W***n
发帖数: 11530 | 1 6 Muscle Cars That Everyone Wants No Matter the Cost
Eric McWhinnie Google+ Twitter MORE ARTICLES
January 15, 2017
several muscle cars race outside of town
Nothing ignites the adrenal glands while sitting in the driver’s seat like
an American muscle car. Powerful engines. Masculine body designs. High-
performance driving. Plenty of enjoyment waits to be had on the open road.
Muscle cars have gained popularity in recent years, but how are cash-
strapped Americans affording them?
According to a recent analysis from Experian, new registrations of American
muscle cars jumped 35.4% over the past nine years. That’s an impressive
growth rate considering the attention given to fuel efficiency these days.
Unsurprisingly, Texas was the biggest fan. Residents were 79% more likely to
buy American muscle than consumers in other areas of the country. The next
highest-ranking states were Oklahoma (75%), Louisiana (67%), and New Mexico
(63%).
“The love of the Mustang combined with the reintroduction of the Camaro,
Challenger, and Charger has sparked a resurgence of the muscle car,” said
Brad Smith, Experian’s director of automotive statistics, in a press
statement. “While the growing popularity might run contrary to conventional
wisdom, consumers are continuing to show their appreciation for a part of
American history and not steering away from raw horsepower to focus solely
on fuel efficiency.”
Let’s take a look at the most popular muscle cars based on new
registrations and how people are paying for them. Undoubtedly, some car
enthusiasts will disagree with what classifies as a true muscle car these
days, but let’s at least agree these six cars will turn heads.
6. Dodge Viper
The Dodge Viper ranks as the No. 6 most popular muscle car, logging 1,000
new registrations. That hardly makes a dent compared to the other muscle
cars on the list, but Viper sales have struggled recently, so much so that
Dodge decided to slash prices by $15,000 last year. Despite the venomous
coupe being the the most expensive muscle car in the rankings, 34.5% of
Viper buyers paid cold hard cash. Only one other muscle car had a higher
percentage of cash buyers.
5. Chevrolet Corvette
The Chevrolet Corvette ranks as the No. 5 most popular muscle car. Corvettes
are routinely considered one of the best bangs for your buck by reviewers.
Consumers apparently agree. The Corvette generated 32,000 new registrations,
and nearly half were paid in cash. Experian finds 40.3% of Corvette buyers
paid with cash, the highest percentage amount on the list. Only 56.9% of
buyers used a loan.
“With the Viper and the Corvette being on the higher end of the muscle cars
reviewed, it’s not that surprising that a higher percentage of consumers
paid for them in cash. Our findings show that those buyers had the highest
credit scores (with the average a full 26 points higher than the other
models), which could indicate that they have more disposable income,” said
Melinda Zabritski, Experian’s senior director of automotive finance.
4. Dodge Challenger
The Dodge Challenger ranks as the No. 4 most popular muscle car. Thanks to
third generation being introduced in 2008, the Challenger picked up 50,000
new registrations. However, drivers appear to be stretching their dollars
further than they should. The Challenger is one of the most likely muscle
cars to be bought with an extended term loan. For example, 49.6% of
Challenger buyers had loan terms between 73 and 84 months. In fact, 18.3% of
buyers had a credit score of 600 or below, indicating they are in dire need
of a financial tune up.
10 Great Companies That Came Back From the Brink of Death
MONEY & CAREER
10 Great Companies That Came Back From the Brink of Death
Apple, Marvel, Starbucks, and these seven other great companies staged some
of the most dramatic corporate comebacks in history.
3. Dodge Charger
The Dodge Charger ranks as the No. 3 most popular muscle car. Performing
slightly better than the Challenger, the Charger logged 55,000 new
registrations. Nonetheless, this now four-door sedan still attracts buyers
who should probably steer clear of expensive upgrades, as 52.4% of Charger
buyers had loan terms between 73 and 84 months. A whopping 22.8% of buyers
had a credit score of 600 or below, making it the most subprime muscle car.
“Alternatively, what was surprising is the picture that emerged around
Challenger and Charger buyers. With so many of those buyers falling into the
subprime category and such a high percentage taking out longer loans, these
consumers were probably offered higher interest rates, which motivated them
to find ways to help keep their payments low,” said Zabritski.
2. Chevrolet Camaro
The Chevrolet Camaro ranks as the No. 2 most popular muscle car, with 66,000
new registrations. A redesigned model featured in the 2007 blockbuster
Transformers accelerated the Camaro’s 2009 comeback. In fact, Chevy offered
director Michael Bay a new version of the Camaro for each sequel, keeping
the popular machine in front of audiences worldwide. Experian finds 79.3% of
Camaro buyers used a loan to afford their new wheels, while 7.3% used a
lease.
1. Ford Mustang
The Ford Mustang ranks as the No. 1 most popular muscle car. The Mustang
took the top spot with 77,000 new registrations. Buyers use a variety of
methods to pay for this American classic. Loans are used by 75.3% of Mustang
buyers, but a surprising 17.1% use cash, well ahead of the cash rates used
on the Camaro (13.4%), Challenger (11.7%), and Charger (10.3%). In 2015,
Mustang sales have been racing higher once again, posting its best May and
year-to-date sales results since 2007. | W***n
发帖数: 11530 | | E****a
发帖数: 3088 | | W***n
发帖数: 11530 | |
|
