Hot Cars of Summer List
COSTA MESA, Calif.--July 30, 2003--Consumers are definitely hitting the road this summer - more than ever. Perhaps it's penny-pinching due to a tight economy; perhaps it's increased concerns about air travel. Whatever the reason, road travel is definitely up. Around the July 4th holiday, for example, AAA predicted 32.6 million people would travel by motor vehicle, up two percent from last July 4th.Finding That Perfect Car
To find out what cars consumers are driving - or hoping to drive - this summer, NADAguides.com and CARFAX studied which vehicles consumers are researching most. The companies looked at categories that tend to be a big hit with buyers this time of year -convertibles, sports cars, vans, SUVs, trucks, family cars and older used cars. This research yielded the top two vehicle makes and models in each of the most popular summer vehicle categories:
Convertibles SUVs
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Ford Mustang-V8 Ford Explorer
Chevrolet Corvette Ford Expedition
Sports Cars Trucks
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Porsche 911 Ford F150 Pickup
Ferrari 360 Dodge Ram 1500 Pickup
Vans Family Cars
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Dodge Caravan Honda Accord
Ford Windstar Toyota Camry
Older Used Cars
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Honda Accord
Mercedes-Benz
"This year, more than ever, consumers are hitting the open highway in their favorite summertime vehicles," said Len Sims, vice president of NADAguides.com. "As a result, we've seen an influx of consumers researching vehicles perfect for the summer season. From travel and tow vehicles such as passenger cars, vans, trucks and SUVs, to flashy convertibles and highline exotics, we've registered record-breaking website traffic at NADAguides.com this summer."
The experts at N.A.D.A., the 70-year-old company known for its bright yellow and blue vehicle appraisal guidebooks, developed the nation's most comprehensive vehicle information resource on the Internet, NADAguides.com. The website, registering more than 2.6 million visitors and close to 50 million page views each month, offers pricing and specification information for virtually every vehicle available today and its valuations are considered the most market-reflective of any third-party provider.
More Consumers Choose Used Over New...But Do Their Homework First
Whether it be summer, winter, spring or fall, consumers are purchasing more used cars over new. CNW Research states that while consumers bought 16.5 million new cars in the U.S. over the last year, they bought 42 million used cars.
"In a recent study we conducted, consumers pointed out that the economy, in particular, is causing them concern over depreciation of new cars, pricing and the ability to make larger monthly payments," said Scott Fredericks, vice president, CARFAX.
However, whether consumers are shopping for a rare, "exotic" car or a typical family Accord, the used car market continues to be a "buyer beware" environment.
"In fact, according to the CARFAX database, one in every ten cars in North America has had a problem in its past - be it an accident, an odometer rollback, a recall or flood damage, for example," Fredericks said.
"I used CARFAX in purchasing my '88 Porsche 911," said Jeff Atkins of Dallas, Texas. "I ran a CARFAX report on the car and, fortunately, everything came back clean. CARFAX gave me the confidence to hop on a plane (to Tulsa, OK.) with a one-way ticket. I thoroughly enjoyed the five hour drive home!"
CARFAX provides consumers vehicle history reports through www.carfax.com. Consumers also can get a free CARFAX Vehicle History Report from their dealer. More than 25,000 dealers across the country subscribe to CARFAX and more than 22 million consumers visit the CARFAX Web site annually.
In addition, CARFAX recommends that consumers take any car they're considering for a thorough test drive. Also, consumers should have a certified, professional mechanic inspect that car.
"The automotive industry and the Internet provide excellent resources for consumers today," Fredericks said. "If they are diligent about doing their research, they will end up with a safe and reliable used car for themselves and their family," Fredericks said.
And, if 32.6 million consumers traveled via car July 4th weekend alone, that means there are a lot of consumers looking for their perfect "get-away car" for the rest of the summer.
About NADAguides.com
N.A.D.A. Appraisal Guides is the world's largest publisher of vehicle valuations and specification information for new and used cars, trucks, vans, and SUVs, as well as van conversions, limousines, classic and collectible cars, boats, RVs, motorcycles, snowmobiles, personal watercraft and manufactured housing. The company's consumer website, NADAguides.com (www.NADAguides.com), offers a variety of new and used vehicle services in addition to valuation information. Throughout its 70-year history, N.A.D.A. Appraisal Guides has earned the reputation as the recognized authority for vehicle valuations. Its website, NADAguides.com, is the most comprehensive vehicle information resource on the Internet today.
About CARFAX
Since 1984, CARFAX has been helping people uncover the truth about used cars. The CARFAX Vehicle History Report - available through www.carfax.com and through car dealers - provides an instant background check on any used car. Vehicle History Reports help consumers and dealers avoid used cars with costly hidden problems, including major accident and salvage history, odometer fraud, flood damage and more. CARFAX takes its job of providing the truth about used cars so seriously it backs every Vehicle History Report with a $5,000 CARFAX Certified History Guarantee. Based in Fairfax, Virginia, CARFAX is a wholly owned subsidiary of R.L. Polk & Company.
