News

Motoring Beauty is only skin deep for Nottingham Drivers

Friday 25th May 2007

Motorists in Nottingham put more importance on buffing up the body work and dusting their dash boards than carrying out routine safety checks on their vehicles, a new survey has revealed.

A poll of 610 car drivers by Sandicliffe Motor Group, the East Midlands family-owned car retailer has found that the region’s drivers are up to twenty times more likely to prioritise cosmetic chores such as washing, hoovering and polishing the interior of their cars over routine maintenance such as checking the oil and tyre pressure.

Of all motorists surveyed in the poll, almost three quarters (74 per cent) said they washed their car at least once a month and 64 per cent would give it a full valet, whereas only a third (32 per cent) will actually check under the bonnet during the same period.

For women, the devil is in the detail with almost two thirds (64 per cent) confessing to never having read the service manual against five per cent of men and 42 per cent saying they have no idea what their tyre pressure should be.

But while men may have the upper hand on the detailed needs of their car, only a small number actually act on this, with just half (50 per cent) checking their tyre pressure once a month and even less (40 per cent) saying they check their oil. One in ten male drivers even confess to never having looked under the bonnet of their car.

To coincide with the findings Sandicliffe has launched the Sandicliffe Service Plan, a unique and affordable product which staggers services costs on an interest free monthly schedule with costs fixed at 2007 prices for up to nine years.

Matt Walton, Head of Aftersales for Sandicliffe Motor Group said: “Today’s vehicles are much more reliable than their predecessors which, as our results have shown, have made many of us complacent about the wear and tear that can make them unreliable or at worst, unsafe.

“Whilst it is important to stay on top of the cosmetic needs of our cars, having them regularly maintained will not only help keep drivers safe but also help them retain significantly more value. The servicing plan we have launched is a first for the industry and is designed to help the region’s drivers manage this much more effectively.”

For women, the love affair with a new car can be short-lived, with over 38 per cent confessing they start to neglect the maintenance of their new wheels after just 3 months. Men on the other hand do cherish the honeymoon period a little longer, with almost half (47 per cent) continuing to give their wheels some well deserved tlc well into the second year.

Sandicliffe Motor Group is one of the country's largest Ford Retail Groups, with a total of ten dealerships in the East Midlands plus Suzuki, Mazda, Kia, Fiat, Chevrolet and servicing for MG Rover owners.