Clare, Michigan
Population:3100
This week marks the start of hunting season, and i just happened to find out that Google has released very recent images of Clare, Michigan, covering most streets. Why do I bring those two topics up together? Because Clare is a popular spot for sportsmen to go hunting and fishing.
With small industrial parks in town, Clare is actually a functioning town all year long in its own right. But mention the name, and most people think of men with rifles or fishing poles going there to catch themselves some food. Located in mid-Michigan, we already can assume that it gets cold in Clare, and snow is abundant in the wintertime.We also can assume that domestic cars reign supreme. We would assume correctly.
Of the several dealerships I noticed in Clare, one was a Chrysler emporium,and two were General Motors establishments. This says that Clare does indeed have a decent-sized market and isn't primarily a "used car" town.
As one may expect, pickup trucks are king in this town.In fact, after I tallied up the car count, I was not surprised by any of the top 5 winners.Take a look and see if you are.
1. Ford F-series
2. Chevrolet Silverado/full-sized pickups
3. Dodge Ram/Ram pickup (most built prior to Ram becoming a seperate brand)
4. Chevrolet Impala
5. GMC Sierra
Saturday, November 15, 2014
Sunday, September 14, 2014
Belding,Mi
Belding,Mi
Population: 5700
We venture back into a small Michigan city, and I felt like I was analyzing Russian traffic in the 1980s. There seem to be only a handful of models seen in an sizable numbers this town, and all are, as expected, domestics.
Like many small towns in the state, the cars in Belding are quite old by Michigan standards. Countless rust-damaged cars dating back to the 1990s are seen in driveways and parking lots, putting this city clearly in the "used-car market" category. It seems that very few new cars are sold in Belding, and people keep the old ones as long as possible. Sadly, its not like town in Ohio and Indiana where 1970s and 80s cars are still seen out in the open.That means variety is kept to a minimum. Most of Michigans best-selling new models have barely even found their way into Belding. Don't expect to find many Ford Fusions. And while the Chevy Cruze has done well nationally, in Belding, they have not even started to replace the rusted Cavaliers that are still quite common.
If you live in Belding, you will definitely know the following 5 as you absolutely cannot avoid them.
1. Ford F-series
2. Chevrolet full-sized pickups
3. Chrysler Vans
4. Chevrolet Impala
5. Jeep Grand Cherokee
Dodge Ram (too close to call, possible tie)
Population: 5700
We venture back into a small Michigan city, and I felt like I was analyzing Russian traffic in the 1980s. There seem to be only a handful of models seen in an sizable numbers this town, and all are, as expected, domestics.
Like many small towns in the state, the cars in Belding are quite old by Michigan standards. Countless rust-damaged cars dating back to the 1990s are seen in driveways and parking lots, putting this city clearly in the "used-car market" category. It seems that very few new cars are sold in Belding, and people keep the old ones as long as possible. Sadly, its not like town in Ohio and Indiana where 1970s and 80s cars are still seen out in the open.That means variety is kept to a minimum. Most of Michigans best-selling new models have barely even found their way into Belding. Don't expect to find many Ford Fusions. And while the Chevy Cruze has done well nationally, in Belding, they have not even started to replace the rusted Cavaliers that are still quite common.
If you live in Belding, you will definitely know the following 5 as you absolutely cannot avoid them.
1. Ford F-series
2. Chevrolet full-sized pickups
3. Chrysler Vans
4. Chevrolet Impala
5. Jeep Grand Cherokee
Dodge Ram (too close to call, possible tie)
Sunday, August 31, 2014
10 Longest Lasting Cars Of The Past 30 Years
Special Edition
A few weeks ago, we discussed classic cars and which had the best survival rates and brightest futures. Today, we will continue with that general theme, except we will only focus on cars from 1984 to 1994.
Certainly, one does not expect to see roadways filled with 20 and 30 year old cars, but some definitely seem to have lasted longer than others.
I have compiled a list of the 10 cars made in this time period that I have observed more than other cars in recent years.This is strictly based on personal observation, not registration records, etc.
