Food for thought: Eating On the Go & Your Car's Residual Value

Hitting the drive-thru may save a few precious minutes, but what you eat could save thousands of dollars in the long run. When it comes to a vehicle's residual value, it's what's on (or not on) the inside that counts.

According to the results of a national survey conducted by Kelley Blue Book Marketing Research and Taco Bell Corp., nearly 60 percent of all vehicle owners eat or allow someone to eat in their vehicles. However, only 34 percent rank a clean interior as "the most important attribute to the long-term value of their vehicle" versus 66 percent for exterior. And that could be costly.

"Our research highlights a huge misperception among consumers: that the interior condition of a car has less importance than the exterior appearance in terms of residual value," said Jack R. Nerad, executive editorial director and market analyst for Kelley Blue Book. "Cars in excellent condition and appearance — both inside and outside — can be valued thousands of dollars higher than those in good or fair condition."

"With people spending more time in their vehicles, the number of dashboard diners has also increased. The dirty little secret? Messy interiors could potentially cost owners thousands of dollars when it comes time to turn in or sell their vehicles," Nerad said.

Innovative companies like Taco Bell are creating solutions for diners on the go with mess-free products like the Crunchwrap Supreme(tm), while leading automotive companies are developing stain-resistant seats and interiors that can be hosed out.

"Our guests tell us they want products that better facilitate their busy, on-the-go lifestyle," said Bill Pearce, chief marketing officer of Taco Bell Corp. "With this in mind, and the fact that drive-thru accounts for nearly 70 percent of our business, we have created a portable product that's easy to eat in the car. Crunchwrap Supreme is the classic Taco Bell taste made modern, and its benefit is being able to eat it, not wear it."

The Kelley Blue Book Marketing Research and Taco Bell survey also found that people who allow eating in their vehicle were less concerned with their vehicle's overall appearance, ranking all vehicle attributes lower than those who don't allow eating in their car. Some other highlights of the study include: