Harris poll ranks the top "buzz-worthy" vehicles from 2005
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Of the vehicles released in 2005, the Chevrolet Cobalt generated the most "buzz" among Generation Y buyers, with the Hummer H3 attracting the most attention from grunge-era Gen Xers. Baby-boomers flocked to Dodge's retro-esque Charger, and the grey-haired set went bonkers for the Ford Five Hundred. The Charger was the only vehicle to get a top-5 mention by both Gen Y and pre-boomers, which makes us wonder if the Buick Lucerne will be able achieve the same generation crossover feat in next year's survey.
The survey doesn't appear biased towards domestics, so the near-shutout of foreign nameplates that appear on the survey (only the Lexus RX400h and Mercedes CLS managed to move the buzz-meter) has got to be encouraging for US manufacturers - if indeed it's not simply a single year aberration or a result of some hidden statistical slant.
A large "WTF?" goes to buyers in the Hybrid/Alternative Fuel category, who apparently got all abuzz over the Dodge Charger. Oh, yeah, we forgot - there is indeed the highly popular Charger Hybrid. And don't ask us why the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 appears in this survey, as it's a MY2007 introduction that was not available during the period of the survey.
A tip o' the hat goes to GM's FYI Blog.
[Source: Harris Interactive; the full press release is posted after the jump]
IRVINE, Calif., May 10, 2006 – New-vehicle launches creating the most buzz differ greatly by demographic and vehicle consideration groups, according to the 2006 AutoVIBES Demographics reports, now available from online research leaders Harris Interactive® and Kelley Blue Book Marketing Research. The annual AutoVIBES Demographics series of reports provide significant insight into the diverse vehicle shopping preferences and opinions of different age groups, ethnicities and segment consideration groups.
Most Buzz-Worthy New Nameplates Among Demographic/Vehicle Consideration Groups
|
Demographic |
New-Vehicle Nameplate Seen as Having the Most Buzz |
|
Generation Y (Born from 1977-1986) |
Chevrolet Cobalt |
|
Generation X (Born from 1965-1976) |
Hummer H3 |
|
Baby Boomers (Born from 1946-1964) |
Dodge Charger |
|
Pre-Boomers (Born 1945 and earlier) |
Ford Five Hundred |
|
Hispanic |
Ford Shelby Cobra GT 500 |
|
Asian |
Lexus 400h |
|
African-American |
Dodge Charger |
|
Luxury Considerers |
Mercedes-Benz CLS |
|
Minivan Considerers |
Ford Freestyle |
|
Truck Considerers |
Dodge Charger |
|
SUV Considerers |
Hummer H3 |
|
Sporty Car Considerers |
Ford Shelby Cobra GT 500 |
|
Sedan Considerers |
Ford Five Hundred |
|
Hybrid/Alternative Fuel Considerers |
Dodge Charger |
AutoVIBES examined 49 new-nameplate launches in 2005, 25 of which were domestics. Car-buyers in 14 demographic/vehicle consideration groups rated 12 domestics and only two imports as being the most buzz-worthy.
"Domestic manufacturers have recently introduced some exciting new products that are catching the eye of many consumers," said Jack R. Nerad, executive editorial director and market analyst for Kelley Blue Book and kbb.com. "The highly-anticipated Dodge Charger is making waves among buyers in many different demographics."
The new AutoVIBES study also shows vehicle shoppers of all generations see domestic vehicles as the most buzz-worthy, although each generation rates a different domestic vehicle in the top spot. The youngest age-group surveyed, Generation Y, and the oldest age-group surveyed, Pre-Boomers, had only one vehicle in common on their top five buzz list: Dodge Charger.
Different Generations Weigh In: The Top Five New-Vehicle Nameplates with the Most Buzz
|
Rank |
Generation Y (Born from 1977-1986) |
Pre-Boomers (Born 1945 and earlier) |
|
1 |
Chevrolet Cobalt |
Ford Five Hundred |
|
2 |
Dodge Charger |
Buick LaCrosse |
|
3 |
Ford Shelby Cobra GT 500 |
Cadillac DTS |
|
4 |
Hummer H3 |
Ford Freestyle |
|
5 |
Pontiac G6 |
Dodge Charger |
While different groups chose a variety of vehicles as most buzz-worthy, there was universal agreement among all that the Mercedes-Benz CLS was the most "sophisticated." In addition, the Pontiac Solstice was rated high by all groups for being "exciting," "youthful" and "imaginative."
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Ryan 2:11PM (5/31/2006)
"Domestic manufacturers have recently introduced some exciting new products that are catching the eye of many consumers," said Jack R. Nerad, executive editorial director and market analyst for Kelley Blue Book and kbb.com."
-Yeah, this is true with a lot of domestics, but the Cavalier?????????????? And a Ford Windstar??????????
