Study Reveals Three Basic Types Of Car Buyers - Which One Are You?

The distinct groups consist of:

• Buyers who cast a wide net as they consider various vehicles before finally deciding what to buy. They are vigorous cross-shoppers.
• Direct and determined consumers who pretty much bee-line to a vehicle selection. “Some people, not many, know what they want right away,” says Rick Wainschel, AutoTrader’s vice president-automotive insights.
• Price shoppers seeking the best deal possible. “Everyone is price-sensitive, but this group is really price-sensitive,” he says.

Cross-shoppers are the biggest of the three groups, consisting of 65% of car consumers online. Their computer sessions also are longer and they take more time to buy.

internationalmanofmystery - 10/7/2013 1:57:49 PM

+1 Boost

..guess if you cast a wide net for a particular car at the lowest price you would be an outlier?

MorePower - 10/7/2013 5:28:45 PM

+1 Boost

This is nothing new, but simply a study that, to a serious degree, validates the marketing belief of the three stages of brand awareness.

jeffy210 - 10/7/2013 6:08:19 PM

+1 Boost

I cross shop, but not in the usual way. For example, I was trying to decide between the A5 Cab and a CLA. Before that it was the C70 or a Mazda6. I generally know what car in each category I want, for me it's just matter of which category do I want to go with. Convertibles have won out twice so far.

ErnestHouse - 10/8/2013 11:02:30 AM

+1 Boost

How do they know when you you walk into a dealer and buy?

freeagent - 10/8/2013 3:53:34 PM

+1 Boost

direct and determined. and it better have a very good stereo