CAR-BUYING QUIRKS

A survey of consumers’ new car-buying attitudes conducted by Progressive Insurance finds that many people place a higher value on the looks of a new car than on its safety features. Ranked in order of importance to the consumer, the survey listed the top five considerations when purchasing a new car as: overall purchase price; practicality; monthly payment amount; look/style of the car; and safety features. According to the survey, 47 percent of respondents said the color of the car was more important than side air bags, and 22 percent said a CD player held more importance than anti-lock brakes in influencing the decision to purchase a new car. When asked how they would change their driving behavior upon purchasing a new car, the number of respondents who said they would abstain from eating and drinking when driving a new car was three times that of those who said they would stop speeding or tailgating. Moreover, 27 percent of respondents said auto insurance premiums do not vary significantly by vehicle type, and 19 percent said that their premium would be the same regardless of their insurer.