16 - September 30, 2011 | Pelham - Windham News “Kn w Y ur Car”
People born between 1946 and 1954, collectively known as Baby Boomers, are trading in their family vehicles for something with a little more power -- sports cars. When the nest is empty (and sometimes before), the vehicle of choice becomes a sporty, fast little ride that may be the envy of all who see it. Baby Boomers tend to have a higher income and/or a surplus in savings after retirement and choose to expend some funds on a car that will make waves. Convertibles are a popular choice among this demographic, as are other roadsters that turn heads. Here are some of the more popular models you’ll see cruising the roadways with Boomers behind the wheel, according to statistics from
TrueCar.com. * Chevrolet Corvette: The quintes-
sential American sports car, Corvettes are especially popular among Baby Boomers. Boomers flock to Corvettes more than any other age group, with nearly 64 percent of buyers belonging
to the Boomer generation. * Volvo C70: A turbo-charged, 5-cyl- inder engine provides enough power to give a thrill to many Boomers. And with a convertible top option, it’s pos- sible to have a breeze running through their receding hairlines, too. * Mercedes Benz SL: If it’s status and substance that Boomers desire, then there’s no looking beyond a Mercedes. Affluent Baby Boomers can enjoy a V8 engine and plenty of electrical gadgets to make their rides fun. * BMW 6 Series Convertible: Anoth- er premier car for the elite Boomer, the BMW sees 80 percent of its sales going toward Boomers. The 6 series is quick and has understated good looks, which also helps the vehicle serve as a status symbol for those behind the wheel. * Porsche Boxter: For those who
setting. “Kn w Y ur Car”
According to industry experts, Baby Boomers have long driven the direction of the automotive industry. Many desire to stay away from the brands and styles their parents drove, preferring some- thing with more pep and style. In addition to the makes and models mentioned, CNW Marketing Research, a firm that looks at the reasons behind car purchases, says Boomers make purchases not only for the style of the car but also for the image the brand offers. The firm lists these vehicles as other popular purchases among Baby Boomers.
have always aspired to be behind the wheel of a Porsche, the Boxter is small and sporty, perfect for handling the turns on the way to a country winery or maneuvering around traffic in an urban
* Dodge Viper * Toyota Avalon * Cadillac DTS * Chrysler 300 * Jaguar XK * Lexus LS 600h * Lexus SC 430 * Audi A8/S8 * Infiniti FX * Lincoln MKZ
Monthly AUTO SECTION
Monthly AUTO SECTION Baby Boomers Prefer Sports Cars
Te Lexus SC 430 convertible is one of the many sports cars that Baby Boomers tend to gravitate toward.
Form and fashion drives the purchase
of many Baby Boomers looking for a new vehicle. With more disposable
income, many can afford to splurge on a car that is sporty and will garner “oohs” and “ahhs” from others.
Most Popular Cars Through Time
When it comes to their cars, consumers have traditionally
shown brand loyalty, often turning to the same make or model when it’s time to update the car in the garage. Some brands have fared better than others. In the glory days of the 1950s, General Motors was the go-to company for quality cars. Few people didn’t have a Chevrolet, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Buick, or Cadillac parked in the driveway. Skip ahead to just last year, when statistics from auto research company J.D. Power & Associates show poor retention rates for GM. Thirty-nine percent of Hummer owners plan to stay with GM when they’re in the market for a new vehicle, compared to 36 percent of Pontiac owners and 26 percent of Saturn owners. More and more consumers are turning to foreign imports as their cars of choice. Kelley Blue Book (
www.kbb.com) announced that Hyundai beat out perennial favorites Honda and Toyota for the No. 1 spot in brand loyalty for the second quarter of 2011. Many shoppers are reevaluating their brand loyalty thanks to the economic down- turn and greater awareness of fuel prices, options, recalls, and general business practices associated with top automotive retail- ers. Among the findings of KBB, 49.7 percent are sticking with Honda, 47.7 percent are staying with Toyota, while Ford holds the fourth spot at 45.4 percent. Subaru finished fifth at 44.8 percent. While these percentages may be indicative of the current economic climate, through the last 100 years, certain car brands established themselves as more popular than others.
