I Would Drive 500 Miles: Consumers Are Willing to Travel Longer Distances to Get the Cars They Want During COVID-19, According to Edmunds
SANTA MONICA, Calif., Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumers are willing to go the extra mile to get the cars they desire during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the car shopping experts at Edmunds. Edmunds data reveals that new vehicle inventory is down by nearly 20% compared to the same time last year and, as a result, car shoppers are expanding their online searches to include dealerships that are farther away. According to Edmunds website data, car shoppers indicated that they were willing to drive 47 miles on average for outgoing 2019 model year vehicles in January 2020. In January 2021, car shoppers indicated that they were willing to drive 65 miles on average for outgoing 2020 model year vehicles, nearly a 20-mile increase year over year.
"New car inventory was already tight due to coronavirus-related factory shutdowns from last year, and the current global chipset shortage has exacerbated the situation," said Jessica Caldwell, Edmunds' executive director of insights. "But car shoppers aren't being dissuaded by the lack of inventory. They're demonstrating that they're ready to literally go the distance to get their hearts' desire, even in the midst of a pandemic."
Edmunds analysts have created a Valentine's Day-themed "Most Desired Vehicles" barometer, which takes into account all car shopping leads submitted on Edmunds and identifies vehicles that car shoppers indicated they were willing to drive the farthest distance to obtain. The Mercedes-Benz G-Class clinched the No. 1 spot in the hearts of car shoppers, commanding an average distance of 363 miles. The Toyota GR Supra came in second, with consumers indicating they'd be willing to drive an average of 167 miles. The Kia Stinger came in third, rating an average distance of 166 miles from willing car shoppers. The complete Top 25 list of Most Desired Vehicles can be found below and on Edmunds here.
"By looking at the vehicles that topped the list, it's clear that different motivations are pushing car shoppers to go long distance," said Caldwell. "Consumers with more eclectic or expensive tastes are going out of their way to get the cars that they want, but we're also seeing that consumers are willing to travel farther for more affordable, high-demand options as well."
Ahead of Valentine's Day and the Presidents' Day holiday weekend, Edmunds experts note that car shoppers who are willing to travel longer distances for their next vehicle purchase should consider taking some important steps before hitting the road to save time and stay safe:
-- Test-drive a similar vehicle closer to home. Edmunds experts strongly
recommend driving the vehicle before you buy it to make sure it feels
right before you make a big financial commitment. If the dealership with
the specific make and model you have your heart set on is out of town,
schedule a test drive with a similar vehicle at your local dealership.
You might find out that some of your must-haves might actually be
nice-to-haves and aren't worth spending the time on the road for.
Dealerships also trade cars all the time, so it's possible your local
dealer can work with the one out of town and have it shipped.
-- Get your trade-in appraisal online. If you have a trade-in, Edmunds
experts note that it's a good idea to figure out how much you can sell
yours for so you can determine what to put down on a new car. To do so,
they advise getting a real cash offer for your vehicle on sites such as
Edmunds because it saves time and can be done from the comfort and
safety of home.
-- Do as much paperwork at home as possible. Work with the dealer to
complete as much of the necessary paperwork online, including your loan
application, so that you can spend minimal time at the dealership.
-- Ask about delivery. Some dealers will deliver your new vehicle to your
door, so be sure to ask. You might be able to skip the big drive
altogether.
"If you have your heart set on a vehicle that's a long drive away, the good news is that you can take most steps from the comfort of home," said Ivan Drury. "Dealerships have done a good job of bringing so much more of the car shopping process online in response to the pandemic. As long as you're willing to do some extra research and prep work beforehand, you can feel confident in committing to a car purchase even if it's a long drive away."
Top 25 Most Desired Vehicles,
Ranked by Greatest Average Lead Distance Submitted on Edmunds (2021 Model
Year)
Vehicle Make Vehicle Model Average Lead Distance
Submitted on
Edmunds (miles)
Mercedes-Benz G-Class 363
Toyota GR Supra 167
Kia Stinger 166
GMC Sierra 3500HD 161
Lexus LX 570 135
GMC Sierra 2500HD 132
Ford F-350 Super Duty 122
Chevrolet Corvette 99
Genesis G80 97
Nissan Titan 97
Mercedes-Benz A-Class 92
Kia Sedona 91
Audi Q8 85
Audi e-tron 81
Cadillac Escalade 81
Toyota Land Cruiser 78
Lexus IS 350 77
Toyota Sequoia 74
Buick Encore 72
Ram 1500 pickup 72
Mini Hardtop 2 Door 70
Lincoln Navigator 70
Porsche Cayenne 64
Land-Rover Range Rover Sport 63
Volkswagen Jetta GLI 63
About Edmunds
Edmunds guides car shoppers online from research to purchase. With in-depth reviews of every new vehicle, shopping tips from an in-house team of experts, plus a wealth of consumer and automotive market insights, Edmunds helps millions of shoppers each month select, price and buy a car with confidence. Regarded as one of America's best workplaces by Fortune and Great Place to Work, Edmunds is based in Santa Monica, California, and has a satellite office in Detroit, Michigan. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
CONTACT:
Talia James-Armand
Associate Director, PR & Communications
PR@Edmunds.com
310-309-4900
http://edmunds.com/about/press
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