ago, people were buying big gaudy SUV’s and were more concerned with cup holders than fuel economy. But once again, our priorities have changed, and a new study suggests quality and fuel economy are now top concerns among new car buyers.
But just because our tastes change, doesn’t mean our brand loyalties do. A Consumer Reports survey found that 73% of new car owners are likely to buy the same brand as their current car. That other 27% are more likely to be swayed to a new brand by quality, price, and fuel economy.
It is obvious why consumers want better fuel economy, what with the unstable price of gas and the likelihood of higher gas taxes in the new few years. Same deal for lower prices, as the economy plods along sluggishly. But were car buyers really forgetting about quality when they went car shopping? I have a rather poor opinion of most vehicles made in the mid 90′s through the mid 2000′s. But it surprises me that the “quality” of a car is just now rising to the top of consumers’ lists.
Still, cars have no doubt gotten much better over the last few years. If you were to buy a new car, what qualities would you look for first?
Source: The Detroit Bureau | Image: Steeda
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About Christopher DeMorro
“But it surprises me that the “quality” of a car is just now rising to the top of consumers’ lists.”
Looks and prie have always taken higher priority than “reliability” with me (but that may be because I’m fairly mechanically inclined and can fix most the
“unreliable” things).
I know Toyota and Honda, till now, have had higher quality than Ford and GM, but I couldn’t stand the looks of any of their cars. They’re all so bland.
And the American cars are almost always significantly less expensive, particularly if you buy
only 1- or 2-year-old-used as I do.
I don’t know if any of you are old enough to remember “generic foods” at grocery stores where, for example, a box of Crackers would be all white with only the word “Saltines” on it, or a soda can would be all white with only “Cola” written on it. Well, the Toyota Camry and the Honda Accord look to me like generic cars…like they could be all white with the word “Automobile” written on them and they wouldn’t look any better or worse.
“But it surprises me that the “quality” of a car is just now rising to the top of consumers’ lists.”
Looks and prie have always taken higher priority than “reliability” with me (but that may be because I’m fairly mechanically inclined and can fix most the
“unreliable” things).
I know Toyota and Honda, till now, have had higher quality than Ford and GM, but I couldn’t stand the looks of any of their cars. They’re all so bland.
And the American cars are almost always significantly less expensive, particularly if you buy
only 1- or 2-year-old-used as I do.
I don’t know if any of you are old enough to remember “generic foods” at grocery stores where, for example, a box of Crackers would be all white with only the word “Saltines” on it, or a soda can would be all white with only “Cola” written on it. Well, the Toyota Camry and the Honda Accord look to me like generic cars…like they could be all white with the word “Automobile” written on them and they wouldn’t look any better or worse.
…that should be “Looks and price…” in my first
sentence above.
…that should be “Looks and price…” in my first
sentence above.
I also drank beer in white cans that said “Beer”
Cars and Religion can be influenced from our up bringing. Grandpa would only drive Fords, so Dad did also.
I also drank beer in white cans that said “Beer”
Cars and Religion can be influenced from our up bringing. Grandpa would only drive Fords, so Dad did also.
I think it’s not so much quality as it is frugality changing peoples minds these days. Fluctuating oil prices, the BP spill, the “computerization” of the car, are all coming together and showing people that quality can come at a big savings to the environment and their wallet.
And Don, I remember “Beer”, too, and do you know what it was? Falstaff. Yep. Had a friend that worked at the factory in Ft Wayne, Indiana. No formaldehyde, just real crappy beer.
I think it’s not so much quality as it is frugality changing peoples minds these days. Fluctuating oil prices, the BP spill, the “computerization” of the car, are all coming together and showing people that quality can come at a big savings to the environment and their wallet.
And Don, I remember “Beer”, too, and do you know what it was? Falstaff. Yep. Had a friend that worked at the factory in Ft Wayne, Indiana. No formaldehyde, just real crappy beer.