The survey didn’t profile the vehicle owners, but experience has shown that people who lease new vehicles typically skimp on maintenance. They don’t maintain their vihicles because they know they’re not keeping the vehicle long term. “Let the next owner pay the repair bills” is often their philosophy — and that’s usually what happens.
People who are often the most conscientious about maintaining their vehicles are typically those who own the vehicle they drive (or make payments on it); plan on keeping the vehicle as long as possible; and want to minimize the risk of a breakdown or expensive repairs down the road.
The best-maintained vehicles, therefore, are often not the brand-new ones, but rather an older vehicle or a second car or truck that is used primarily for commuting to work or is driven by a student. Parents of teenage drivers and college kids want their offspring to have reliable transportation — especially if they are off at college many miles away. Mom and Dad will gladly pay for maintenance if it helps prevent a breakdown or an emergency call in the middle of the night.