Boomers Defy Car Makers' Marketing Strategies

[exboyfil]

64. I used the GM Credit Card for my last three purchases

at $3,500 rebate. Stacked additional rebates on top of that. Also used a guarantee pull or drag to price my wife's very beat up Ford Escort on the last purchase. Got into my HHR for about $12K in 2009.

I too buy entry level cars (started with Chevy Cavalier in 1985 after getting out of college, Chevy Lumina around 1993 (only non-entry), Ford Escort Wagon (around 1997), Chevy Cavalier (2002), and Chevy HHR(2009). I was probably most disapointed in the Chevy Lumina and probably did not do a good job in trade on that one. The 1985 Cavalier I drove until the wheels fell off. The 1997 Escort was in a couple of accidents with body work that was not repaired when I traded it for the HHR. I absolutely love my 2002 Cavalier - I have put hardly any dollars in repair (just basic maintenance). The 2009 HHR has done ok so far, but I do not like the power windows/locks and expect to pay to repair them eventually. The Ford was a nice car but spent quite a bit on repairs (radiator twice!! and clutch).

I am 49 next month, and I hope to make only one to two more car purchases before retirement. We will definitely go down to one car - lightly used - when I retire. Kids will be like me and not get cars until they graduate college and start earning money to pay for them.

I think the U.S. manufactures are terrified in the baby boomer trend because their margains suck on small entry level cars. I just shake my head at $30-$50K for a car - I will never pay that amount.