[elegant]

Yes, it was surprising that the average age of a new Corvette buyer has risen to 61, but look at other expensive sports cars (Porsche 911 = 59), and while that average Corvette purchaser age has risen from "just 54" a decade ago, the article does point to a hopeful signs. I for one am older than the average buyer, and I take no offense at the article, but am excited at all the young folks who LOVE the StingRay, cheering every time some in their 50's, 40's or lower buys orders or buys one -- for that is what we are going to need if we are going to someday have a C8.

The New Corvette?s Oldster Problem | The Exchange - Yahoo Finance

 

[glen e]

I have read this article and others, and I think Mark Reuss did himself a disservice by saying he wanted a younger clientele. He really does not want that, he wants ANY AGE who would never look at a Vette, like BMW M6, Benz AMG and Porsche buyers, to buy the car WHERE THEY NEVER WOULD BEFORE. True many of us oldsters have grown up with Vettes but this is my first, after have driven Porsche and BMW's all my life and working for both of them for 35 years on the corporate side. I think he should have said "we jsut want to be on the shopping lists of those that go looking for a high end 2 seater sports car."

From my experience in the business, and talking to thousands of customers at cocktail reveal events, auto shows and drive events, nobody ever talked about the Vette. Now they do. I teach sales guys now across the nation and see about 50-75 sales guys every week. And they report people are taking about the Vette, where they never did before.

But the reason they may be older is the large majority of younger buyers just can't work a 2 seat sports car into their life. 2 seaters, in the biz are known as "sunday morning cars" and they are the 3rd car in the house for the affluent. Lehman brothers killed that idea in 2009 and like the boat business, is much smaller.But also, younger buyers need space for family so even if they are gear heads, they do the sports sedans like Infinity G37's, 535's and even M5's - Porache even knew that and made the Panamera and is readying a cheaper 5 series Panamera type.

So the market is a bit smaller but as I have said before, the design people and the engineers have put the Vette on the import shopping list. As long as the UAW can keep the build quality high, the Vette will do better this generation than ever before....

also as an aside - everyone writes about how it tracks, the g's it pulls, etc..Never underestimate the power of the visual. IT LOOKS BREATHTAKING..and that's what sells cars in the volume to keep BG humming....BG needs "regular" people, in addition to forum members..LOL

 

[wareagle92]

I am 44, a female, and a physician with no kids...and this car is expensive even for me. I think young people are going to LOVE this car, but most will not be able to afford it, which is ok with me because if everyone had one, I wouldn't feel as special.

 

[Highland Ranger]

I thought the same thing when I read the article - they made some assumptions that are probably wrong.

Our new economy means fewer younger people have money for toys.