-Lincoln Town Car: During the 1980s, the Town Car was a big-seller in the American luxury market and popular with limosine companies.They also didn't rust as quickly as lower-priced cars. In the past 2 weeks, Ive seen about 5 of them in my county, most still in great shape. Later versions (1990s) suffered from problems with the air-ride suspension, but despite that, it was not unusual for the engines to run past 200,000 miles-no small feat in those days.
-Cadillac Fleetwood/Deville: The last of the really big Caddies, these were the true "bigshot" cars of their day. Many limosines were based off of them, and they were always seen on tv or movies being driven by the well-to-do or their personal drivers. Yes, they are largely impractical today, but many people still view them as a car fit for a king. Thousands still sit in driveways and parking lots across the country, the apple of their owners eyes.
-Mercedes-Benz W123: Even though these were being phased out during the mid-1980s, no list is complete without them. Also known as the 300/300D, this car was virtually immortal. The strong diesel motors and solid bodies have helped these trudge on even in the saltiest, snowiest climates. I live in a small,blue-collar midwestern city of about 17,000. There are few imports and luxury models are rare.Yet, over the past 2 years, Ive seen 5 of these just in my town. Several were in near perfect condition.Need I say more?
-Chevrolet Camaro: This one tends to surprise me. Countless teens have bought Camaros over the years, abused them, crashed them, and left them neglected.Yet, in many parts of the country, its almost a guarantee that you'll still see several in any given town. You name the Place-Ohio, Georgia, Florida, etc., and plenty of them can still be found.
-Chevrolet Caprice: One of the latest fads in the car hobby is "donking"- putting really big rims and custom paint on large, older cars. The thing I've noticed most about this movement is just how many old Caprices are still out there. New, unmodified "opportunities" continue to crop up regularly.
-Chevrolet full-sized trucks-Silverado, Scottsdale,etc: Chevy trucks are the most popular of the older trucks for everything-scrap hauling, lawn care, customizing, and so on. Pretty much everywhere 1980s trucks are found, Chevy and GMC models have the largest presence.
-Chevrolet Corvette: This one almost didn't count, since they often are used as "second" cars and only in good weather, yet it often requires very specific reasons like those for a car to survive in decent quantities. Many 'vettes were kept in garages with low mileage, and the rust-resistant fiberglass was an added bonus to their longevity.
-Buick Lesabre: You might have heard about the 3800 engine GM used during the 1990s, and how durable it was. That engine is the secret to the popularity of the Lesabre. These cars were boring and dull. Yet, the engines were so reputable that some used car lots that typically wont sell anything for less than $4000 will still offer beaten-up, rusted Lesabres with 3-digit price tags.Especially in Michigan, they are still among the most common cars in some towns.
-Mercury Grand Marquis: Maybe its just that so many were purchased by elderly drivers who put very few miles on them, but the Marquis has always been one of the more common older cars. The only reason you don't see quite as many now is because many were scrapped during "Cash For Clunkers". Even so, there are still more Grand Marquis remaining than most other cars their age.
-Dodge Shadow/Plymouth Sundance: Seriously? Actually yes. I saw one a few days ago. Then I saw a another one today.They made me realize that I'm aware of about 4 more that are within 1-2 miles of my house.That may not apply to all regions, but around here, they just won't die off.
A few weeks ago, we discussed classic cars and which had the best survival rates and brightest futures. Today, we will continue with that general theme, except we will only focus on cars from 1984 to 1994.
Certainly, one does not expect to see roadways filled with 20 and 30 year old cars, but some definitely seem to have lasted longer than others.
I have compiled a list of the 10 cars made in this time period that I have observed more than other cars in recent years.This is strictly based on personal observation, not registration records, etc.
-Lincoln Town Car: During the 1980s, the Town Car was a big-seller in the American luxury market and popular with limosine companies.They also didn't rust as quickly as lower-priced cars. In the past 2 weeks, Ive seen about 5 of them in my county, most still in great shape. Later versions (1990s) suffered from problems with the air-ride suspension, but despite that, it was not unusual for the engines to run past 200,000 miles-no small feat in those days.
