List of What the Young Drive & Average Age of Ownership
#1
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We’ve all heard the comments: I don’t want to get a Cadillac, that’s my grandfather’s car!
Well, now TrueCar can tell you what the grandkids are driving.
A new study recently completed by TrueCar.com, showed that Mitsubishi, Mazda and Volkswagen have the highest concentration of younger buyers. The study was completed in May 2010 and looked at the last full year of available data. TrueCar also identified the best deals* on models for this demographic based on current actual transactions.
The list, which shows the brands with the highest percentage of buyers that are 18 to 34, is topped by Mitsubishi (18.3%), with its young skewing list of models that includes the Lancer and the Eclipse. Mazda (18%), with the popular Mazda3 and Mazda6, and Volkswagen (17.6%), which features the list topping GTI and Jetta, were next with Nissan (15.6%) and Mini (15%) rounding out the top 5. The industry average was 10.8%.
On the flipside, the brands that have the lowest percentage of buyers in that age range are Detroit mainstays Buick (3.6%), Lincoln (4%) and Cadillac (5.1%). Those three makes manufacture eight of the 10 vehicles with the lowest percentage of buyers under 34 in the study, with the Cadillac DTS (1.1%) at the very bottom of a list that includes two Cadillacs, two Buicks and four Lincolns.
Making this information more valuable for consumers is TrueCar.com’s list of the Top 10 Models for Young Drivers that includes the potential discount from MSRP. Topping the list – which is made up of models with the highest percentage of 18-34 year olds within the make – is the Mitsubishi Lancer which shows a possible discount of 25%†. Both the Nissan Titan and the Jeep Commander are showing potential discounts over 30%.
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Make Model Trim % of 18-34 Year Olds Discount off MSRP
Mitsubishi Lancer Sedan Manual 18.3% -25%
Mazda 3 4dr Sedan Man 18.0% -5%
Volkswagen GTI 2dr HB Man 17.6% -3%
Nissan Titan 2WD King Cab 15.6% -37%
Mini Cooper 2dr Coupe 15.0% -3%
Audi A3 4dr HB MT 14.9% -3%
Jeep Commander RWD 4dr Sport 14.0% -30%
Honda Fit 5dr HB Man 13.9% -1%
Subaru Impreza Sedan 4dr Man 13.5% -5%
Acura TSX 4dr Sedan I4Auto 13.4% -6%
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MAKE AVERAGE AGE
MAZDA 47.0
MITSUBISHI 47.2
VOLKSWAGEN 47.5
HUMMER 47.5
AUDI 47.5
MINI 48.0
BMW 48.5
JEEP 48.6
ACURA 48.7
NISSAN 48.7
INFINITI 48.9
PORSCHE 49.1
DODGE 49.6
SAAB 49.7
HONDA 49.7
SUZUKI 49.9
VOLVO 50.0
GMC 50.1
KIA 50.2
TOYOTA 51.0
SUBARU 51.0
MERCEDES-BENZ 51.1
FORD 51.9
CHEVROLET 51.9
SMARTCAR 52.3
HYUNDAI 52.3
JAGUAR 53.2
LEXUS 53.6
CHRYSLER 54.6
CADILLAC 57.1
MERCURY 57.3
LINCOLN 58.7
BUICK 61.0
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TOP 30 HIGHEST CONCENTRATION OF UNDER 34 YEAR OLD OWNERS
Make Model Percent
VOLKSWAGEN GTI 23.4%
VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN 23.3%
MITSUBISHI LANCER 22.4%
NISSAN TITAN 20.9%
SUBARU IMPREZA 20.6%
NISSAN ARMADA 20.5%
AUDI A3 20.2%
MAZDA 3 20.2%
NISSAN XTERRA 19.9%
VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN 18.8%
NISSAN PATHFINDER 18.7%
MAZDA CX-7 18.5%
TOYOTA YARIS 18.5%
MAZDA 6 18.2%
TOYOTA SCION 17.9%
VOLKSWAGEN JETTA 17.9%
MAZDA RX8 17.9%
MAZDA 5 17.7%
CHEVROLET TAHOE 17.7%
ACURA TSX 17.5%
AUDI A5 17.2%
BMW M3 17.1%
VOLKSWAGEN CC 16.8%
DODGE CHARGER 16.7%
NISSAN CUBE 16.6%
NISSAN ROGUE 16.3%
AUDI S4 16.3%
VOLVO C30 16.2%
GMC YUKON 16.2%
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TOP 30 LOWEST CONCENTRATION OF UNDER 34 YEAR OLD OWNERS
Make Model Percent
CADILLAC DTS 1.1%
BUICK LUCERNE 1.2%
MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS 1.4%
TOYOTA AVALON 1.9%
CADILLAC STS 2.0%
LINCOLN TOWN CAR 2.1%
BUICK LACROSSE 2.2%
LINCOLN MKS 2.9%
LINCOLN MKT 3.1%
LINCOLN MKZ 3.2%
LEXUS LS 3.2%
ACURA RL 3.6%
HYUNDAI AZERA 3.7%
CHEVROLET IMPALA 4.1%
PORSCHE PANAMERA 4.1%
FORD TAURUS 4.2%
AUDI A8 4.4%
LEXUS ES 4.6%
CADILLAC CTS 4.6%
CADILLAC SRX 4.8%
VOLVO S80 4.9%
VOLVO C70 4.9%
MERCEDES-BENZ S-CLASS 4.9%
LINCOLN MKX 5.1%
MAZDA MX5 5.3%
VOLVO XC70 5.5%
MERCEDES-BENZ E-CLASS 5.7%
INFINITI M35 5.8%
MERCURY MILAN 5.9%
JAGUAR XK 6.0%
#2
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Some good data (not sure how big the sample size was) and many of these are pretty obvious. I'll just list my surprises...
