Car buying: The choice is emotion or cost

A car purchase is more likely to be an emotive one for men, while women are more likely to get their calculators out to work out the overall costs, according to a survey of British car owners by Experian, the global information services company.

While the emotional impact of buying a car and concerns about meeting associated costs influence all car owners, the running costs, price, tax bracket and the ability to finance the purchase are more likely to be higher in the decision making process for women than for men.

On the other hand, men are more likely than women to place the reliability of a car and the make and model higher. Men are also more likely to be won over by the manufacturer’s brand reputation and how the car affects their personal image.

For women, once they have found the right car, they are more likely to hold onto it for a longer period of time (69% of women hold onto their cars for over three years compared to 60% of men). Meanwhile men are more inclined to go for a change within a three-year period (39% compared to 29% of women).

Credits: Jarvis