-Cadillac Fleetwood/Deville: The last of the really big Caddies, these were the true "bigshot" cars of their day. Many limosines were based off of them, and they were always seen on tv or movies being driven by the well-to-do or their personal drivers. Yes, they are largely impractical today, but many people still view them as a car fit for a king. Thousands still sit in driveways and parking lots across the country, the apple of their owners eyes.
-Mercedes-Benz W123: Even though these were being phased out during the mid-1980s, no list is complete without them. Also known as the 300/300D, this car was virtually immortal. The strong diesel motors and solid bodies have helped these trudge on even in the saltiest, snowiest climates. I live in a small,blue-collar midwestern city of about 17,000. There are few imports and luxury models are rare.Yet, over the past 2 years, Ive seen 5 of these just in my town. Several were in near perfect condition.Need I say more?
-Chevrolet Camaro: This one tends to surprise me. Countless teens have bought Camaros over the years, abused them, crashed them, and left them neglected.Yet, in many parts of the country, its almost a guarantee that you'll still see several in any given town. You name the Place-Ohio, Georgia, Florida, etc., and plenty of them can still be found.
-Chevrolet Caprice: One of the latest fads in the car hobby is "donking"- putting really big rims and custom paint on large, older cars. The thing I've noticed most about this movement is just how many old Caprices are still out there. New, unmodified "opportunities" continue to crop up regularly.
-Chevrolet full-sized trucks-Silverado, Scottsdale,etc: Chevy trucks are the most popular of the older trucks for everything-scrap hauling, lawn care, customizing, and so on. Pretty much everywhere 1980s trucks are found, Chevy and GMC models have the largest presence.
-Chevrolet Corvette: This one almost didn't count, since they often are used as "second" cars and only in good weather, yet it often requires very specific reasons like those for a car to survive in decent quantities. Many 'vettes were kept in garages with low mileage, and the rust-resistant fiberglass was an added bonus to their longevity.
-Buick Lesabre: You might have heard about the 3800 engine GM used during the 1990s, and how durable it was. That engine is the secret to the popularity of the Lesabre. These cars were boring and dull. Yet, the engines were so reputable that some used car lots that typically wont sell anything for less than $4000 will still offer beaten-up, rusted Lesabres with 3-digit price tags.Especially in Michigan, they are still among the most common cars in some towns.
-Mercury Grand Marquis: Maybe its just that so many were purchased by elderly drivers who put very few miles on them, but the Marquis has always been one of the more common older cars. The only reason you don't see quite as many now is because many were scrapped during "Cash For Clunkers". Even so, there are still more Grand Marquis remaining than most other cars their age.
-Dodge Shadow/Plymouth Sundance: Seriously? Actually yes. I saw one a few days ago. Then I saw a another one today.They made me realize that I'm aware of about 4 more that are within 1-2 miles of my house.That may not apply to all regions, but around here, they just won't die off.
Thursday, August 28, 2014
Mineral wells,TX
Mineral Wells, Tx
Population: 16,700
They often say that trucks dominate in Texas. They mean it.
I always liked the name "Mineral Wells" since it sounded like an old frontier town in a cowboy movie. In a few places downtown, you could probably actually film a western movie. But nobody rides horses there. Instead, people drive pickups.My estimation is that 65% of the vehicles are pickups, but it could actually be more.
Most surprising was the presence of enthusiast cars. Lurking between the pickups were a few Miatas, Mustangs,Camaros and 1 or 2 Datsun Z-cars. as someone who likes automotive variety, it satisfied me to see the pickups counterbalanced (though in far fewer numbers) by something completely opposite.
Country musician Joe Diffie sang that "There's something women love about a pickup man". If thats true, we may have found a vacation spot for single ladies.
