Profile of S-Class Buyer
02-02-2008, 06:47 PM
#1
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Profile of S-Class Buyer
Information on the average annual income of the 2007 S-Class buyer. Source:
http://www.autobytel.com/content/sha...le_id_int/1075
"Mercedes says the typical buyer of the completely redesigned 2007 S-Class pulls down around $300,000 a year. With a base price of just over $86,000 and with loaded models selling for six figures, you would think sightings of a Mercedes-Benz S-Class would be about as rare as seeing Paris Hilton in the camping aisle at Wal-Mart..."
http://www.autobytel.com/content/sha...le_id_int/1075
"Mercedes says the typical buyer of the completely redesigned 2007 S-Class pulls down around $300,000 a year. With a base price of just over $86,000 and with loaded models selling for six figures, you would think sightings of a Mercedes-Benz S-Class would be about as rare as seeing Paris Hilton in the camping aisle at Wal-Mart..."
02-02-2008, 06:53 PM
#2
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Additional information about American, European and Asian car buyers. Source: http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosins...A01-280996.htm
Domestic Car Buyer Profile 2005
Mean Age: 51
% with college degree: 45
Mean Income: $85,000
European Car Buyer Profile 2005
Mean Age: 48
% with college degree: 75
Mean Income: $158,000
Japanese Car Buyer Profile 2005
Mean Age: 49
% with college degree: 63
Mean Income: $97,000
Korean Car Buyer Profile2005
Mean Age: 49
% with college degree: 43
Mean Income: $63,000
Domestic Car Buyer Profile 2005
Mean Age: 51
% with college degree: 45
Mean Income: $85,000
European Car Buyer Profile 2005
Mean Age: 48
% with college degree: 75
Mean Income: $158,000
Japanese Car Buyer Profile 2005
Mean Age: 49
% with college degree: 63
Mean Income: $97,000
Korean Car Buyer Profile2005
Mean Age: 49
% with college degree: 43
Mean Income: $63,000
02-02-2008, 06:58 PM
#3
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Thread Starter
The Luxury Consumer. Who are they? Source: http://www.luxuryinstitute.com/about/consumer.html
Top 10% of wealthiest U.S. Households
Approximately 11 million households
Own 70% of all wealth in the U.S.
Average net worth of $3.1 million
Average annual income of $256,000
Earn 45% of the aggregate annual income in the U.S.
For most luxury goods and services firms, these are the 20% or less of clients who deliver 80% of the profits
Top 10% of wealthiest U.S. Households
Approximately 11 million households
Own 70% of all wealth in the U.S.
Average net worth of $3.1 million
Average annual income of $256,000
Earn 45% of the aggregate annual income in the U.S.
For most luxury goods and services firms, these are the 20% or less of clients who deliver 80% of the profits
02-02-2008, 07:19 PM
#4
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Who is the primary buyer of the 2007 Mercedes-Benz S550?
Source: http://www.autoweb.com/content/share...le_id_int/1075
Mercedes-Benz marketers don’t expect the demographics for the new S-Class to change, meaning that the average buyer is male, 55 years of age, and possesses a household income totaling around $300,000 a year.
Source: http://www.autoweb.com/content/share...le_id_int/1075
Mercedes-Benz marketers don’t expect the demographics for the new S-Class to change, meaning that the average buyer is male, 55 years of age, and possesses a household income totaling around $300,000 a year.
02-02-2008, 08:06 PM
#6
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2013 SL 550 (Previously 2012 Porsche Panamera Turbo-S, 2015 Tesla P85D, 2007 S600, 2005 E55 AMG)
What is it about this endless interest in the income of S-Class buyers? Two parallel threads now in 24 hours... OK you have/are considering a new S-Class ...you have to be on a good salary or have significant assets - we all got it... 
Data like this tells you nothing.. the "average" figure has no bearing on the distribution of individual incomes... there will be a unrepresentative number of huge multi-million $$$ annual incomes and equally some who are a lot lower than $300K... these figures are as arbitrary and unrepresentative as is the stereotype that you are a 55 year old middle aged buyer... gasp!
Can we talk about the cars now?
Chris
Data like this tells you nothing.. the "average" figure has no bearing on the distribution of individual incomes... there will be a unrepresentative number of huge multi-million $$$ annual incomes and equally some who are a lot lower than $300K... these figures are as arbitrary and unrepresentative as is the stereotype that you are a 55 year old middle aged buyer... gasp!
Can we talk about the cars now?
Chris
Last edited by cjf_moraga; 02-02-2008 at 08:12 PM.
02-02-2008, 10:32 PM
#7
MBWorld Fanatic!
Data is fairly meaningless....about as absurd as JD Powers data...
For obvious reasons, many affluent people don't waste their time filling out silly marketing surveys.....
Most marketers (and journalists) aren't smart enough to understand concepts like statistical significance, sampling bias, etc...they don't hand out certain jobs (or cars) to just anyone....
And many co. owners, etc often have (purposefully) low W-2 incomes...but substantial assets/gains in various more tax-efficient/tax-deferred forms...most truly affluent would struggle to define their annual income and/or net worth w/much precision anyway.....
