Looks aren鈥檛 everything.
That may be true when it comes to finding the love of your life, but not so much in choosing a new car.
鈥淓xterior look/design is the top reason shoppers [30 percent] avoid a particular vehicle,鈥� according to J.D. Power market research company in a summary of its 2015 Avoider Study.
Other top reasons vehicle shoppers at dealerships rejected certain vehicles include cost and interior look/design at 17 percent each and models lacking the latest technological features at 15 percent. Fuel economy was cited by only nine percent of shoppers as a reason for avoiding a purchase.
(From personal shopping experience recently, the results of the study seem to be right on target.)
So, if a car isn鈥檛 good looking 鈥� outside and inside 鈥� and available with a good price and new technology, a significant percentage of shoppers will avoid purchasing it, moving on to something prettier.
Meanwhile, fuel mileage was cited as the most influential reason that new-car owners gave for actually selecting the vehicle they ultimately purchased, J.D. Power said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an especially influential factor among buyers of compact, small and midsize cars and compact MPVs.鈥�
This is the case despite gas prices plunging to around $2 a gallon 鈥� and which are expected to average $2.33 a gallon in 2015 and $2.72 in 2016, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
鈥淐onsumers know that, although gas prices are low today, the cost of fuel will likely increase during the time they own their vehicle,鈥� commented Arianne Walker of J.D. Power. 鈥淐learly, consumers are considering the total cost of ownership when selecting their new vehicle.鈥�
But, it seems, the prettier the vehicle the better, though certainly pretty is in the eye of the beholder.
The 2015 Avoider Study 鈥� fielded between July and September 2014 鈥� reports responses from nearly 30,000 owners who registered a new vehicle last April and May. Now in its 12th year, the study looks at reasons consumers purchase, reject or do not consider certain models when shopping for a new vehicle.