Top 5 of Mineral Wells:
1. Ford F-series
2. Chevrolet full-sized pickups.
3. Dodge Ram
4. Ford Explorer
5. Toyota Pickups
Population: 16,700
They often say that trucks dominate in Texas. They mean it.
I always liked the name "Mineral Wells" since it sounded like an old frontier town in a cowboy movie. In a few places downtown, you could probably actually film a western movie. But nobody rides horses there. Instead, people drive pickups.My estimation is that 65% of the vehicles are pickups, but it could actually be more.
Most surprising was the presence of enthusiast cars. Lurking between the pickups were a few Miatas, Mustangs,Camaros and 1 or 2 Datsun Z-cars. as someone who likes automotive variety, it satisfied me to see the pickups counterbalanced (though in far fewer numbers) by something completely opposite.
Country musician Joe Diffie sang that "There's something women love about a pickup man". If thats true, we may have found a vacation spot for single ladies.
Top 5 of Mineral Wells:
1. Ford F-series
2. Chevrolet full-sized pickups.
3. Dodge Ram
4. Ford Explorer
5. Toyota Pickups
Sunday, August 17, 2014
Woodward Dream Cruise
Woodward Dream Cruise (Special "Classic" Car Watching entry)
Like many people, I was out on Woodward Avenue, just north of Detroit, MI this past weekend, for the Dream Cruise and pre-cruise days. I was not just watching the cars, but also who was driving them.
The collector hobby is changing, and in many ways, things aren't looking up. Many of the greatest, most historically important cars are not appealing to future generations. Ford Model A's and Model T's are seen in small numbers, all driven by senior citizens.As they die off or simply get out of the hobby, there doesn't look to be enough people currently interested in preserving such cars. Cars older than a certain decade simply are unrelateable to newer generations, and they neither admire or appreciate anything beyond a certain decade. We are at risk of losing entire generations of cars and makes due to lack of interest.
Todays enthusiasts overwhelmingly buy newer cars-Late model Mustangs, Camaros, Chargers and Jeeps. The older vehicles they buy tend to be sports cars, often foreign brands. They are more likely to drive an Acura NSX, Toyota Supra or Porsche 944. A few were seen in 1980s-era Corvettes.
African-American collectors are more visible and growing. Large GM cars are quite popular in the black community, with Oldsmobile and Buick gaining favor and Cadillac remaining a staple.Large Chevrolets are immensely popular as well, with blacks buying up Caprices as quickly as they enter the used car market. One trend prevalent in this community, that the majority of black enthusiasts partake in, is the use of large rims.Many find these tasteless and believe they spoil the looks of the car. But another school of thought is that they should be commended for their continuing interest in the cars, which keeps them out of scrapyards and the hobby continuing.
Hispanic cruisers are out there, too and the future of the hobby needs them. Hispanics are often associated or stereotyped with the lowrider movement. There is an element of truth to that. Many of the large, older cars used for lowriding are purchased by hispanics. They also buy smaller Japanese trucks that would otherwise be disposed of. Hispanics have customized many of the few remaining Toyotas and Mazdas from the 1970s. There are a handful of Toyota Starlets in the US, usually race cars owned by Puerto Ricans. They also buy Dodge Colts,Toyota Corollas and 1970s Mazdas. The Hispanics have single-handedly saved these cars from complete extinction in this country, and lowriders are often bringing rusting old cars back from the dead.
The Asian community is also growing strongly and are very inactive in the hobby. Most come from forward-thinking cultures where the focus is on improving and advancing current technology, not thinking about the past. In China, cars can not be legally registered after 10-15 years.That means, basically, that they are banned from the roads. Japan is very aggressive with inspections, and few cars last more than 10 years.South Korea has specialized in ordinary, disposable cars so they never had anything that people admired. As a result, most Koreans see cars as something that must be replaced every few years.People from India rarely have interest in the car hobby and tend to be quite conservative in their purchases.Understandably, people from these countries can't quite understand our love of old cars, having had so little exposure to the hobby in their birthplaces.
