The nature of the question pertains to recent recall onslaughts and false manufacturer MPG claims. Swapalease.com conducted a survey a while back with car shoppers and drivers and discovered a few interesting facts about these people’s mindsets.
As I read and studied the results, I could not help but not be surprised as I found myself thinking about recalls and claims in much the same fashion. Essentially, nothing and no one is perfect and we know it, and we carry on with our daily lives.
On the question of recalls and whether or not consumers thought that there were more today compared to 10-20 years ago, nearly half of those surveyed simply said that they’re part of our car culture. Moreover, the number of recalls announced does not make the majority of drivers nervous about cars on the road. This is a clear indication that we have far more to worry about these days.
The really interesting inference I pulled from the survey is that although recalls and skewed MPG claims may have some kind of influence on the brand/model of car that is purchased, they are quickly taken for granted once the purchase is made. It’s as though the consumer will try and avoid these issues as much as possible at first, but will then accept them.
One of the questions asked related to Toyota’s much talked about safety recalls and other issues. Of those interviewed, only 1% was not aware of the situation, however, nearly 50% said that Toyota still makes a good car. This speaks volumes of Toyota’s overall reputation. Had these issues befell the likes of GM or Chrysler the end result might have been different. I digress…
In a time where fuel economy is on everyone’s minds and lips, discovering that one’s car is not as economical as initially thought has a different impact on the car owner and driver. The reason is quite simple and obvious: the false claims directly affect the wallet, whereas recalls do not.
Nearly 50% of the respondents said that false MPG claims do seriously affect their purchase decision. By comparison, 40% of buyers felt the same way about recalls.
We must remember that large portions of the recalls we hear about are directly related to important safety concerns. Again, it comes down to money.
My conclusion here is that the buying public is more concerned by the state of the economy than their own safety. And I have no problem with that.
As I read and studied the results, I could not help but not be surprised as I found myself thinking about recalls and claims in much the same fashion. Essentially, nothing and no one is perfect and we know it, and we carry on with our daily lives.
On the question of recalls and whether or not consumers thought that there were more today compared to 10-20 years ago, nearly half of those surveyed simply said that they’re part of our car culture. Moreover, the number of recalls announced does not make the majority of drivers nervous about cars on the road. This is a clear indication that we have far more to worry about these days.
The really interesting inference I pulled from the survey is that although recalls and skewed MPG claims may have some kind of influence on the brand/model of car that is purchased, they are quickly taken for granted once the purchase is made. It’s as though the consumer will try and avoid these issues as much as possible at first, but will then accept them.
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| Photo: Sébastien D'Amour |
One of the questions asked related to Toyota’s much talked about safety recalls and other issues. Of those interviewed, only 1% was not aware of the situation, however, nearly 50% said that Toyota still makes a good car. This speaks volumes of Toyota’s overall reputation. Had these issues befell the likes of GM or Chrysler the end result might have been different. I digress…
In a time where fuel economy is on everyone’s minds and lips, discovering that one’s car is not as economical as initially thought has a different impact on the car owner and driver. The reason is quite simple and obvious: the false claims directly affect the wallet, whereas recalls do not.
Nearly 50% of the respondents said that false MPG claims do seriously affect their purchase decision. By comparison, 40% of buyers felt the same way about recalls.
We must remember that large portions of the recalls we hear about are directly related to important safety concerns. Again, it comes down to money.
My conclusion here is that the buying public is more concerned by the state of the economy than their own safety. And I have no problem with that.