In their efforts to get federal aid, Chrysler and General Motors have adamantly resisted the bankruptcy route, fearing that consumers would be reluctant to buy cars from a bankrupt automaker. Well, according to a new pulse survey from the Consumer Reports National Research Center, they’re right!

More than three-quarters (78 percent) of respondents said they were unlikely to consider buying a new car from an automaker in bankruptcy; 64 percent were very unlikely. Women were particularly resistant; 83 percent said they are unlikely to consider buying and 70 percent said very unlikely.

Similarly, more than eight in 10 (82 percent) respondents said they are unlikely to consider buying a new car from a division that is being sold or phased out; 63 percent said very unlikely. More older consumers and women would steer clear of a division such--at least 87 percent said they are unlikely to consider purchasing and seven in 10 responded very unlikely.

Methodology

The Consumer Reports National Research Center conducted a random telephone survey using a nationally representative sample of households that own at least one vehicle. From March 12-15, 2009, 1,005 interviews were completed among adults aged 18 year or older.

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--Jeff Bartlett