C'mon, but hey if these are the most buzzworthy, I stand corrected.
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james 2:11PM (5/31/2006)
wow I cant believe how dumb people are
charger as the best hybrid?
is this a joke? if not then americans truly are pretty stupid
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HitherPig 2:12PM (5/31/2006)
Yeah OK and WHATEVER!
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tony belligerent 2:12PM (5/31/2006)
First of all, this is old news (like, weeks old). Secondly, it's no wonder the Charger is a demographic-killer. A RWD sedan, comfort for five adults, a 340HP Hemi V8, and all the luxury accomodations of entry-level luxury? For $30k?
Yeah, I'll take it.
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RuneSpyder 2:31PM (5/31/2006)
The pictured Charger is the '07 SRT-8 in the Super Bee paint scheme. I dunno if I prefer it over my black SRT-8, but it's nice. The yellow Charger R/T Daytonas don't seem to be selling very well, at least not in the Seattle area.
I bought my SRT like 2 months ago and the dealer still has what seems to be the same 4 or 5 yellow R/Ts on the lot.
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not important 2:31PM (5/31/2006)
rember, the charger is a hybrid, it burns gas and tires! and apparently tree huggers egos.
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P.L. 2:33PM (5/31/2006)
This is good marketing hype but it does not buzz me in the least.
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Dave G 2:51PM (5/31/2006)
Maybe people thought they were being asked if they wanted a charger for their hybrid?
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Chris 2:54PM (5/31/2006)
Truck Considerers - Dodge Charger
Ahhhh, shouldnt "Truck Considerers" like..... I dont know... Maybe TRUCKS??
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LosBurritos 3:35PM (5/31/2006)
The Dodge Charger is an unGodly ugly car. 4-door sports car you say? Sports cars have to look good and play good. This one only does the latter. The Chevy Cobalt's interior is crap. I hope they nix it and rebadge it as a Pontiac. Looked better I thought but for the price of a Cobalt, you can get the new '06 Civic with more options.
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Matthew 3:39PM (5/31/2006)
WTF is the Charger under they "hybrid" section. #5... I get the joke, but isn't this supposed to have a hint of seriousness to it!?
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Sam 3:47PM (5/31/2006)
4-Door retro muscle cars????????????????? Give me a break. No self respecting male that was of driving age in the mid-late 1960's would buy a 4 - door made to look like something from their past. Well, at least I wouldn't.
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Corey W. 4:21PM (5/31/2006)
Generation Y - Born from 1977-1986
WTF!!!
Uh, Generation Y started in the early eighties....
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lavardera 4:26PM (5/31/2006)
"3. First of all, this is old news (like, weeks old). Secondly, it's no wonder the Charger is a demographic-killer. A RWD sedan, comfort for five adults, a 340HP Hemi V8, and all the luxury accomodations of entry-level luxury? For $30k?
Yeah, I'll take it."
yeah, but it looks like a pig
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JJ 4:55PM (5/31/2006)
Same... you do realize most muscle cars of the 60's and 70's are about as big and as heavy if not heavier as some of the large 4 door sedans of today right?
For instance my families old '69 barracuda was as big as my charger is, if not more so.
Muscle cars of the old era weren't small cars by any means. They were mainly cheap thrill cars, that had a lot of power and little else. That was their market. all go and no frills.
Unfortunately today, people need frills on their cars to entice them to buy. You'd be hard pressed to find someone wanting to pay for a car with little or no safety or entertainment features and just a big engine.
also a lot of muscle cars could technically be 4 door, they just weren't made that way. Seriously go look at omse old cars... they're freaking tanks.
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Poe 4:58PM (5/31/2006)
"yeah, but it looks like a pig"
It *IS* a pig... weighing in at over 4000 lbs. To heck with that 4-door abomination... bring on the Challenger (what the Charger SHOULD have been)!
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transam02 5:12PM (5/31/2006)
Hey, at least they didn't pick the Honda Ridgleline for the truck category. I must say that the charger does a better impersonation of a truck than the Honda. Coupled with the news of Toyota's 1 million vehicles being recalled, i'm pretty sure Jap fans have nothing bad to say about our domestic brands.
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Robert 5:35PM (5/31/2006)
Please save the “WTF!!!” Corey W. There is no definitive definition of what is Generation Y. For a survey of car buyers using the 1977-1986 demographic makes sense.
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dutch 5:55PM (5/31/2006)
What is up with the RX-8 rims on it?
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not important 6:00PM (5/31/2006)
#15, your wrong, many muscle cars of 60s weigh less than todays coupes. a 64 mustang gt 350 with an iron head and block weighed in at 2750 lbs. that is less than an s2000. camaros/firebirds wernt much more. the mopars tended to weigh more.
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