Holden trumps Ford in First Car Race

[Buzz Box]

I couldn't find this anywhere else and if I missed it sorry.

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Holden trumps Ford in First Car Race
12 April 2009


HOLDEN has trumped Ford in the on-going battle of the Marques with almost a quarter of Australian men owning a Holden as their first car, according to research commissioned by Bankwest.

Bankwest research also revealed that 17 per cent of women grabbed a set of keys to a Toyota as their first set of wheels.

And when it comes to getting advice about a potential purchase, women are far more likely than men to seek advice from an "expert".

The iconic Aussie Holden was tailgated by arch-rival Ford in second place, with 15.5 per cent of men calling a Ford their first car, with Toyota holding down number three with 10.3 per cent. Next across the chequered flag were Mazda (4.4), Nissan and Volkswagen (4.1), Mitsubishi (3.7), Mini (3.0), Honda (2.3) and Hyundai (1.4).

In more bad news for Ford, the Bankwest research revealed Australian's first car love affair with Holden isn't restricted to Aussie blokes: 16.1 per cent of women bought one as their first car followed by Ford (13.7), Mazda (6.7), Mitsubishi (5.5), Nissan (5.2), Honda (4.3), Hyundai (3.7), VW (3.5) and Mini (1.5).

Bankwest spokesperson Adrian Bradley said men preferred a car with a bit of grunt like a classic V8 Commodore, while women went for a more fuel efficient four-cylinder Toyota.

"It's probably no surprise a lot of blokes want a car you can hear before they actually arrive," he said.

The national research was carried out with 1250 Australians by market research firm Brand Management, with 60 per cent saying they saved up to pay cash for their first car - men were more likely (63 per cent) to do so than women (52.4)

A quarter of Australians got a loan to pay for the car while 21 per cent said their parents paid for some or all of their first car, and for a lucky 3.7 per cent - their first car was a gift.

The amount splurged on the first car differed with age groups, with 21 to 30 year olds spending on average $9973 while those aged 51 to 60 spent $5214. The price difference is due to the fact that most 51 to 60-year-olds bought their first car up to 30 years ago.

But when it came to their current car, almost one in four Australians bought a new car while one in six chose a used car. This varies depending up on age, with younger Australians aged 21-30 buying used and almost half of those aged 51-60 buying their current car new.

More than half paid cash for their current car, and the propensity to pay cash increased with age. Of those who didn't pay cash for their current car, 64.5 per cent took out a personal loan for it, with women (75.1 per cent) more likely than men (43.3).

The most important element of a car loan is the low interest rate, with 73.9 per cent of respondents ranking this first. The second most important element was a repayment amount that suits them (26.2 per cent), and a low application fee (25.9 per cent).

Other interesting facts:

* 53.0 per cent know how much interest they are paying in total for their loan. Men were much more likely than women to know how much interest they would be paying in total (65.7 per cent vs 40.8 per cent).
* 40.2 per cent of respondents paid out their personal loan early.
* Of those who did not have a personal loan, 54.4 per cent lease their current car. Men are much more likely than women to lease their car, at 60.6 per cent of men vs 39.7 per cent of women.
* 5.4 per cent of respondents normally keep their car for less than two years, 27.0 per cent keep their car for two to four years, and 34.1 per cent keep their car for four to six years. One third of all respondents keep their car for longer than six years.
* When shopping around for the right car finance, more than half of all respondents would compare different lenders (60.6 per cent), use online calculators to check how much they could borrow (58.2 per cent) or speak to their main bank to find out about their products (57.8 per cent).
* One third of respondents would speak to family/friends who know about the topic (37.9 per cent), submit applications or quote requests online (36.2 per cent), read articles or information published online about car loans (33.0 per cent) when shopping around for a car loan.
* Women are much more likely than men to speak to friends or family who know about the topic (43.8 per cent of women vs 33.4 per cent of men).
* One quarter (25.4 per cent) of respondents would speak to a car dealer to get information about a car loan.

-Ends-

[Scott]

A more telling story would have been what their second car was

[4Vman]

Or sexual orientation....

[3vXT]

My first car was a holden and i'm all man.

[JMO]

^^Modern surgery is a marvel :P

[snappy]

How many could afford a brand new holden/ford
it would be vt vs au again we all know how that went

[4.0i_SiX]

Originally Posted by Buzz Box

In more bad news for Ford

Who writes this crap? They always seem to turn it around and have a dig at ford. I agree, they definitely should have asked what their second car was! Learn from your mistakes...

[RspecAU]

Well i guess holden supporters need something to hang there hat on seeing as tho there getting trumped on the track for the last 3 years

[GT69]

I thought this stuff was vl v xd? though i may have said to much about my bogan background....

[benoxr]

Originally Posted by Buzz Box

In more bad news for Ford, the Bankwest research

Hardly what I'd call bad news for Ford. Maybe when we got more mature and wiser, we bought a Ford :
Do people keep their first car, a Holden, for long? Probably not.
Gotta love statistics...

[RG]

Originally Posted by ken2903

My first car was a holden and i'm all man.

As was mine and as am I.

[Steve]

My first car was a Holden as well but that's because I only paid $200 for it. The equivalent Ford was going to set me back more than I could afford at the time, so I'd say that's fairly GOOD news for Ford.

