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Practicality and Basic Transportation Needs Reflect Today’s Car Drivers, According to Survey

RICHMOND, Va.--Practical vehicles that provide basic transportation are the way drivers in today’s economy view their cars, according to an online survey conducted for CarMax, Inc. , the nation’s largest retailer of used cars.

The overwhelming choice when asked: Thinking about your car, would you say that it…was “gets me from point A to point B,” with 71 percent of the votes. Having a car that can “do it all without breaking the bank” also ranked high among those polled, another indicator that today’s drivers view their car in terms of need rather than want.

“In today’s challenging economic environment, consumers are focused on making smart buying decisions,” said Tom Folliard, president and chief executive officer of CarMax. “Buying a used car makes sense for shoppers looking for a vehicle that meets their transportation needs, yet remains affordable.”

In addition to getting from point A to point B, many adults view their cars in other practical ways. Nearly one in ten adults considers their car to be an office with a window, as they spend most of their day driving. Vehicles often also serve a very useful purpose for parents, according to the survey, as 14 percent view their car as a taxi service for their children.

The following are the results of the recent poll that asked adults to complete the following sentence: Thinking about your car, would you say that it…

     
Response       Percent
Gets Me From Point A to Point B       71%
Has To Do It All Without Breaking The Bank       30%
Defines Who I Am       20%
Is Where I Go To Get Away       17%
Is A Taxi Service For My Kids       14%
Is My Office With A Window       8%
I Don’t Drive a Car       6%
 

The survey was conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs on behalf of CarMax. The national sample consisted of more than 1,000 U.S. adults who were interviewed online April 30 – May 4, 2009. Respondents were given the option of choosing more than one answer.

Currently, there are more than 4,000 used cars at carmax.com priced under $12,000, with thousands more searchable by price range. Each vehicle is reconditioned, goes through a 125-point inspection for quality and comes with a free online Vehicle History Report. Consumers can search vehicles from 30 top brands by fuel economy and features, read customer reviews, review reliability ratings by J.D. Power and Associates, and obtain safety ratings by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, all on carmax.com. All vehicles come with a five-day, money-back guarantee and a limited 30-day warranty (60-day in Conn.).