People of Middle-Eastern descent like cars, but won't consider classics. That community likes current Mercedes-Benzes, Range Rovers, Mustangs and exotics (Ferraris, Porsches, etc). Cool cars, but not helpful to the collector hobby.
Another threat to the hobby is environmentalism. Many younger people prefer public transit or mopeds, often for reasons pertaining to "saving resources" or "Clean energy". Trust me, people in this camp won't be buying muscle cars.
So, now that we have discussed why the market is dwindling and what cars todays Americans would rather have, lets discuss what has survived the best.We will only discuss cars made before 1980, since thats where the generational divide seems to really be.
Obviously, muscle cars were stored and preserved, with owners knowing the future collectibility of them. There are a lot of Camaros,GTOS and Chevelles still smoking their tires.For a smaller, modest car, the Chevy II can still be seen in good numbers. Of course, tens of thousands of old Mustangs are alive and well. As an overall brand, Cadillacs have a good survival rate.And, being made of rust-resistant fiberglass, Corvettes are abundant. VW Beetles and several styles of Mercedes-Benzes have the best survival rate of the imports, and convertibles far outlast their hardtop brothers. I saw 3 Cavalier Z24 convertibles but not 1 hardtop. I saw a very rare 1984 Pontiac Sunbird convertible this week, but its been quite a few years since I saw a hardtop version. The large Pontiac and Oldsmobile coupes sold in much larger numbers as hardtops, but now may be outnumbered by surviving convertible editions.
A final trend that we continue to see is the explosion in popularity of old pickup trucks. And strangely, its often younger cruisers buying them.Interesting "Fuel" for thought.
Like many people, I was out on Woodward Avenue, just north of Detroit, MI this past weekend, for the Dream Cruise and pre-cruise days. I was not just watching the cars, but also who was driving them.
The collector hobby is changing, and in many ways, things aren't looking up. Many of the greatest, most historically important cars are not appealing to future generations. Ford Model A's and Model T's are seen in small numbers, all driven by senior citizens.As they die off or simply get out of the hobby, there doesn't look to be enough people currently interested in preserving such cars. Cars older than a certain decade simply are unrelateable to newer generations, and they neither admire or appreciate anything beyond a certain decade. We are at risk of losing entire generations of cars and makes due to lack of interest.
Todays enthusiasts overwhelmingly buy newer cars-Late model Mustangs, Camaros, Chargers and Jeeps. The older vehicles they buy tend to be sports cars, often foreign brands. They are more likely to drive an Acura NSX, Toyota Supra or Porsche 944. A few were seen in 1980s-era Corvettes.
African-American collectors are more visible and growing. Large GM cars are quite popular in the black community, with Oldsmobile and Buick gaining favor and Cadillac remaining a staple.Large Chevrolets are immensely popular as well, with blacks buying up Caprices as quickly as they enter the used car market. One trend prevalent in this community, that the majority of black enthusiasts partake in, is the use of large rims.Many find these tasteless and believe they spoil the looks of the car. But another school of thought is that they should be commended for their continuing interest in the cars, which keeps them out of scrapyards and the hobby continuing.
Hispanic cruisers are out there, too and the future of the hobby needs them. Hispanics are often associated or stereotyped with the lowrider movement. There is an element of truth to that. Many of the large, older cars used for lowriding are purchased by hispanics. They also buy smaller Japanese trucks that would otherwise be disposed of. Hispanics have customized many of the few remaining Toyotas and Mazdas from the 1970s. There are a handful of Toyota Starlets in the US, usually race cars owned by Puerto Ricans. They also buy Dodge Colts,Toyota Corollas and 1970s Mazdas. The Hispanics have single-handedly saved these cars from complete extinction in this country, and lowriders are often bringing rusting old cars back from the dead.