Young
Routan-Young with lots of kids?
skeet skeet!
Titan/Armada-young people don't care about interiors?
Audi A5-good show!
BMW M3-solid showing for an expensive car
GMC Yukon-surprised the heck outta me
Old
Hyundai Azera-didn't think buyers were that old
Chevy Impala-must be elsewhere but nothing but kids buy it here
Porsche Panamera-Clearly they have money but didn't expect to see it there
Caddy CTS- I have always said old people buy it, not young ones.
Infiniti M35-fanboys have you believe only 16-24 year olds drive it
Jaguar XK-surprising as well
Young
Routan-Young with lots of kids?
![Big Grin](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
Titan/Armada-young people don't care about interiors?
Audi A5-good show!
BMW M3-solid showing for an expensive car
GMC Yukon-surprised the heck outta me
Old
Hyundai Azera-didn't think buyers were that old
Chevy Impala-must be elsewhere but nothing but kids buy it here
Porsche Panamera-Clearly they have money but didn't expect to see it there
Caddy CTS- I have always said old people buy it, not young ones.
Infiniti M35-fanboys have you believe only 16-24 year olds drive it
Jaguar XK-surprising as well
#3
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I don't see a single minivan on the bottom list, which is exceedingly strange.
Young people often shun traditional minivans.
Something else strange is why the Scion tC is not on the list either. It, traditionally, has had one of the youngest buyer ages of any car in the U.S. market.....much more so than its xA, xB, and xD siblings.
![Uhh...](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/1387914497.gif)
Something else strange is why the Scion tC is not on the list either. It, traditionally, has had one of the youngest buyer ages of any car in the U.S. market.....much more so than its xA, xB, and xD siblings.
Last edited by mmarshall; 05-25-10 at 07:50 PM.
#4
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It looks like the LaCrosse isn't having much effect on lowering the age of Buick buyers. I thought it might attract younger buyers, but apparantly not yet, if the list is accurate.
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who would have thought that smart and Hyundai would be over 50 and BMW and Audi – traditionally older, more expensive brands – would be under 50.
Last edited by mmarshall; 05-25-10 at 07:52 PM.
#6
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Well I said it from the jump (and the CTS) that the internetz would have people think only young people buy them and want them but the reality is older people continue to buy them more than ever. Buick is attempting to attract younger buyers but I think all its doing is keeping older people happy with relevant products. Nothing wrong with that at all, the elderly market is exploding and if they saved right, that is a lot of money that is ready to be spent.
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#7
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Yup!
Well I said it from the jump (and the CTS) that the internetz would have people think only young people buy them and want them but the reality is older people continue to buy them more than ever. Buick is attempting to attract younger buyers but I think all its doing is keeping older people happy with relevant products. Nothing wrong with that at all, the elderly market is exploding and if they saved right, that is a lot of money that is ready to be spent.![Thumb Up](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/thumbsup.gif)
Well I said it from the jump (and the CTS) that the internetz would have people think only young people buy them and want them but the reality is older people continue to buy them more than ever. Buick is attempting to attract younger buyers but I think all its doing is keeping older people happy with relevant products. Nothing wrong with that at all, the elderly market is exploding and if they saved right, that is a lot of money that is ready to be spent.
![Thumb Up](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/thumbsup.gif)
I think the reason that more younger people are not buying the new LaCrosse is simple peer pressure....or that they are afraid of their friends/colleagues making fun of them driving an "Old-Man's" car. Many probably (in secret) like the new LaCrosse but are allowing image and stereotypes to get in their way. I'd guess it's the same thing, to a lesser extent, with the Cadillac CTS....but fewer young people, of course, could afford a CTS, as it costs more than the LaCrosse.
