A survey of 1000 Irish motorists carried out by Ford has shown some of the effects the cost of living crisis is having on their driving habits and vehicle related decisions. 

One in three motorists say that they are either delaying or totally skipping their car’s annual service in an effort to save money, while 57% of say they have cut back on their mileage. 

John Manning, Market Lead for Henry Ford & Son Ltd., commented, “Our survey has shown that many motorists are doing their best to ease that cost burden in the current tough economic climate. While we can understand drivers looking to reduce their mileage with the aim of saving on fuel expenditure, given the volatile nature of fuel costs over the past year, we would ask the 30% of car owners who said they would either skip or delay a service action to think again. By skipping or delaying a service, a motorist may well be saving money in the short term but they could be storing up longer term problems that will cost even more money in the long run.”

John points out, “Missing an oil change can cause sludge to build up in the engine. This sludge can lead to increased engine wear, reduced engine performance and consequently, reduced fuel economy. In extreme cases, sludge build up can negatively impact on your car’s emissions which could lead to a car failing the NCT.” 

In addition to fuel and servicing costs, motorists are also seeking to save money by not renewing their car as often as they would want. 20% of drivers said they will ‘make do’ with their current car because it is too costly to buy a new car. Instead of buying a new car, 22% said they have renewed their car by opting for a second-hand car within the past year.”