The Asian community is also growing strongly and are very inactive in the hobby. Most come from forward-thinking cultures where the focus is on improving and advancing current technology, not thinking about the past. In China, cars can not be legally registered after 10-15 years.That means, basically, that they are banned from the roads. Japan is very aggressive with inspections, and few cars last more than 10 years.South Korea has specialized in ordinary, disposable cars so they never had anything that people admired. As a result, most Koreans see cars as something that must be replaced every few years.People from India rarely have interest in the car hobby and tend to be quite conservative in their purchases.Understandably, people from these countries can't quite understand our love of old cars, having had so little exposure to the hobby in their birthplaces.
People of Middle-Eastern descent like cars, but won't consider classics. That community likes current Mercedes-Benzes, Range Rovers, Mustangs and exotics (Ferraris, Porsches, etc). Cool cars, but not helpful to the collector hobby.
Another threat to the hobby is environmentalism. Many younger people prefer public transit or mopeds, often for reasons pertaining to "saving resources" or "Clean energy". Trust me, people in this camp won't be buying muscle cars.
So, now that we have discussed why the market is dwindling and what cars todays Americans would rather have, lets discuss what has survived the best.We will only discuss cars made before 1980, since thats where the generational divide seems to really be.
Obviously, muscle cars were stored and preserved, with owners knowing the future collectibility of them. There are a lot of Camaros,GTOS and Chevelles still smoking their tires.For a smaller, modest car, the Chevy II can still be seen in good numbers. Of course, tens of thousands of old Mustangs are alive and well. As an overall brand, Cadillacs have a good survival rate.And, being made of rust-resistant fiberglass, Corvettes are abundant. VW Beetles and several styles of Mercedes-Benzes have the best survival rate of the imports, and convertibles far outlast their hardtop brothers. I saw 3 Cavalier Z24 convertibles but not 1 hardtop. I saw a very rare 1984 Pontiac Sunbird convertible this week, but its been quite a few years since I saw a hardtop version. The large Pontiac and Oldsmobile coupes sold in much larger numbers as hardtops, but now may be outnumbered by surviving convertible editions.
A final trend that we continue to see is the explosion in popularity of old pickup trucks. And strangely, its often younger cruisers buying them.Interesting "Fuel" for thought.
Thursday, August 7, 2014
Dubuque, IA
Dubuque, IA
Population: 58,000
Some family members of mine went to Dubuque about a decade ago and reported that about 1 in 3 cars were a Chevy Cavalier. Its been quite awhile since Cavaliers were made and the car that replaced it in Chevys lineup, the Cobalt, has also been discontinued, carried on by the Cruze. Now that rust and old age have sent Cavaliers riding off into the sunset, I decided to look at more recent sources to find out what has replaced them on virtually every street corner. There is a two-part answer. Part 1, its not the car that replaced the Cavalier in the lineup, and part 2, its actually two larger models that have taken over.Impalas and Malibus are everywhere, and as both remain in production, they likely will be on every block for awhile.
Pickups and vans are almost too numerous to count, in typical midwestern fashion. Ford has done very well with pickups and SUVs, Toyota gets good sales with the Camry, and Chryslers family of vans and Jeeps are very well represented. But this is a GM town. Older Pontiacs remain in good supply, the Equinox is catching on, and full-sized Chevy pickups outnumber everything. Add to that the countless stream of Impalas and Malibus and we can put this city in the General Motors column.
There is a sizable University contingency, so many cars come and go. Many are brought from elsewhere, and return after their owners graduate.But the most common cars are so abundant, the top 5 list isn't likely to change anytime soon.
1. Chevrolet full-size pickup
2. Chevrolet Impala
3. Chevrolet Malibu
4. Chrysler vans
5. Ford F-series
Population: 58,000
Some family members of mine went to Dubuque about a decade ago and reported that about 1 in 3 cars were a Chevy Cavalier. Its been quite awhile since Cavaliers were made and the car that replaced it in Chevys lineup, the Cobalt, has also been discontinued, carried on by the Cruze. Now that rust and old age have sent Cavaliers riding off into the sunset, I decided to look at more recent sources to find out what has replaced them on virtually every street corner. There is a two-part answer. Part 1, its not the car that replaced the Cavalier in the lineup, and part 2, its actually two larger models that have taken over.Impalas and Malibus are everywhere, and as both remain in production, they likely will be on every block for awhile.
