With consumer sentiment at an eight year high, new car sales in the first week of 2015 are reported be up 30% on this time last year and by all accounts, this year is likely to be one of the best for car dealers since 2007.
Indeed the latest iQ research from PML Group reveals that some 29% of Dubliners intend to change their car in 2015, with the majority intending to buy a used car rather than a new one.
The research, conducted by Ipsos MRBI on behalf of PML, highlighted that 21% of the total respondents plan to purchase a used car in 2015, while 8% said that they plan to purchase a new one. Used cars proved to be more popular than new ones across all age groups according to the research, with 17% of respondents aged 45-54 saying they plan to buy a used car and 10% in the same age group plan on buying a brand new car in 2015. Unsurprisingly, younger people are less likely to purchase a new car with 4% of 16-24 year olds saying they plan to buy one, while 22% intend to buy a used car.
Used cars appear to be becoming increasingly popular to buy, as 2014 figures from Motorcheck.ie revealed that used car sales, which had remained relatively unchanged for the past number of years, increased by almost 50,000 last year. However, new car sales finished on a high in 2014 with 96,254 new cars sold. According to Motorcheck.ie, that is more than 22,000 extra registrations than in 2013, or an increase of 30%.
As a whole Irish car sales for new and used vehicles were very high in 2014 and it is expected that this trend in car sales will continue into 2015. PML’s iQ research indicates that people aged 25-34 will be most likely to buy a car in 2015, as this age group was the highest percentage at 38%.