Differences in Super Bowl XLVI Cities' Car Buying Habits Examined in Study by TrueCar.com

New Englanders Prefer SUVs/Wagons while New Yorkers Prefer Small or Luxurious Vehicles

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Feb 01, 2012, 08:00 ET

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Feb. 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- In the time-honored battle to see who is the best football team in the nation, the Super Bowl XLVI match-up of east coast powerhouses, the New England Patriots and the New York Giants, is truly represented in their divergent automotive choices.

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TrueCar.com, the authority on new car pricing, forecasts and trends, recently completed an extensive study of the differences in automotive buying habits in New York and New England and discovered that outdoorsy New Englanders and urban New Yorkers reflect their respective demographics when it comes to auto buying habits.

New England residents prefer more outdoorsy activities, such as sailing, hiking, and fishing, which translates into their preference of sport utility vehicles, while New York residents opt for smaller or more luxurious transportation. The models with disproportionately higher sales in the New England region include the Volvo XC70, Subaru Outback, Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V. Of the top 10, only two models — the Audi A6 and Mini Cooper Hardtop — are not SUV's. The models most chosen by New York buyers include the Suzuki SX4, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Mini Cooper Clubman, Acura RDX, and BMW X3. Of the top 10, eight are cars and only two are SUV's, with the variety of vehicles divided fairly evenly between premium models and smaller-sized vehicles.

According to the survey, of the models most chosen in the New England states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut, four are SUV's and all are import brands. The top 10 vehicles sold in the New England area include:

Year Make Model*	MSRP	Average Price Paid	$ Savings	% Savings
2011 Volvo XC70	$35,025	$32,517	$(2,508)	-7.20%
2012 Subaru Outback	$25,070	$23,968	$(1,102)	-4.40%
2012 Audi A6	$57,655	$55,437	$(2,218)	-3.80%
2011 Toyota RAV4	$24,685	$23,635	$(1,050)	-4.30%
2011 Honda CR-V	$28,905	$27,844	$(1,061)	-3.70%

*TrueCar included only the top model by manufacturer and pricing was created by the most popular trim in that model.

Meanwhile in New York State, preferences are also skewed toward premium sedans or crossovers at the top of the list; however, smaller, import brands are also popular. The top five in New York State include:

Year Make Model**	MSRP	Average Price Paid	$ Savings	% Savings
2012 Suzuki SX4	$18,164	$16,602	$(1,562)	-8.60%
2011 Mercedes-Benz S-Class	$93,875	$84,457	$(9,418)	-10.00%
2012 MINI Cooper Clubman	$21,900	$21,503	$(397)	-1.80%
2012 Acura RDX	$33,780	$32,258	$(1,522)	-4.50%
2012 BMW X3	$37,995	$36,684	$(1,311)	-3.40%

**TrueCar included only the top model by manufacturer and pricing was created by the most popular trim in that model.

While this information won't translate to a winner on the field, it does say a lot about the fans of both teams.

To find the top 10 sellers for these cities, visit The Truth Blog or you can request your city's top 10 by contacting [email protected]. .

About TrueCar, Inc.

TrueCar, Inc. is an automotive solutions provider focused on changing how cars are sold by providing a significantly better customer experience while helping qualified dealer partners gain incremental market share and reduce costs. TrueCar is a visual publisher of new car transaction data. TrueCar price reports help both dealers and consumers agree on the parameters of a fair deal by providing an accurate, comprehensive and simple understanding of what others actually paid recently for an identically-equipped vehicle both locally and nationally. TrueCar works with a national network of dealers that provides a no-hassle car buying experience, and in many cases a highly competitive upfront price, to assist some of the nation's largest and most well respected membership and service organizations to meet the auto research and buying needs of their members and customers. TrueCar is headquartered in Santa Monica, CA and has offices in San Francisco, CA and Austin, TX. With 131 percent annual growth since 2006, TrueCar has connected hundreds of thousands of consumers with dealers nationwide resulting in the sale of over 400,000 vehicles and is developing a suite of products and services centered on radical clarity through the comprehensive analysis of market data and information.

You can follow TrueCar on Twitter and become a fan of TrueCar on Facebook.

Disclaimer

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SOURCE TrueCar, Inc.