Modern car part terminology flummoxes motorists
Drivers are so flummoxed by modern day car terminology it’s causing them to feel they are at risk of being ripped-off when they take their vehicle to the garage, according to Direct Line.
57 per cent of motorists believe that if they come across as not understanding what is being said to them by their mechanic, they may agree to work which is unnecessary.
Direct Line spoke to 2140 motorists, and over one in five (21 per cent) said they don’t trust garages to do only necessary work and a quarter (24 per cent) think they could be at risk of being swindled because they don’t understand enough about modern cars and motor technology.
In the past five years 71 per cent of drivers have visited a garage and of these 69 per cent had trouble understanding the terminology used – a figure which increases to 82 per cent amongst female customers.
Terms such as ‘hydrogen fuel cell’ and ‘continuously variable transmission’ particularly baffle drivers and this confusion is causing four in 10 drivers to feel vulnerable to being conned or agreeing to the unnecessary work.
Although only a quarter of motorists said they don’t trust mechanics, out of these a particularly suspicious third (32 per cent) think that garages purposely use lingo to confuse consumers meaning it would be easy for them to be overcharged.
Of those who don’t understand modern car terminology, only a quarter (27 per cent) will openly admit it, whilst more than a third (37 per cent) are too embarrassed to say anything to their mechanic so often simply end up agreeing to the work, even though they aren’t sure what they have signed up to.
The situation has got so bad that four in 10 (39 per cent) of British drivers told Direct Line they dread going to the garage so much they prefer visiting the dentist.
Emma Holyer, Direct Line’s Motor spokesperson said:
“When taking your car to the garage we’d advise drivers to ask more questions and request an quote broken down by work that needs to be carried out – that way you can ensure you know what you’re paying for. Mechanics are used to being asked to explain technical terms like drivetrain and AWD so don’t be too nervous to ask. If you really don’t understand cars at all, take along a friend of family member who is more savvy to the terms used on modern cars.
“It is important that drivers make sure their vehicle is serviced regularly by a mechanic to prevent an accident or being stranded in a breakdown. We would advise all motorists to shop around and ask friends and family for advice in finding a reputable and reliable garage before getting any work done on your vehicle.”
For more information, log on to www.directline.com
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Emma Holyer/Direct Line Press Office
0208 256 2182 / 07894 158605
Email: emma.holyer@directline.com
Notes to Editors:
The research was carried out on behalf of Direct Line Car insurance by YouGov. A nationally representative sample of 2,140 GB adults were questioned online between 1st to 2nd November 2006. Results are weighted to be representative of the GB adult population.
Top 10 car part names that motorists do not understand:
Isofix (76 per cent)
Hybrid powertrain (63 per cent)
A-pillar (63 per cent)
Tiptonic transmission (61 per cent)
Drivetrain (61 per cent)
Lift-off oversteer (59 per cent)
AWD (55 per cent)
Continuously variable transmission (54 per cent)
Residuals (54 per cent)
Paddleshift (51 per cent)
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