Covid gear change for women drivers

IRISH women drivers are still in love with their cars, but almost half of them (44%) would be less likely to use public transport in the wake of the pandemic, a new survey has revealed.

A total of 819 women took part in the DMG Media Motoring Survey, and it found that two in three admitted that their car has taken on more importance in their lives during the current health crisis.

Car ownership remains key in the Irish household – with 95% of respondents saying they own at least one car. The hatchback (48%) proved the most popular type, while Volkswagen (14%), Ford (13%) and Toyota (11%) were the top three brands.

Almost half of those surveyed said they had bought a car in the last two years – with 20% purchasing a new vehicle in 2018, 19% last year, and 9% of respondents forking out for a new set of wheels this year.

Second-hand models have proven the most popular – making up 74% of sales, while 78% said they had no safety concerns about buying a second-hand car.

For those considering buying a vehicle in the near future (new or second hand), Volkswagen, Toyota, Ford and Hyundai emerged as the most popular marques.

In terms of finance, 29% of the women set themselves a budget of between €5,000 and €10,000, while 22% were willing to spend between €10,000 and €15,000.

Only 2% of respondents had budgets to spend €40,000 or more on a new car.

When asked if the Covid-19 crisis had made them more or less likely to buy a new or second-hand car, 61% said the current situation has not changed their plans, while 5% said they are more likely to buy a new car. And when asked what were the key factors they would consider before a new purchase, 43% cited ‘brand loyalty’, more than half stated ‘fuel economy’, while 46% noted road safety as a key factor.

Almost a quarter of respondents stated they were likely to stick to the same brand of car when deciding to buy a new model, although 77% said they spent time researching other brands before deciding which to purchase.

Asked if Covid-19 has changed their motor purchase needs in any way, an overwhelming majority of 92% said it had not.

Black (18%), blue (14%) and silver (13%) were the three most desired colours for a new car – although 31% said they wouldn’t mind what colour the vehicle was if it meant the car was cheaper.

In terms of fuel economy, diesel (29%) would be the most likely purchase with a hybrid model (25%) the second preference. Only 4% of respondents said they would buy an electric car, with many arguing that those models are just too expensive at the moment.

The respondents, selected from a 6,000-strong Evoke.ie and Rollercoaster.ie research panel regularly contacted for brand insights, were interviewed over three days.

Just 2% can afford a €40k+ new car