Who are the people that are most likely to buy a sports car?
We’ve already looked at demographics for muscle car owners – in this blog post, we take a closer look at the demographics of sports car owners, exploring some of the key trends and characteristics that define this group.
Whether you’re a fan of sports cars or simply curious about the car industry, read on to discover more.
Table of Contents
Age Demographics Sports Car Buyers
- Majority of sports car purchases are made by people under the age of 30
- Interest in sports cars tends to peak among 20-year-olds
- Around 35 years old, individuals are more likely to own a minivan
- Sports car buying interest often rekindles at the age of 45
- Pickup trucks are popular among people aged 25 to 50
These data points suggest that sports car buyers generally fall into two age groups: younger individuals under 30, and an older demographic with increased buying interest around the age of 45.
However, sports cars do not maintain the same popularity across all age groups, as other vehicle types like minivans and pickup trucks become more prevalent choices within specific age ranges.
Gender Demographics: Sports Car Buyers
80% of sports cars are owned by men and that leaves 20% for the ladies.
Men represent over 60 percent of new car buyers in the United States between September 2020 and August 2021. Women represented 40 percent of new car buyers during the same period
It’s interesting to note that while men continue to hold a majority in sports car ownership, the gender distribution among car buyers shows potential for narrowing in the future.
Ethnicity Demographics of Sports Car Owners
White sports car owners comprise the majority of the customer base, making up 58.5% of the market.
African American or Black individuals represent 20% of sports car buyers.
Hispanic or Latinx buyers account for 10% of the demographic.
Age groups of sports car buyers differ for each brand. Cadillac and Porsche buyers show a similar age demographic:
-
- 20% aged 18-34
- 34% aged 35-54
- 46% aged 55 and older
In the sports car industry, dealerships’ demographics are also worth noting:
- 29.1% of car dealers are women.
- 79.9% of car dealers are men.
- 50% of car dealers are 40 years old or older.
- 36.8% of car dealers speak Spanish as a foreign language.
Here are also 300 cool Spanish nicknames for cars.
The data suggests that the sports car market is predominantly composed of white buyers, with a significant presence of African American or Black, and Hispanic or Latinx customers. Car dealerships display a predominantly male and middle-aged workforce, with a substantial percentage of Spanish-speaking staff.
Education Level Demographics of Sports Car Buyers
| Education Level | Percentage | Description |
|---|---|---|
| High school diploma or GED | 12% | Sports car buyers with a high school diploma or equivalent make up a small percentage of the market. |
| Some college, no degree | 22% | A larger share of sports car buyers falls into this category, having attended some college but did not obtain a degree. |
| Associate degree | 18% | Buyers with an associate degree represent a significant portion of the sports car market. |
| Bachelor’s degree | 32% | A notable percentage of sports car buyers hold a bachelor’s degree, making it the most common education level among this demographic. |
| Master’s degree | 12% | Sports car buyers with a master’s degree account for a smaller share of the market. |
| Doctorate or professional degree | 4% | Those with a doctorate or professional degree make up the smallest share of sports car buyers by education level. |
The data indicates that sports car buyers are generally well-educated, with bachelor’s degrees being the most common education level.
The market is diverse, ranging from high school graduates to those with doctorate degrees, highlighting the broad appeal of sports cars across various educational backgrounds.
Average Income Level of Sports Car Owners
Sports cars account for around 3.1% of the worldwide market revenue of cars.
Two household income groups account for most new vehicle purchases:
- under $50,000 per year (mostly single-person households) and
- 2$100,000 per year and up (mostly families).
According to the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) in 2015, a new car buyer earned about $80,000 per year.
The data highlights that sports car ownership is generally associated with higher-income households. While varying income levels contribute to the overall sports car market, the primary purchasing power is found among those with incomes of $100,000 per year and above.
Other Interesting Facts About Sports Car Buyers
- The first sports car was the 1910 Prince Henry Vauxhall.
- The term “sports car” was coined in 1927 by a British newspaper, The Times.
- The first true American sports car was the 1953 Chevrolet Corvette.
- The 1960s saw a surge in sports car popularity with models such as the Shelby Cobra and the Porsche 911.
- The most expensive sports car ever sold was a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO, which sold for $48.4 million in 2018.
- The 1990s saw a shift towards more affordable sports cars, such as the Mazda Miata and the Toyota MR2.
- In 2021, the Ford Mustang was the best-selling sports car in the United States, with over 80,000 units sold.
- Sports car sales in the United States totaled around 440,000 units in 2021.
- Sports cars accounted for around 3% of total vehicle sales in the United States in 2021.
- The average price of a new sports car is around $40,000.
- The Porsche 911 is the longest-running sports car model, having been in production since 1963.
- The Mazda Miata is the best-selling sports car of all time, with over 1 million units sold.
- The Ford Mustang was first introduced in 1964 and has since sold over 10 million units.
- The Dodge Challenger was first introduced in 1970 and has undergone several redesigns since then.
- The Chevrolet Camaro was first introduced in 1966 and has been in production on and off since then.
| Education Level | Percentage | Description |
|---|---|---|
| High school diploma or GED | 12% | Sports car buyers with a high school diploma or equivalent make up a small percentage of the market. |
| Some college, no degree | 22% | A larger share of sports car buyers falls into this category, having attended some college but did not obtain a degree. |
| Associate degree | 18% | Buyers with an associate degree represent a significant portion of the sports car market. |
| Bachelor’s degree | 32% | A notable percentage of sports car buyers hold a bachelor’s degree, making it the most common education level among this demographic. |
| Master’s degree | 12% | Sports car buyers with a master’s degree account for a smaller share of the market. |
| Doctorate or professional degree | 4% | Those with a doctorate or professional degree make up the smallest share of sports car buyers by education level. |
Sources:
- https://www.carsalesbase.com/us-car-sales-data/
- https://www.statista.com/statistics/1029454/us-car-buyers-gender/http://www.statista.comhttps://jalopnik.com/demographic-shifts-shaping-the-future-of-car-ownership-audgiesdiy/
- https://www.autolist.com/guides/car-brand-demographics
- https://www.statista.com/statistics/1029454/us-car-owners-gender/http://www.statista.comhttps://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2022/10/the-demographics-of-sports-car-purchasers-in-the-us-.html
- http://www.statista.com/sports-cars-report-2022
- http://www.statista.com/us-car-owners-income-group-2021
- http://www.thezebra.com/car-ownership-statistics-2023
- http://www.classiccarcommunity.com/classic-auto-insurance-demographics
- http://www.hedgescompany.com/automotive-trends-new-car-buyer-demographics
- https://www.carmax.com/articles/best-sports-cars
- https://www.motortrend.com/features/the-20-most-significant-sports-cars-of-all-time/
- https://www.caranddriver.com/features/g21288563/10-best-sports-cars-of-2021/
- https://www.edmunds.com/sports-cars/
- https://www.autotrader.com/best-cars/best-sports-cars
![](javascript:popWin("https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/link/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmotorandwheels.com%2Fsports-car-demographic-numbers%2F&media=https://motorandwheels.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/chevrolet-corvette-classic-back.jpg","pinterest");){kind=link}