Affluent Autos

With last year’s Occupy Wall Street movement and this year’s presidential campaign, there’s been much talk about the super-rich and how their lives differ from the average Joe. But a recent survey finds their cars aren’t often any different than the ones sitting in the average driveway. According to data compiled by TrueCar.com, an auto information and sales website based in Santa Monica, Calif., eight of the 10 most popular models purchased by those living in America’s wealthiest neighborhoods are priced below $50,000. It seems like even the deep-pocketed are hesitant to dig deep into their pockets these days. “Luxury brands like BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Lexus are the top choice for the well-off, but with wealth often comes freedom of choice. The data demonstrates that wealthy consumers today make value a top priority, as half the vehicles purchased are from mainstream brands,” says TrueCar.com senior analyst Kristen Andersson. Here’s the top 10 list of cars most frequently purchased by those living in affluent zip codes. 1. Mercedes-Benz E-Class 2. BMW 3 Series 3. Mercedes-Benz C-Class 4. Lexus RX 5. Toyota Prius 6. Volkswagen Jetta 7. Honda CR-V 8. Honda Accord 9. Toyota Camry 10. BMW X5