In swankiest ZIPs, middle-class rides prevail
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In America's swankiest neighborhoods -- say Beverly Hills or the more posh parts of Manhattan -- you figure to see a regular parade of Bentleys, Lamborghinis, Ferraris and maybe the occasional Porsche 911.
Well, it's not necessarily so. In fact, you're just as likely to see Volkswagen Jettas or Toyota Camrys, according to a study from TrueCar.com.
While the Mercedes-Benz E class ranked first on a list of the most popular vehicles in the 29 wealthiest ZIP codes, half of the vehicles listed were from nonluxury brands.
No. 2 in popularity in those upper crust locales was the BMW 328, followed by the Mercedes-Benz C class and the Lexus RX. The Toyota Prius finished fifth.
The Volkswagen Jetta ranked No. 6, followed by the Honda CR-V, Honda Accord and Toyota Camry.
Why are the fabulously well-off choosing such practical rides?
It comes down to value, says TrueCar.com's Kristen Andersson. She says mainstream brands such as Toyota, Honda and VW "offer the best in vehicle amenities and comfort that near those of some luxury models."
