Survey reveals what car buyers least like about buying a car, and it isn't the dealership

Consumers are clear on the two things they least like about buying a new car: the cost (30 percent) and the dealership experience (22 percent). In a recent survey by the Consumer Reports National Research Center, adult car owners said by a large margin that these are the two greatest turnoffs.

The survey is based on 1,764 random, nationwide telephone interviews of adult car owners, exploring attitudes and trends related to car buying.

When it comes to used cars, consumers are most concerned about reliability (24 percent), with dealership experience (11 percent) ranked second, despite that many used cars are bought privately.

Used cars are attractive purchases since the original owner suffered the steep, initial depreciation hit. However, there is greater risk when buying used, and there are valid concerns about how a vehicle has been treated and how it will hold up. Buying a car with a track record for above-average reliability and having it inspected by an independent mechanic can go a long way toward ensuring a relatively trouble-free ownership experience.

The dealership experience will vary by brand, store, salesperson, model, and even day of the week. One way to get a competitive price on a new car and minimize the chance of having a bad dealership experience is to use a service like Consumer Reports' Build & Buy program. Available through the car model pages at ConsumerReports.org, the Build & Buy service provides guaranteed price quotes from local dealers who are held accountable for high customer satisfaction.

Learn more about buying a new or used car, with buying advice, recommendations, and ratings.

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—Jeff Bartlett