[OZQUAD44]

Originally Posted by GTP006

A more telling story would have been what their second car was

My first car was a Holden too, I think it speaks volumes for that car considering all I've ever owned since has been Aussie Fords.

[AdzT3-146]

everyone has to learn from their mistakes :P

[XR6_190]

Originally Posted by ken2903

My first car was a holden and i'm all man.

Yeah well my first car was a HYUNDAI, so it means squat.

Anyway, isn't this really good news for Ford? because if statistics have taught us anything, it's that most people ruin their first cars anyway, so more people who have a Holden to ruin for their first cars the better.

[GK]

1st, 3rd, 4th & 5th cars were (and still are) Ford.

1st = KE Laser - Purchased brand new in 1989 - Sold in 2003 to buy the wagon.
3rd = KJ Laser - Purchased in 1999 - Rear ended and written off in 2005.
4th = AU Futura Wagon - Purchased in 2003. Still the family wagon!
5th = AU2 SR Sedan - Purchased in 2005. Still my daily driver!

The second car you ask?

It came with my wife when we married. A 1985 Gemini! We sold it to buy the second Laser. Got $400 for it. LOL!

GK

[outside]

never owned a holden and can say i dont see myself ever owning one. i have had jap cars for work and run abouts as i do now with a 2000 tj manga

[Spanrz]

And when it comes to getting advice about a potential purchase, women are far more likely than men to seek advice from an "expert".

Wouldn't the women seeking an "expert", seek a man's advice?

Oxymoron?

[nommic]

My first car was a Corolla and I knew 1/10th of SFA about cars back then. Buying that car was purely a question of cost, practicality, and what was available. I bet it's the same for a lot of first-time buyers.

High percentage of first-time owners driving Holdens probably contributes to the crap behaviour regularly seen from commo drivers on the road.

[asusdragon]

my first car was a holden though more a rebadged Toyota. (Hey it was free parents brought it for me.) After that i have owned four Falcons, yes i learnt my leason and reformed and plus first time i sat in a falcon it was so much more comfortable and laid out better. So those satistics are that great really, as your first car is more based on price(usually your still at school and could never get a loan), plus parents lol 2nd and so on cars are more based on personal choice and having more money

[3vXT]

Originally Posted by JMO

^^Modern surgery is a marvel :P

No surgery needed when your rollin' in one of these babies

[ltd]

We will soon see a glut in Holdens as first cars; GM has less than two weeks before president Bambi's deadline to find a buyer, or else face bankrupcy. Holden is overcapitalized as it is so I doubt they will have the funds to buy themselves out from the parent, so they will be either sold off to someone like Tata, or they will be stripped of assets and closed. Either way, it is not good news.

[Melz]

What would be more interesting to see would be the dates of manufacturer on your first car.... I don't see too many people owning a brand new car for their 1st car.

I'm still trying to work out why I brought one at all.... glad she is gone! But most of all she wasn't my first car, the XB was!

[aquahead2001]

Originally Posted by Melz

What would be more interesting to see would be the dates of manufacturer on your first car.... I don't see too many people owning a brand new car for their 1st car.

I'm still trying to work out why I brought one at all.... glad she is gone! But most of all she wasn't my first car, the XB was!

First car was a Ford Cortina 1968, then HG Ute 1970, LX Torana Hatch 1976, XT Falcon 1968 (6 months only), XD Wagon 1980, EFII Wagon 1995, EFII Sedan 1995, AUII Wagon 2001, Toyota Kijang (Indonesia) 2002, HQ Ute 1974, SY Territory 2006 and finally the Ranger 2008.

All of them were great cars, the Cortina took amazing abuse before I finally killed it!

[The Monty]

The survey was of 1250 people. Who cares. Personally mine was a Toyota Camry, after I learnt in a Toyota Landcruiser, the I bought my AU, then another one...

[Mr Hardware]

Originally Posted by GTP006

A more telling story would have been what their second car was

Yeah very true. Most people's first cars are nothing like what they end up liking in the long run. Mine was a RWD Manual Corolla!

[Homes]

that it...your first car is usually what you can afford to get yourself on the road.
My list :
-'75 mazda cappella, 3 speed auto, 1.6 4 pot...gift from parents, sold for $100 in scrap metal a week later when it died
-'85 laser, still a 1.6, but now a 5 speed. traded in a few moths later
-'92 pintara wagon, 2.0 5 speed.
-'86 (i think)xf falcon 6 pot...now we're getting somewhere - got stolen after 6 months
-'94 (i think) ef falcon 6 pot. Lost my job & needed beer money, so i sold it.
Now, 2000 AUII futura 6. Really starting to love my cars now...and falcon is responsible.

Never owned a holden...barely even driven them, but
I don't get in on the rivallry, they are pretty similar...i just am more comfortable with the way the falcons of late drive. I do dislike the BA's handling/steering though...my old man has one, & i'm glad i don't. Can't afford the FG, so that will remain a mystery to me

[Clint Eastwood]

I guess if a holden is your first car as mine was,you learn your lesson quickly and you will NEVER to do it again.

[Fev]

still driving my first car!

[Polyal]

What a complete waste of time, people get paid good money to do this....