What is Your Most Important Concern When Buying a New Car?

While the cost of gasoline dropped last month to its lowest levels in recent years, Michiganders apparently haven't forgotten about $3-a-gallon gas last summer.

A Detroit Free Press-Local 4 Michigan Poll last month found that gas mileage ranked as the most important issue among residents when choosing a car to buy.

Forty-three percent of the respondents said fuel economy was at the top of their list, followed by concerns about safety, room for people and cargo, and low maintenance costs.

"I feel we're running into problems with our dependency on foreign oil," said Mike Walker, 47, of Trenton. "I think gas prices are going to continue to go up. We flirted with it last year and it's come down a little bit, but this is a lull before the storm."


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Loki123 - 2/13/2007 10:00:30 AM

+3 Boost

Given that the very act of buying a car is an environmentally unfriendly act I wouldn't say that the environment scores high for concerns. The price for hybrids are still too high to pay up front - most people would rather pay at the pump over 5-10 years.

Some of the advertising for "green" vehicles, looks like they are more of a sympathic statement of support or fashion statement, rather than a serious attempt to help the enviornment.

Anyways, I would say "value for money" would be my number one concern. "Resale" is another biggie for me.

Agent009 - 2/13/2007 1:16:39 PM

+2 Boost

Right now ANY form of an automobile is not an eco-friendly statement.

Agent009 - 2/13/2007 1:18:06 PM

+2 Boost

Interesting only 20% in the survey even mention reliability or repairs as a factor. But that is your number one concern?

MercBasher - 2/13/2007 1:28:01 PM

+1 Boost

Agent 009 its a Michigan study, you'll recall imports don't do well in Michigan - and that Michigan is out-of-step with much of the US.

Also the study is not particularly helpful because it doesn't distinguish between how a vehicle gets on a buyer's short-list versus how a final decision is made between vehicles on a short-list.

kart1 - 2/13/2007 11:25:15 AM

0 Boost

1. Features
2. Performance and driving dynamics
3. Resale value
4. Style
5. Quality of construction and materials

MercBasher - 2/13/2007 1:19:11 PM

+1 Boost

Agree that this is an excellent list, but I'd add:
6. How jealous the vehicle will make my neighbors
7. Likelihood that I will regret the purchase in six months
8. How soon the manufacturer is going to replace the vehicle and / or engine [further out is better]
9. Proximity of the dealership for servicing [closeness is better]
10. Whether any people, that I don't like or want to be associated with, already have that vehicle

onlytoyotaandlexus - 2/14/2007 2:40:48 AM

0 Boost

And of course Reliability, that's why I prefer Toyota.

S4cabriofoxone - 2/13/2007 11:27:52 AM

+3 Boost

1. Sport/comfort compromise
2. Engine/transmission fluidity
3. Style
4. Pracitcality
5. Features (what the options add to the price)

Rupert - 2/13/2007 5:31:13 PM

+2 Boost

1. Whether I like it
2. Coolness/image
3. Price
4. Insurance costs

why these choices? Well, I'm nearly 17, getting a car, so I need to like it, it needs to be cheap and insurance is a killer so that needs to be low too.
when i'm older i'll add

5. Performance
6. Equipment
7. MPG
8. Car tax band (the london congestion charge will be emissions based in like 2 years)
9. Length of seats! (I get really uncomfortable on cars with short seat squabs, BMW sports seats are really good)
10. Reliability.

dsch_iter - 2/13/2007 6:19:41 PM

+1 Boost

* Styling (exterior/interior)
* Quality
* Flexible Fueling System (E85/BioDiesel/EV)
* All Wheel Drive
* ESP
* Clever Automatic Transmission (DSG alike)
* Depreciation

trd1 - 2/13/2007 6:29:07 PM

+1 Boost

im just going to say go to a toyota dealer or a lexus dealer and you will find what you need, lol.

07mcs - 2/13/2007 7:11:14 PM

+1 Boost

These are my criterias

1. Style
2. Features
3. Performance
4. Fuel Efficiency
5. Price
6. Reliability

mstangpny07 - 2/13/2007 10:17:12 PM

+1 Boost

Did we not go over this five months ago? I remember we did.

mstangpny07 - 2/13/2007 10:18:10 PM

+1 Boost

Oh:
*price
*safety
*styling
*performance
*quality

in no particular order...

Threepoint1415926 - 2/14/2007 1:44:25 AM

+1 Boost

The article and its responses seem a bit silly. The biggest concern of most people when buying a car is of course price! It is the number one concern for any American when buying any product. Perhaps someone is willing to spend more for a specific feature (style perhaps) but its value is a price in dollars.

Personally when I have a price in mind, I look to the model line up I have loyalty with and see what I can afford and what I cant. Then, I go looking in the used market at those which I can an previously couldn't.

Bill - 2/14/2007 4:54:11 AM

0 Boost

1) Image
2) Design
3) Safety
4) Price
5) Performance
6) Quality