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NEWS
UK drivers leave their cars in the cold
British car-owners are apt to find other uses for garages rather than storing the family car, according to a recent studyGarages are built for the specific purpose of sheltering cars, right?
Not necessarily, according to a recent study by Continental Tyres.
The survey found that less than one in three UK motorists actually use their garages for car storage. In place of the car is a clutter of domestic items including tools, paint, lawnmowers and bicycles.
According to the study, Britons are opting to use the area as extra storage, despite the fact that the items in the garage are worth just a fraction of the value of their cars.
"The garage has become an extra room for the houses for UK motorists, who appear to lose sight of the value in terms of secure parking and the chance to do important, yet simple checks on their vehicle," said Continental Tyres spokesman Tim Bailey.
The study, which involved 2000 UK car owners with garages, found that more than one third of the space available in the average garage is taken up by overspill from the family home, as well as items collected over the years. Almost one in five motorists surveyed had actually stopped parking in the garage within the last 10 years as the build-up of arbitrary accessories had made it physically impossible for the car to fit.
Half the participants in the survey considered making the former garage another room of the house, but three in 10 of those shelved the idea because they were unable to face the prospect of clearing out the space.
An even more menacing connotation, according to Mr. Mitchell Golledge, marketing manager for Continental Tyres of Australia, is that cluttered garages could lead to neglect of the car, including failure to make regular safety checks.
"Whilst having extra storage space is always a bonus, it is not the best option when your vehicle may not be receiving ongoing maintenance checks as a result," Mr. Golledge said.
Continental put together a Top 10 list of the things UK car-owners leave in their garages.
- Tools and garden equipment
- DIY paraphernalia
- Paint and varnish
- Lawnmower/s
- Bicycles
- Garden furniture
- Fridge/freezer
- Unwanted boxes from the last house move
- Sports equipment
- Gym/fitness equipment
Sound familiar?
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Written byCarsales Staff
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