British motorists buy brand new cars for their reliability and warranty, as well as the prestige of owning a new model, a recent survey has revealed.


Other top reasons for buying a brand new car, according to a poll carried out by Virgin Cars, were the small price differences between new and one-year-old used vehicles, as well as the opportunity to pick and choose the exact colour, trim and other features.


However, while “peace-of-mind motoring, with reliability and a warranty” was the most popular reason for buying new, the survey of 1,007 UK adults in August also revealed that car buyers were far less were concerned with “the latest in gadgets and gizmos”.


The second most common reason for a new car purchase was “low maintenance and running costs”, closely followed by “the prestige and lifestyle statement of owning and showing off the latest model,” said Virgin Cars chief executive Ian Lancaster.


By Jonathan Thomson

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