From today's Los Angeles Times Add Toyota Prius to cars favored by the richest Americans Comments 20 Email Share The Toyota Prius has become a popular car in California's wealthiest ZIP Codes (Toyota Motor Corp.) Related photos ยป Photos: Used classic cars that sold for millions Photos: The 10 worst cars sold in America Photos: The world's most beautiful cars Ads by Google The 2012 Honda CR-VThe Honda Summer Clearance Event! See Offers on a New CR-V Today. www.honda.com/toyota_rav4 2012 Toyotaยฎ Prius DealsOfficial Site for Special Offers. Save on an All-New Prius! SouthernCalifornia.BuyAToyota.com By Jerry Hirsch August 7, 2012, 1:20 p.m. What are the favorite cars of America's wealthiest families? If they live in California, put the Toyota Prius hybrid on the list. Auto-price-information company TrueCar.com compiled a list of the 10 wealthiest ZIP Codes based on Internal Revenue Service data from 1,000 or more 2011 tax returns in each locale, and then looked at the auto registrations in those communities. "For affluent buyers who live in places where environmental concerns reign supreme, the Toyota Prius is the ultimate status symbol in eco-luxury," said Kristen Andersson, an analyst at TrueCar.com. The Prius was the most popular vehicle in Century City, which with an average annual income of $751,000 (as reported on the tax returns), ranked fifth on the wealthiest ZIP Code list. It was followed by the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and C-Class sedans. A more pedestrian car, the Volkswagen Jetta, ranked fifth in the community, behind the BMW 328. The Prius also was the top car in Ross, Calif., just north of San Francisco. The community's average annual income was $497,000, ranking it 10thon the most-wealthy list. In Ross, the Prius was followed by the Mercedes-Benz E- Class and the Mercedes-Benz GL-Class vehicles. The Prius came in second to the Mercedes-Benz E-Class in Atherton, which ranked fourth on the list with an average income of $768,000. Various Mercedes and Porsche autos -- all selling for about double the price of the Prius -- were the other most popular cars in that community. Far less wealthy folks have turned the hybrid into one Americaโs most popular passenger cars. Through the first seven months of the year, Prius sales have almost doubled to more than 143,000 compared with the same period last year. It narrowly outsells the Hyundai Sonata and Chevrolet Cruze. The 10724 ZIP Code of Manhattan topped the list of communities, with an average annual income of $5.7 million. Apparently the super-rich are partial to Hondas over Toyotas. The Mercedes-Benz E-Class was the most popular car in that area, followed by the BMW X-5 SUV. The Honda Accord ranked third and the Honda CR-V SUV was fifth, sandwiching the BMW 328 in the fourth spot.
That's a cool fact. But it's sad to see misinformations about the Prius in the comment section of the original page.
Yep, I noticed it. It's the usual crap from that originates from the CNW junk science that still refuses to die and perpetuated w/the help of Top Gear and other random media. I don't have time to respond to all that crap anymore. If anyone has time, Environmental - Prius Wiki has all one should need.
I find it interesting that the E-Class follows suit. The wealthiest communities in CA don't fancy the more expensive vehicles, choosing something more "subtle" as a midrange E-Class over an S-Class or more. This could either mean that the S-Class depreciates quite a bit faster than the E-Class (most likely and because the wealthy are picky with their money) or that in this economy, driving an S-Class isn't that popular. Makes me wonder about all the fancy Cdn$100k+ cars and the people who drive them.
The two families I know that are probably 1%ers each have a Porsche and an SUV. Family A has an approximately 35 year old Porsche and some not new high end American SUV, the other a 2005 Porsche and a few year old mid sized SUV.
I think many of the richest Americans got to be that way because of many, many small decisions they've made over their lifetime. Most people would be surprised at how many super rich still shop at Target or Walmart. Some of them probably see the Prius as a wise financial decision. Obviously this isn't all of the 1%er's reasoning but I guarantee it's some of them.
"Money talks, wealth whispers!" "Look after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves!" Or, as the rich father of an ex girlfriend used to say "you don't make money by giving it away". Rich people are usually rich because they look after their money and make sensible financial decisions; not blowing it away on the biggest, most expensive car they can afford. If you're wealthy you don't have to keep up with the Jones's any longer and can get a car that suits you.
