ower and Associates has released its latest surveying study. Attempting to discern which brands possess the happiest and most content buyers is no easy task. The results however, at least at the top of the list, are not at all surprising. The survey is called APEAL, an acronym standing for "Automotive Performance, Execution, and Layout". The study reveals what should stand out as obvious rationale: Happy automobile owners drive vehicles that are very profitable. These vehicles require little incentive to purchase, because people really want them. Understand? It's like this. I want a vacation. When I take the vacation, I am happy. A long weekend is nice; satisfactory; enjoyable, but I really want the vacation. I'll pay big bucks for the vacation, because the vacation is what I truly desire.
Car enthusiasts want a Porsche. They pay top dollar for that Porsche, and are amazingly content with their German sports car (or SUV). In fact, Porsche ranks at the top of the list. This survey encompassed 35 different automotive brands, and Porsche is at the pinnacle of the German-dominate
d podium. BMW trailed Porsche, and Mercedes-Benz came next. Responders to this survey must have been in the first 90 days of ownership of a 2007 model year automobile. Porsche, in a manner of speaking, scored an 85%. They received 849 points out of a possible 1,000. Jeep continues to sell 4x4's, but clearly wasn't making their customers happy this past year. Impressive in the showroom, less impressive in daily life? Say it ain't so. Jeep finished in 35th place. 35th out of 35. Jeep scored 718. Chrysler and Dodge were 31st and 33rd, respectively. Subaru and Suzuki were the other members of the bottom pentagon of discontent.The average score on this gruesome test was 772. Cadillac, Hummer, and Lincoln were the sole American brands to score above that mark. There were a number of American cars that did very well, finishing atop their individual sectors, in fact. Many of the cars and trucks that did well are true examples of love-it-or-hate-it. The Honda Ridgeline is despised by many for not being a real truck. Yet the people who buy it love their Ridgeline more than Ranger owners love their Ford's or Tacoma buyers love their Toyota's. In fact, the Ridgeline scored higher than any other pickup. By category, here are the top scoring models:
- Honda Odyssey - van
- Honda Ridgeline - midsize pickup
- GMC Sierra - large pickup
- Cadillac Escalade EXT/ Mercedes-Benz GL-class - large premium SUV
- BMW X5 - midsize premium SUV
- Nissan Armada - large SUV
- Ford Edge - midsize SUV
- Honda CR-V - compact SUV
- Hyundai Azera - large car
- Nissan Altima - midsize car
- Ford Mustang - midsize sporty car
- BMW 6-series - premium sporty car
- Mercedes-Benz S-class - large premium car
- Mercedes-Benz E-class - entry premium car
- BMW 3-series - entry premium car
- Porsche Cayman - compact premium sporty car
- Volkswagen Jetta - compact sporty car
- Volkswagen Jetta - compact car
- Honda Fit / Toyota Yaris - subcompact car
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