I have a car theory...

[magenta321]

I think some car companies have people drive their cars around as a promotional tool. I don't know if they are paid, or if the incentive is the use of the car, or what. If my theory is correct, then I also believe that Ford is doing it right now with Mustangs.

I first noticed the trend in the 1990s with Daewoos. I noticed it again with Cooper Minis (where are all the mini owners now? There was such a glut of them a few years ago). Now it seems like there is a glut of Mustangs. Last I checked 16 mpg was not something people applauded. I find it fishy that there are so many on the road all of the sudden, especially at a time when most people are concious of fuel efficiency. And here I thought the 25 mpg I got was pretty crappy...

Maybe I am wrong. But I am definately in an area where there is a lot of driving advertising going on... Jaegermeister, Red Bull, and other companies are driving up and down the streets I use every day, advertising their products. Their cars literally go up the road, turn around, and come down the road, all day long. I don't really think (or haven't specifically noticed this) with any of the car companies, but, a stock car without any flashy ads on it would get less attention. Several of these cars, seeming to blend in among a sea of other cars will get less concious attention, but more subconcious attention as you realize many drivers are making the same decision.

Just a theory. Maybe I'm crazy. If I'm not, maybe one of the car companies would like me to drive their car up and down the road for them Maybe a nice Audi or something

[emeleel]

There are a lot of Mustangs here, but this is a college town. There are a TON of Scions (Snorkies) back in my old town, but there's an actual Scion dealership there, and with the mileage the Scions get, it's no wonder there's a bunch of them on the road there. Some of it's probably demographics, some of it's probably availability due to a local dealership.

[mtomm[$]]

I was thinking Scions, too. There are lots of those around wrapped in ads and we also have a local dealer.

[magenta321]

I do see a lot of scions but I have a friend who bought one last year, and she waited like 9 months to get hers in the style and color that she wanted. They really are just that popular. I think they were cheap too (her other choice was a Cobalt), so it probably makes it attractive to a wide range of people if nearly everyone can afford them.

Mustangs? :s

[mtbat]

Boulder is over-run by subarues. You can't go a block without finding one-they range in age from my broken down one or older to brand new. I think it's more that people tend to run in packs, and buy what the neighbor has...

[magenta321]

Yeah, we have a ton of Subarus here too. But that's been a constant trend since at least the 1990s. There's probably as many Subarus as there are Hondas, and probably more Hondas and Subarus than Toyotas.

I notice the Subarus because I own one. I love it when all three lanes on the highway are Subarus, or there is a line of Subarus on the highway. I used to notice the same thing "at the turn of the century" when I owned my Jetta. It is weird when things just "click" with the buyers.

But the Mustangs seem to have come out of no where. Mustangs were something that middle aged men collected when I was a kid. They sat in your front yard on blocks and "dad" would go out and tinker from time to time. Then they'd brag and tell you "it's a shelby" like it made it any less of a trash heap. It's weird to see all these new ones all the sudden. Maybe it's a nostalgia thing with boomers? They're either retiring or retiring in the next 10 years or so, so maybe they're trying to grab back onto their youth?

I don't know what the answer is really, but I'd love to see Ford's Marketing Strategy and the breakdown of the demographics of who buys their cards, especially the Stangs.

[mjfrombuffalo[$]]

I've seen a lot of Mustangs around here too. But that's because the weather is finally nice enough to take them all out of storage and so there's a Mustang explosion this time of year, every year.