BRITS DON’T KNOW THEIR ABS FROM THEIR ELBOWS

11:55am Friday 16th May 2008

- Research reveals most of us feel out of our depth when buying a car-

Are we made up with our motors or simply fed up with the cars we own? A study published today reveals why some of us just aren't satisfied: a huge seven out of 10 (70%) of buyers have purchased a car even though the information they were getting from the car dealer went right over their heads.

According to fish4cars, the nationwide classified car website, over half of car hunters (55%) buy a car without a full understanding of its history, functions or specifications: a symptom of the fact that 57% of us admit to feeling totally befuddled when negotiating with car dealers.

Although car-sales jargon can often be baffling, the fish4cars ( www.fish4cars.co.uk ) report illustrates that the full scale of car buyers' confusion stretches to common phrases and abbreviations, with car jargon blunders such as:

"My car is more inner city than off-road" - A third of people quizzed (30%) believed that SUV stood for Standard Urban Vehicle rather than Sports Utility Vehicle

"Pull up the sails I've found a parking spot!" - 6% of those questioned thought ABS stood for a nautical-sounding Anchor Based Security rather than Anti Brake-Lock System

"My car was a steal" - Although nearly half (48%) of those asked knew that a hot hatch was a souped-up' hatchback, over one in 10 (12%) believed the description hot hatch' meant the car being advertised was stolen!

These mistakes may not always lead car hunters up the wrong driveway, but it's easy to get terms confused, even for those who are very clued-up about cars. The report also demonstrates that with more advanced jargon, misinformed buyers neglect to double-check their knowledge. For example:

Mind your Ps and Qs - 48% of people who believed an MPV was a Multi Person Vehicle rather than a Multi Purpose Vehicle

Not so quick off the mark after all - A high performance engine' is one that goes from 0 to 60 mph very quickly, though over a quarter of those asked (27%) believed the term referred to efficient fuel consumption.

Colin Mathieson, sales director for fish4cars, believes that the problem stems from people being afraid to ask salesmen when they don't understand something: "It's important to remember that they're not trying to hoodwink you, they're just trying to give you as much information as possible to help you make a decision.

"It's very common to feel a little out of your depth when speaking to a car salesman - and yet bemused buyers seldom speak up. This is partly because they don't want the salesmen to believe they are ignorant, or even worried they will try to pull a fast one' on them. In truth, most salesmen will take questions as a sign of an astute buyer who knows what he or she wants."

Buying a car, whether it's new or used, is one of the biggest investments people make, and it's not one they should be making rashly. To help car buyers get the most out of their visits to forecourts, fish4cars has compiled these handy hints:

1. Preparation is everything. Take note of the most common phrases and abbreviations whilst browsing and prepare a list of questions you'd like to ask

2. Know what you're looking for. This refers to more than just price range or colour - have an idea of extras, features and specifications you want so you aren't tempted into paying for those you don't need

3. Take your time. You won't need to decide on the spot, so take a short walk or go to a nearby café and allow the information to digest

4. Two heads are better than one. Always try to take along a friend or family member - this means you'll have an impartial sounding board and a fresh view on questions or details. If they're a car expert, so much the better!

5. Don't stay in the dark. Make sure your appointment to view and test drive the car falls during daylight hour

6. Never be afraid to ask. If a description is ambiguous, or you're overloaded with acronyms, don't be afraid to ask. Salesmen won't be deliberately trying to bamboozle you, and asking will remind them to slow down!

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