MOSCOW, August 25, 2009. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data describing how many Russians are planning to buy a car, how, and what car - imported or domestic.

The amount of Russians planning to buy a car within a year has doubled over the recent two years (from 3% to 6%): 1% are ready to buy a car within a month, 2% - within half a year, 3% - within a year.  The share of those willing to make such a purchase within two or three years has increased - from 8% to 13%. Those who have both short-term and long-term prospects for buying a car  are respondents with high level of income (13% and 23% respectively) and those who possess more than one car (10% and 19% respectively).  The part of Russians who are not ready to buy a car has decreased compared to February (from 85% to 79%, which is the lowest figure over the whole period of measurement). Those who are not going to spend money for buying a car are basically respondents with low level of income (86%) and those who do not have money at all (81%).  

Our fellow-citizens now have clearer vision of how to pay for a car - the share of the undecided respondents has decreased from 37% in February to 21% in July. At the same time, the share of Russians who are ready to get a car loan has increased (42% versus 36%), though 10% would like to get the money not from the bank, but their relatives and friends. More Russians prefer lump cash sum (from 27% to 37%).

Those who prefer to pay full cash are mainly respondents who do not have financial difficulties (37-40%), rural area inhabitants (44%), and those who are buying used domestic cars (59%). Muscovites and St.Petesrburgians prefer to acquire a car loan (39% - for the money taken from the bank, 17% - for the money taken from the relatives and friends). However, those with high level of income still get a bank loan (32-34%); and Russians with low financial self-esteem get money from their relatives and friends (13%).

Those Russians planning to get a car in the near future would rather choose a new imported car - the amount of such respondents has increased since 2006 (from 19% to 28%). Rarer Russians mention used foreign cars (23%). Foreign cars are chosen by those who are convinced that it is better to walk than riding in a Russian car (39-48%). However, whereas new foreign cars are mentioned by young Russians aged 25-34 (38%), respondents with good financial income (44%), and metropolitan residents (42%), old imported cars are popular among those with low level of income (28%), youth (32%) and residents of middle-sized cities (28%).

Over the recent half a year new domestic cars have become more popular - the share of such respondents has doubled since February (from 12 to 22%). Other 11% are planning to acquire a used domestic auto. New domestic cars are chosen by those who are confident that our cars are not worse and sometimes even better than the foreign ones (36%), middle-aged Russians (36%), rural area inhabitants (30%), and respondents with average level of income and lower (24-25%). Used domestic autos are mainly chosen by elderly citizens (27%), respondents with low level of income (13%), rural area residents (17%), and those who consider that it is a temporary measure till they save up enough money to bay a foreign car.

The initiative Russian opinion polls were conducted on July 4-5, 2009. 

1600 respondents were interviewed at 140 sampling points in 42 regions of Russia.

The margin of error does not exceed 3.4%.

Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or www.wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM,  the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory!