BestRide.com/Car Talk Report: Pet Ownership Influences Auto Brand Preference

Newly Released Poll of More Than 3,000 Vehicle-Owners/Pet Lovers Offers Surprising Results

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Apr 11, 2016, 01:08 ET

BOSTON, April 11, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Dog and cat ownership influences automotive brand choice, while multiple pet ownership--as well as affinity for certain breeds--can indicate a much higher preference, according to a report by automotive shopping site BestRide.com and national radio show Car Talk.

Issued in celebration of National Pet Day, the report stems from a poll conducted by Harvard Applied Mathematics students. More than 3,000 pet-owning respondents were asked to identify the automotive brands parked in their garages, and the type and number of pets hanging out in their living rooms.

Issued today, the report finds:

Respondents who lived only with dogs were significantly more likely to own vehicles from Hyundai, Volvo or Lincoln.
Every owner of a Lincoln or an Audi reported having either a dog or a cat.
As the number of cats a respondent owns increased, the more likely they were to drive a Subaru.
Respondents with more than one dog favored Hyundai models.
Ford owners are passionate about Rottweilers.
Acura owners were much more likely to have a Poodle than any other breed.
Yorkshire Terrier owners have a particular passion for Honda products.
The strongest brand identification for Bulldog ownership is with Ford, at 22 percent more likely, and Cadillac at 17 percent more likely.

About BestRide.com
BestRide.com has more 5.5 million new and used car listings from automotive dealers nationwide. The BestRide Publishing Network is visited by more than 23 million car shoppers each month providing them with comprehensive pricing information, in-depth automotive research and reviews, side-by-side comparison tools, and more, all in an easy to navigate website.

About CarTalk
CarTalk was created by Ray Magliozzi and his Brother, Tom, and airs on more than 600 NPR stations across the country. Car Talk also produces a nationally-syndicated newspaper column that appears in more than 300 papers, the web site cartalk.com, and associated social media channels. Known for its hilarious and brutally honest approach to cars and car repair, the Peabody Award-winning Car Talk has engendered millions of loyal followers who otherwise find car buying and repair a difficult and off-putting process.

SOURCE BestRide; Car Talk