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Sunday 1 May 2011

Searching Online For The Best Cars In 2011

While currently only about 10.5% of the population are buying their new vehicles online, Internet searching is becoming increasingly popular because of its convenience and privacy. The car industry predicts that by the year 2015, as many as 20% of vehicle purchases may be made without first visiting the sales lot. The average car shopper spends as much as 18 hours online searching for the best deal and information before actually heading out the door to look at vehicles. This time is spent reading car reviews, studying brands and models, comparing vehicle specifications, watching car videos and locating showrooms and dealerships.
There is no question that the Internet has become a primary research tool for everything from car buying to getting online car insurance quotes. Since as many as 77% of the drivers in the UK may have inadequate coverage, searching for a new car online is also a good opportunity to review your car insurance protection and upgrade if applicable. An online insurance quote is quick and free and lets you make your own decision without pressure from any sales agent. Perhaps this is another reason why so many are also searching for their dream car online.
While dreams are wonderful, most UK buyers are more interested in economy right now. Rising fuel prices with increasing surcharges and taxes are pushing customers towards the most economical cars they can afford. Although still a minority, there has been a sharp rise (3,458%) in searches for electric and alternative energy vehicles. To stimulate this new interest, the government has offered a 25% discount up to £5,000 off the retail price towards the purchase of one of nine approved vehicles. The Smart fortwo and Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid are included in this list, and it is not surprising that they are two of the most researched vehicles at present.
Of course, because we all would prefer luxury if we could afford it, the BMW 3 Series has been the top favorite both in 2010 and so far in 2011. It offers style and comfortable elegance, but it is also cheap to run at about £3,150 per year. More than 37 million people searched online for this brand last year. Other popular choices were the Volkswagen Golf, the Ford Focus, the Vauxhall Astra and the Audi A4.In the UK as a whole, Ford was the all-over favourite. The exceptions were Northern Ireland, where the Renault Clio is preferred and London where the Volkswagen Polo is most often driven.
For 2011, the Vauxhall Corsa, Ford Fiesta, Kia Sportage, Nissan Qashqai and Skoda Yeti models will be seeing a lot of online viewers this year. Economy driven, prospective customers still want some level of comfort, a high measure of safety and the best performance they can afford. While hesitant to seal a deal without seeing, touching and test driving a vehicle, more and more car buyers are determined to do as much home work as possible before entering into the negotiating part of the purchase.
If this is your time to buy a new or used vehicle, include all the fuel and maintenance costs in your budget before you go shopping, and don't forget to get an online car insurance quote if you suspect you may need more or better coverage. Know your vehicle and know what you are willing to spend for it before you leave home, and your online searching will really pay off.

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