Let's see what happens to LaCrosse sales, though, now that 4-cylinder FWD and V6 AWD versons are available.
Last edited by mmarshall; 05-25-10 at 08:06 PM.
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#10
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#11
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I think the reason that more younger people are not buying the new LaCrosse is simple peer pressure....or that they are afraid of their friends/colleagues making fun of them driving an "Old-Man's" car. Many probably (in secret) like the new LaCrosse but are allowing image and stereotypes to get in their way. I'd guess it's the same thing, to a lesser extent, with the Cadillac CTS....but fewer young people, of course, could afford a CTS, as it costs more than the LaCrosse.
I would have to whole-heartedly disagree with that. Younger people don't buy the LaCrosse because:
1) It's a Buick
2) While better looking than previous Buick's, it is still rather "mature" in overall appearance
3) It weighs 4,000lbs
4) It drives like it weighs 4,000lbs
5) It's not cheap
6) It's not fast
7) It's not particularly fuel efficient
8) The interior is definitely more Q-Tip-friendly than it is cool or interesting.
9) It has enough ground clearance to be mistaken for a crossover
10) It's a Buick
#12
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LOL!!!!!
I would have to whole-heartedly disagree with that. Younger people don't buy the LaCrosse because:
1) It's a Buick
2) While better looking than previous Buick's, it is still rather "mature" in overall appearance
3) It weighs 4,000lbs
4) It drives like it weighs 4,000lbs
5) It's not cheap
6) It's not fast
7) It's not particularly fuel efficient
8) The interior is definitely more Q-Tip-friendly than it is cool or interesting.
9) It has enough ground clearance to be mistaken for a crossover
10) It's a Buick
I would have to whole-heartedly disagree with that. Younger people don't buy the LaCrosse because:
1) It's a Buick
2) While better looking than previous Buick's, it is still rather "mature" in overall appearance
3) It weighs 4,000lbs
4) It drives like it weighs 4,000lbs
5) It's not cheap
6) It's not fast
7) It's not particularly fuel efficient
8) The interior is definitely more Q-Tip-friendly than it is cool or interesting.
9) It has enough ground clearance to be mistaken for a crossover
10) It's a Buick
The new issue of C&D has a comparo of cars that appeal to buyers of a certain age group (Genesis 3.6, ES350, LaCrosse CXS & Taurus Limited)
#13
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LOL!!!!!
I would have to whole-heartedly disagree with that. Younger people don't buy the LaCrosse because:
1) It's a Buick
2) While better looking than previous Buick's, it is still rather "mature" in overall appearance
3) It weighs 4,000lbs
4) It drives like it weighs 4,000lbs
5) It's not cheap
6) It's not fast
7) It's not particularly fuel efficient
8) The interior is definitely more Q-Tip-friendly than it is cool or interesting.
9) It has enough ground clearance to be mistaken for a crossover
10) It's a Buick
I would have to whole-heartedly disagree with that. Younger people don't buy the LaCrosse because:
1) It's a Buick
2) While better looking than previous Buick's, it is still rather "mature" in overall appearance
3) It weighs 4,000lbs
4) It drives like it weighs 4,000lbs
5) It's not cheap
6) It's not fast
7) It's not particularly fuel efficient
8) The interior is definitely more Q-Tip-friendly than it is cool or interesting.
9) It has enough ground clearance to be mistaken for a crossover
10) It's a Buick
Don't forget Tiger Woods likes it
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#15
Lexus Fanatic
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LOL!!!!!
I would have to whole-heartedly disagree with that. Younger people don't buy the LaCrosse because:
1) It's a Buick
2) While better looking than previous Buick's, it is still rather "mature" in overall appearance
3) It weighs 4,000lbs
4) It drives like it weighs 4,000lbs
5) It's not cheap
6) It's not fast
7) It's not particularly fuel efficient
8) The interior is definitely more Q-Tip-friendly than it is cool or interesting.
9) It has enough ground clearance to be mistaken for a crossover
10) It's a Buick
I would have to whole-heartedly disagree with that. Younger people don't buy the LaCrosse because:
1) It's a Buick
2) While better looking than previous Buick's, it is still rather "mature" in overall appearance
3) It weighs 4,000lbs
4) It drives like it weighs 4,000lbs
5) It's not cheap
6) It's not fast
7) It's not particularly fuel efficient
8) The interior is definitely more Q-Tip-friendly than it is cool or interesting.
9) It has enough ground clearance to be mistaken for a crossover
10) It's a Buick