So far, the average Honda Element buyer is 41 .

 

There is no big surprise here. Younger buyers aren't as credit worthy as their older counterparts, not a big deal for GM or Ford. The domestic brands have very accomodating first time buyer programs to put first time car buyer into Cavalier and Focus models. Honda isn't especially inclined towards financing ghosts and stiffs, thus the great dearth of younger buyers.

On the other hand, balding men in the throws of a mid-life crisis might be buying into Honda's youth oriented marketing. In any case, as long as the Element is selling, demographics don't matter. Honda's selling cars, not advertising time. A 41 year old pays the same price as a 18 year old, and the sale is just as profitable.

 

I passed a couple in their late 50's or early 60's yesterday driving a Vibe... looked a little odd.

I got to thinking that I see ti fairly often, actually. I guess they see an 'affordable wagon' or something.

Makes you wonder how some cars miss their target.

Sure, I see some younger people driving Vibe's too, but I see a surprising amount of older people.

I guess this has little to do with Element, but they are both "Gen Y" cars to me...

 

I'm 23 and everyone I know my age or younger hates that car/van.

A trend I do see in people my age is going towards AWD performance cars like the WRX and Evo8. I think a big reason for this is the fact that I live in the North East and people want a car that they car drive all year round, I'll stick with the camaro and just get a winter car myself

I would have jumped ship to pontiac though if they came out with that G8, AWD and an LS1 that seats 5, you can't beat that.

 

I'm 22 and the last thing i want to drive around in is a car that everyone else knows is cheap!

So, i'm not surprised that the versitility aspects are being "lost" on younger buyers!

BTW: I do own a corvette, so lol

 

I really want to know where Honda and Toyota's new Scion division found the teens and 20-somethings they used in their focus groups to design these vehicles. I mean, who in the world said "I don't care if it's butt-ugly if it has some usefulness I'll buy it!"

 

Most people in my age group(21), as i mentioned in another thread i believe, seemingly do not want these type of vehicles. i wouldnt want to be caught dead driving around one of these econo-boxy, station-wagon wannabes. Seems most people around my age are into the sport compact deal or they like muscle/sports cars if they're into cars at all.

I fall into the latter, as I'll be picking up MY 98 Mystic Teal Metallic Camaro this weekend!!!!!!! My first Camaro!!!!!!!!! H*** YEAH!!!!!!

 

I see many "kids" in there mid 20s driving C5 corvettes and other expensive cars. It might be because I live in The North Shore (well to do Chicago suburbs) A 24 year old making 40K seems to have as much spending cash as a 40 year old making 80k. No kids, no large morgage, no mouths to feed, ect...

 

Im 25 and hate it.

Funny thing though...I was in the Pontiac dealer a month ago looking at Vibes (as a daily driver) and asked how they were selling. The salesman said great.....thanks to the Vibe, he's able to make sales. lol He went on to say that the average buyer is a "bit" older than they thought. Alot of older people are buying them. Florida tends to have a few of them...


-Rich

 

Classic example of trying to tell young kids what is "cool" and what they are supposed to like and them not buying into it. Figures the idea sells to those going through mid-life crisises who want to be more youthful.

I think "active" is the wrong adjective to describe the youth of today anyways. The majority now spend their free time on computers, watching tv, or playing video games. Design a car with instant messaging and integrated cell phone capabilities and I'll show you a car that appeals to the youth.

I wouldn't be surprised if the similarly conceived "Scion" brand fails as well, though it probably has a better chance than those selling the "sporty lifestyle" angle to buyers.

 

Who the hell is doing their market research and telling them that kids my age (20) want these ugly pieces of ****? Is their cross section a small suburban town on the Pacific coast?

The last thing I want to hear is Honda or any other manufacturer telling me I should like a car because its practical. I dont want something practical, I want something stupid and fast since Im young and full of **** and vinegar. I just dont get how companies are so far off the mark on my generation, its not like we're from Mars. We're kids, show us **** that excites us (ie Evo8, WRX, RSX) and we'll buy it. Difficult concept?

 

If I could afford a 3rd car, the Element would be it...first I would have a fast sports car, then a fast SUV, then an economical car like the Element, that thing so fawking versitale its unbeleivable...its ugly but if your going for usage (as you would w/ a 3rd car) then its perfect...unfortunately i can't afford all this so I have a crappy Insight, but still, the Element is a very decent car, but theres a lot of people that won't even give it a chance because it looks like a cardboard box...

 

And how many young buyers are shopping for a THIRD car?? I would hope that wasn't Honda's business case for this car!

 

That was the same thing going though my mind, lol.

 

If my *** has enough money to get a third car for utilitarian reasons....Im getting an Avalanche/Escalade EXT/Silverado/insert big truck here. NOT some ugly Element that belongs to the tree huggers.

-Rich