Here are the top six best-selling brand cars in the world. 1. Toyota Corolla: 35,000,000+ sold since inception in 1966. 2. Volkswagen Golf: 25,000,000+ sold since the brand was created in 1974. 3. Volkswagen Beetle: 21,000,000+ sold since this compact car originated in 1937. 4. Ford Escort/Orion:20,000,000+ sold starting in 1968. 5. Ford Model-T: 16,530,000+ units of this vehicle were sold from its start in 1908. 6. Honda Civic: 16,000,000+ sold since the model debuted
in 1972.
Caution Reigns When Buying a Car Via the Internet
Over the years, the Internet has grown from a relative novelty into something households steadfastly rely on in nearly every aspect of life. Bills are now paid online, professional and personal commu- nication is conducted through the Internet, and couples even begin relationships thanks to online dating Web sites. The Internet has also changed the way consum- ers make their purchases. Nowadays, even big-ticket purchases like automobiles are made online. However, some consum- ers still fear using the Internet to find their next vehicle, preferring to buy vehicles at a local dealership because it calms some of their concerns about the security of buying online. While there’s no guarantee every- thing will go swimmingly when buying a car online, there are ways consumers can lessen their risk of being victimized. * Investigate the seller. Consumers can be vic- timized by a disreputable dealer in person, but the general consensus among consumers is such sellers are now more common online. That may or may not be true, but consumers can get peace of mind by investigating the seller before any money exchanges hands. Once you find a car you like, e-mail the seller and ask for additional photos and attempt to set up an ap- pointment to come see the vehicle. The seller’s initial response will likely speak volumes. If the seller responds with additional im- ages and provides times to come see the vehicle, that’s a good start. That likely means there is a vehicle, and this isn’t just a con artist trying to pull a fast one. Any resistance from the seller should be a major red flag, and consumers should simply look elsewhere. One great way to investigate sellers is to look for a vehicle through a Web site like eBay Motors. This site has thousands of vehicle listings, and buyers can click on the seller’s name and read the reviews of past customers. This might not provide a wealth of information when buying from private sellers who don’t often sell vehicles, but it can be a great source of information if buying from a dealership or auto shop who routinely sells vehicles via the Internet. * Investigate the vehicle. The seller isn’t the only thing that might
be a fraud. The vehicle itself might not be what it’s cracked up to be. When shopping for a car online, always get the vehicle identifica-
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tion number. This will appear as the VIN in an ad for the car, and the VIN can be used to obtain a vehicle history report from a company like CARFAX. Trustworthy sellers might provide the vehicle history report, but if a seller doesn’t, that’s not necessarily a red flag. Vehicle history reports typically cost between $30-40, but sellers can often buy up to five such reports for less than $50. If a seller has already purchased five and they weren’t returned by prospec-
tive buyers, it’s hard to blame the seller for not buying more and wanting the buyer to purchase the report themselves. To get the report, you simply need the VIN. Once you get the vehicle history report, it will reveal if the car has been in an accident; if it’s been victimized by flooding; if the airbag has been deployed; odometer readings; number of previous owners; and if the car has been resalvaged. Altogether, this should paint an accurate picture of what the car has been through. If the car appears on the up and up, then ask the seller to take the vehicle to
your own mechanic for inspection. If the seller balks at this request, walk away, no matter how good
the vehicle looks on its history report. * Pay the safe way. A personal check, a wire transfer or a plain old bundle of cash is not the way to purchase a car online. Such payments are not traceable once the checks have been cashed, or the money has been wired or the
cash has exchanged hands. When making payments, do so using a secured browser, which will be noted with a URL that starts with “https:” and not just the “http:” of standard Web sites. But safe buying online goes beyond secure Web sites. Buyers should always pay with a credit card when shopping online. Do- ing so protects consumers against fraud. If the car you “buy” isn’t delivered or it’s been sold to someone else, then the credit card company whose card you used can be used to get your money back. Notify the company immediately. Some Web sites even offer their own purchase protection programs to safeguard buyers in the case of fraudulent purchases.
Buying a car online makes some consumers understandably
nervous. However, when exercising caution, buyers can find great deals online.
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