eBay points to changing buying habits

Motorists are showing the current strain on their wallets on online car buying sites, according to eBayMotors.com.

eBay data has shown car buyers becoming more savvy, increasingly researching resale values online before purchasing second-hand vehicles.

The auction site also reported sales of hybrid cars seeing “massive growth”, despite being relatively new to the market and attributed the rise to high fuel costs.

Sales of engine conversion kits, eBay said, were up almost 300 per cent over the summer months and LPG vehicles were among the top ten most searched for items in July 2008.

Alternative methods of transport are also proving popular, with sales of bikes rising 210 per cent in recent weeks.

eBayMotors.com also reported online car sales coming of age, saying its sales was 12 per cent up on last year.

The site also announced the sales of its 3 millionth vehicle.

MotorTrader