Women Are Less Likely Than Men To Research Price When Buying A Used Car.

Women are much less likely than men to thoroughly research pricing information before buying a used car, a nationwide survey conducted by the Consumer Reports Auto Price Service has found.

Only 69 percent of the women surveyed said they had used a variety of sources to research used car prices before making a purchase compared to 86 percent of the men surveyed, according to CR’s Auto Price Service study. The study also found that men are more likely to negotiate the purchase price than women—with 76 percent of men saying that they had negotiated compared with 68 percent of women.

“Consumers—no matter if they’re male or female—will be able to strike a better deal if they go into the buying process armed with detailed pricing information, said Rob Gentile, Associate Director of Consumer Reports’ Auto Price Service. “Don’t expect to get a great deal on a used car if you haven’t researched what a used car is really worth.”

Consumer Reports’ Auto Price Service findings are based on a nationwide survey of nearly 14,000 adults. The survey, which was conducted in 2004, investigated the buying behavior of new- and used-car buyers.

The Consumer Reports’ Auto Price Service study also found that:

— Thirty-seven percent of women surveyed visited a dealership without doing any type of prior research, compared to just 29 percent of men.

— Men are more likely than women (62% vs. 45%) to consider a particular make of used car. Sixty-two percent of men said they went shopping for a specific make compared with just 45 percent of women. Consumers over the age of 55 are also more inclined than those in the 35 to 54 age bracket to shop for a specific make (67% vs. 45%).

— Men spent a median of one month researching a used car purchase, compared to a median of 2.2 months for women.