For obvious reasons, many affluent people don't waste their time filling out silly marketing surveys.....
Most marketers (and journalists) aren't smart enough to understand concepts like statistical significance, sampling bias, etc...they don't hand out certain jobs (or cars) to just anyone....
And many co. owners, etc often have (purposefully) low W-2 incomes...but substantial assets/gains in various more tax-efficient/tax-deferred forms...most truly affluent would struggle to define their annual income and/or net worth w/much precision anyway.....
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02-02-2008, 10:50 PM
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'22 Alpina B7,'21 G63 Renntech obviously (wife), Wrangler(kids)
Funny,just had a conversation with my 10 y old son who asked about my income and I honestly could not give him an exact answer...
02-03-2008, 01:47 AM
#9
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'09 S63 AMG
Most marketers (and journalists) aren't smart enough to understand concepts like statistical significance, sampling bias, etc...they don't hand out certain jobs (or cars) to just anyone....
And many co. owners, etc often have (purposefully) low W-2 incomes...but substantial assets/gains in various more tax-efficient/tax-deferred forms...most truly affluent would struggle to define their annual income and/or net worth w/much precision anyway.....
And many co. owners, etc often have (purposefully) low W-2 incomes...but substantial assets/gains in various more tax-efficient/tax-deferred forms...most truly affluent would struggle to define their annual income and/or net worth w/much precision anyway.....
02-03-2008, 07:32 AM
#10
Not that I don't care, it's just I haven't examined it that close.
02-03-2008, 01:56 PM
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1993 300SEL/S320
I'm doing marketing at university; a reasonable part of the degree is devoted to statistical methods. I don't know what your universities are up to then.
02-03-2008, 02:34 PM
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'22 Alpina B7,'21 G63 Renntech obviously (wife), Wrangler(kids)
Our universities are taken over by ageing hippies from the 60s and generally are up to nothing really good or useful,definitely not worth the high tuitions they command (so called Ivy League or rather "poison ivy").
02-03-2008, 04:01 PM
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2020 GTR Roadster, 2020 GT63S
What is it about this endless interest in the income of S-Class buyers? Two parallel threads now in 24 hours... OK you have/are considering a new S-Class ...you have to be on a good salary or have significant assets - we all got it...
Data like this tells you nothing.. the "average" figure has no bearing on the distribution of individual incomes... there will be a unrepresentative number of huge multi-million $$$ annual incomes and equally some who are a lot lower than $300K... these figures are as arbitrary and unrepresentative as is the stereotype that you are a 55 year old middle aged buyer... gasp!
Can we talk about the cars now?
Chris
Data like this tells you nothing.. the "average" figure has no bearing on the distribution of individual incomes... there will be a unrepresentative number of huge multi-million $$$ annual incomes and equally some who are a lot lower than $300K... these figures are as arbitrary and unrepresentative as is the stereotype that you are a 55 year old middle aged buyer... gasp!
Can we talk about the cars now?
Chris
02-03-2008, 04:08 PM
#14
MBWorld Fanatic!
Is interesting that creditworthy guys can drive off in a new $200K MB w/a $0-down lease, with a few $K drive-off (often can put that amt on one's credit card as well)....but guys often buy $100K+ Pateks w/a credit card....and don't need to even fill out a silly credit app each time, unlike a repeat MB buyer....gotta love our efficient/Darwinian capital/credit mkts....as our current mortgage/real estate mess illustrates, not all financiers or consumers are equally smart....
02-03-2008, 04:22 PM
#15
MBWorld Fanatic!
Have always argued some guys are "smart" (perhaps high IQ; earn high grades at Stanford engineering/Wharton finance, etc but often have lackluster career success) but some are "shrewd", i.e., not necessarily incredibly smart; perhaps didn't attend most prestigious schools/get good grades, but able to quickly/accurately analyze and bet on real-world situations w/incomplete info: skills needed in many competitive careers/businesses....IMO, the most impressive guys in competitive, dynamic industries are those who are both smart and shrewd, as verified by their career progression/accomplishments (and net worth vs age)....
02-03-2008, 04:47 PM
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What is it about this endless interest in the income of S-Class buyers? Two parallel threads now in 24 hours... OK you have/are considering a new S-Class ...you have to be on a good salary or have significant assets - we all got it...
Data like this tells you nothing.. the "average" figure has no bearing on the distribution of individual incomes... there will be a unrepresentative number of huge multi-million $$$ annual incomes and equally some who are a lot lower than $300K... these figures are as arbitrary and unrepresentative as is the stereotype that you are a 55 year old middle aged buyer... gasp!
Can we talk about the cars now?
Chris
Data like this tells you nothing.. the "average" figure has no bearing on the distribution of individual incomes... there will be a unrepresentative number of huge multi-million $$$ annual incomes and equally some who are a lot lower than $300K... these figures are as arbitrary and unrepresentative as is the stereotype that you are a 55 year old middle aged buyer... gasp!
Can we talk about the cars now?
