What does your new car say about you? Forbes takes a look
Ah, yes. Automotive stereotypes... always good for a laugh or two, right? For instance, just who do you expect to see exiting a late-Seventies Chevy Camaro Z/28? Mullet city, of course. And what of the blacked-out Cadillac Escalade rolling on two-sizes-too-large wheels and tires? Professional athlete or someone who wishes they were. Finally, who's that behind the wheel of the second-gen Toyota Prius with the anti-Hummer bumper sticker? Treehugger, natch.
So, these are all pretty obvious examples of automotive stereotypes, and naturally they don't always apply (we'd totally rock the right Z/28, FWIW). What about the less conspicuous vehicular choices? San Diego-based market research outfit Strategic Vision has just released its New Vehicle Experience Study... and to be honest, the results aren't terribly surprising.
Lexus owners are wealthy and well educated. Two-thirds of Buick owners are over the age of 55, though the 2010 LaCrosse is lowering that average... a bit. But there are also a few shockers, like the fact that 13% of Chevrolet owners have never used the internet. Seriously, never used the internet. Also, the average Toyota owner is 55 years old, which is why the Scion brand (average age: 37) was invented. Click here for the full breakdown.
[Source: Forbes]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Aloysius Vampa 2:51PM (10/15/2009)
Never used the Internet? But... but..
Reply
Joey Mazz 6:09PM (10/15/2009)
That 13% must mostly consist of Aveo and Cobalt owners.
Randy 2:59PM (10/15/2009)
Nissan and Mazda cars a conspicuously missing. I've owned both.
Reply
Auari 3:02PM (10/15/2009)
That article sucked, it didn't talk about the differences between, Audi, BMW, and Benz owners.
Reply
warren 3:57PM (10/15/2009)
"Meet the Beckers" covered this -- there's really not much more to say on the topic:
http://www.youtube.com/user/MeetTheBeckers#p/u/0/OfXqt0PuHQk
ALEXDB9 3:04PM (10/15/2009)
What about Aston/Jag owner?
Reply
Alex 2:23PM (10/16/2009)
Considering the average Mini owner has an income of $125,000(!), i'd say the Jag and Aston Marin owners are all millionaires.
akboss302 3:04PM (10/15/2009)
So does this mean that if a potential Chevy buyer were to learn what a computer is and get an education, they'd buy a Honda? Ha ha! Stats are funny things.
Reply
Pokey 6:59PM (10/15/2009)
No, it means that if you got out of your house a little more, and actually lived your life, you would realize that the internet is really not all that important.
okiedokie 3:04PM (10/15/2009)
"Professional athlete or someone who wishes they were." - Black people with money or douche white people. It is what it is.
Reply
ALEXDB9 3:12PM (10/15/2009)
Hey now...my mother drives an escalade. Stock wheels though. She is Hispanic so I guess there was no category for that anyways
JDM Life 8:59PM (10/15/2009)
F You.
HotRodzNKustoms 3:06PM (10/15/2009)
Article like this are usually entertaining enough reads but this one was just a waste of time.
Reply
Polly Prissy Pants 3:09PM (10/15/2009)
I agree, this article sucked. It was all about brands (who cares) and not about cars. To lump the Corvette owner in with the Cobalt and Silverado owners tells you nothing.
henrykrinkle 3:09PM (10/15/2009)
13% is shocking. I'd have thought it was much higher.
I'm sure we can all think of one we wish didn't use the internet.
Reply
GMan 3:40PM (10/15/2009)
Makes sense. People with no education and no internet access make poor choices.
Reply
Pokey 6:54PM (10/15/2009)
Since when does lack of internet access equate to no education? There are a lot of WELL EDUCATED people out there that couldn't care less about the internet, or other modern gadgetry that removes us from the beauty of this world.
Venom 10:29PM (10/15/2009)
Gman,
I know a guy that can't read or write.
He owns dealerships all over the country and is worth close to $100 million.
I think he might disagree with you.
Brandon 9:18AM (10/16/2009)
Venom,
I know a guy (not personally) who can read and write and has net worth of 50billion dollars.
I think he may not care about your opinion, but my point is, you can't just bring one guy from outlier group and try to change general stat.
Jake 3:42PM (10/15/2009)
I think that I understand Matt a lot better now.
Reply