Millennials v boomers – eBay reveals who prefers getting under the bonnet
A recent study by eBay looking into the car upkeeping habits of the nation gleaned some potentially surprising results.
Getting their hands dirty
Over 25% of millennials (people born between 1981 and 1996) quizzed were undertaking their own vehicle repairs, with cost-saving as the motivating factor. While only 18% of baby boomers (born from 1946 to 1964) were willing to get their hands dirty, the rest preferring the services of a professional garage.
Flying in the face of perceived wisdom, the study also found that more than 23% of 17-24 year-olds (Generation Z) were more likely to give fixing their car a go themselves.
eBay, the UK’s largest automotive online marketplace and sponsor of The British Motor Show sustainability challenge, is selling parts from its network of traders, garages and car businesses to fuel the rising appetite for DIY car repairs. This is certainly the case with the younger generations and those striving to hold onto their used cars for longer, as the study seems to bear out.
There is evidently no shortage of car parts and accessories to choose from on eBay. Recent analysis shows that a warehouse the size of 11 Wembley Stadium roofs would be required to house all of the items listed on its marketplace last year!
Reducing running costs
‘As the cost of living continues to rise, motorists are increasingly looking for ways to reduce their running costs across the board,’ stated Dr Tony Tong, Head of Automotive at eBay UK.
‘This trend towards DIY repairs, spurred on by interest from younger generations, is something we expect to keep rising – converting more and more motorists into enthusiast home mechanics. Doing simple jobs yourself is an easy way to upskill and save, while eBay’s intuitive MyGarage function makes it really simple to find the right part for your car.’
We’re becoming increasingly familiar with the eBay MyGarage function as we seek to answer the question, ‘can you run a V8 sustainably?‘. To keep up to date with our progress, keep an eye on our socials and sign up to our newsletter.