Chris
I think is your human to know who's more powerfull
02-10-2008, 01:19 PM
#17
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Thread Starter
Forbes did a comparison in 2007 of the demographic information of luxury car buyers. The brands with the highest household income (HHI) are shown below. The average HHI of a ForbesAutos user is $187,215. The average buyer age is 41; 81% are male and 19% female.
Top 10 Luxury Vehicles and Average Household Income:
Cars
Porsche $187,705
Mercedes-Benz $162,824
Jaguar $150,587
BMW $148,992
Lexus $141,355
Audi $153,746
Saab $134,315
Infiniti $128,753
Volvo $133,545
Acura $118,830
Average HHI: $146,065
Top 10 Luxury Vehicles and Average Household Income:
Cars
Porsche $187,705
Mercedes-Benz $162,824
Jaguar $150,587
BMW $148,992
Lexus $141,355
Audi $153,746
Saab $134,315
Infiniti $128,753
Volvo $133,545
Acura $118,830
Average HHI: $146,065
Last edited by JohnH4260; 02-10-2008 at 01:43 PM. Reason: Content
02-10-2008, 11:27 PM
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2010 S600 sold
Forbes did a comparison in 2007 of the demographic information of luxury car buyers. The brands with the highest household income (HHI) are shown below. The average HHI of a ForbesAutos user is $187,215. The average buyer age is 41; 81% are male and 19% female.
Top 10 Luxury Vehicles and Average Household Income:
Cars
Porsche $187,705
Mercedes-Benz $162,824
Jaguar $150,587
BMW $148,992
Lexus $141,355
Audi $153,746
Saab $134,315
Infiniti $128,753
Volvo $133,545
Acura $118,830
Average HHI: $146,065
Top 10 Luxury Vehicles and Average Household Income:
Cars
Porsche $187,705
Mercedes-Benz $162,824
Jaguar $150,587
BMW $148,992
Lexus $141,355
Audi $153,746
Saab $134,315
Infiniti $128,753
Volvo $133,545
Acura $118,830
Average HHI: $146,065
02-11-2008, 07:45 PM
#19
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02-11-2008, 09:17 PM
#20
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Top 10 Most Popular Luxury Vehicles in the 4th Quarter of 2007.
1. 2009 BMW M3 Coupe: New to the list
2. Mercedes-Benz S-Class: 3rd Quarter - No.1
3. 2009 Jaguar XF: New to the list
4. BMW 3 Series Sedan: 3rd Quarter - No.2
5. Porsche Cayman: New to the list
6. 2009 Audi A4: New to the list
7. BMW 7 Series Sedan: 3rd Quarter - No.3
8. BMW 3 Series Coupe: 3rd Quarter - No.7
9. Mercedes-Benz C-Class: New to the list
10. BMW X5: 3rd Quarter - No.8
1. 2009 BMW M3 Coupe: New to the list
2. Mercedes-Benz S-Class: 3rd Quarter - No.1
3. 2009 Jaguar XF: New to the list
4. BMW 3 Series Sedan: 3rd Quarter - No.2
5. Porsche Cayman: New to the list
6. 2009 Audi A4: New to the list
7. BMW 7 Series Sedan: 3rd Quarter - No.3
8. BMW 3 Series Coupe: 3rd Quarter - No.7
9. Mercedes-Benz C-Class: New to the list
10. BMW X5: 3rd Quarter - No.8
02-13-2008, 11:11 AM
#21
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Thread Starter
Based on DuPont Automotive rankings of the most popular automobile colors in North America, here’s what color reveals about a car owners’ personality.
Silver: Elegant, loves futuristic looks, cool
White: Fastidious
Vibrant Red: Sexy, speedy, high-energy and dynamic
Light to Mid-Blue: Cool, calm, faithful, quiet
Dark Blue: Credible, confident, dependable
Taupe/Light Brown: Timeless, basic and simple tastes
Black: Empowered, not easily manipulated, loves elegance, appreciates classics
Neutral Gray: Sober, corporate, practical, pragmatic
Dark Green: Traditional, trustworthy, well-balanced
Bright Yellow-Green: Trendy, whimsical, lively
Yellow Gold: Intelligent, warm, loves comfort and will pay for it
Sunshine Yellow: Sunny disposition, joyful and young at heart
Deep Brown: Down-to-earth, no-nonsense
Orange: Fun loving, talkative, fickle and trendy
Deep Purple: Creative, individualistic, original
Silver: Elegant, loves futuristic looks, cool
White: Fastidious
Vibrant Red: Sexy, speedy, high-energy and dynamic
Light to Mid-Blue: Cool, calm, faithful, quiet
Dark Blue: Credible, confident, dependable
Taupe/Light Brown: Timeless, basic and simple tastes
Black: Empowered, not easily manipulated, loves elegance, appreciates classics
Neutral Gray: Sober, corporate, practical, pragmatic
Dark Green: Traditional, trustworthy, well-balanced
Bright Yellow-Green: Trendy, whimsical, lively
Yellow Gold: Intelligent, warm, loves comfort and will pay for it
Sunshine Yellow: Sunny disposition, joyful and young at heart
Deep Brown: Down-to-earth, no-nonsense
Orange: Fun loving, talkative, fickle and trendy
Deep Purple: Creative, individualistic, original