Pickups and vans are almost too numerous to count, in typical midwestern fashion. Ford has done very well with pickups and SUVs, Toyota gets good sales with the Camry, and Chryslers family of vans and Jeeps are very well represented. But this is a GM town. Older Pontiacs remain in good supply, the Equinox is catching on, and full-sized Chevy pickups outnumber everything. Add to that the countless stream of Impalas and Malibus and we can put this city in the General Motors column.
There is a sizable University contingency, so many cars come and go. Many are brought from elsewhere, and return after their owners graduate.But the most common cars are so abundant, the top 5 list isn't likely to change anytime soon.
1. Chevrolet full-size pickup
2. Chevrolet Impala
3. Chevrolet Malibu
4. Chrysler vans
5. Ford F-series
Tuesday, August 5, 2014
Muscatine, IA
Muscatine, Ia
Population: 22,900
Just across the border from Illinois, in eastern Iowa, lies Muscatine. Food processing is the big industry in this town, where middle-class neighborhoods branch off from the downtown area. The surprises were not in what people drive, but in what they DON'T.
Ford and Chevrolet trucks do very well in Muscatine, no big surprise for a midwestern manufacturing town. What surprised me was how few Ram pickups I noticed. Dakotas were more numerous but even if I combined both, they would fall far short of the numbers the Chevrolet and Ford trucks were seen in.In such a strong pickup market, I expected a lot more Dodges.
Another vehicle that was noticeably absent was the Mercury Grand Marquis.In the city of my previous entry, Marion, Indiana, these were in good supply and quite popular. I don't think I even saw 5 in Muscatine.
Pretty much all of the Dodge Chargers I observed were law-enforcement cars. I'm sure I could start a separate page just on police car models used by individual departments, but thats even more boring and would amount to about 3 lines per entry.However, I will probably include those findings in future posts on this site just as an additional bit of trivia.
Unlike the previous 2 towns, which were also smaller midwestern cities surrounded by farmland, Muscatine actually has a healthy import market.The Toyota Camry almost made it into the top 5. Corollas and Accords outnumbered all Ford passenger car models and only the Focus outnumbered the Civics that I saw....and not by much.This puts Muscatine a bit closer to the national market than other midwestern cities.
The top 5 of Muscatine:
1. Ford F-series
2.Chevrolet full-size pickups
3.Chrysler Vans
4.Chevrolet Malibu
5.Ford Explorer/Expedition.
Population: 22,900
Just across the border from Illinois, in eastern Iowa, lies Muscatine. Food processing is the big industry in this town, where middle-class neighborhoods branch off from the downtown area. The surprises were not in what people drive, but in what they DON'T.
Ford and Chevrolet trucks do very well in Muscatine, no big surprise for a midwestern manufacturing town. What surprised me was how few Ram pickups I noticed. Dakotas were more numerous but even if I combined both, they would fall far short of the numbers the Chevrolet and Ford trucks were seen in.In such a strong pickup market, I expected a lot more Dodges.
Another vehicle that was noticeably absent was the Mercury Grand Marquis.In the city of my previous entry, Marion, Indiana, these were in good supply and quite popular. I don't think I even saw 5 in Muscatine.
Pretty much all of the Dodge Chargers I observed were law-enforcement cars. I'm sure I could start a separate page just on police car models used by individual departments, but thats even more boring and would amount to about 3 lines per entry.However, I will probably include those findings in future posts on this site just as an additional bit of trivia.
Unlike the previous 2 towns, which were also smaller midwestern cities surrounded by farmland, Muscatine actually has a healthy import market.The Toyota Camry almost made it into the top 5. Corollas and Accords outnumbered all Ford passenger car models and only the Focus outnumbered the Civics that I saw....and not by much.This puts Muscatine a bit closer to the national market than other midwestern cities.
The top 5 of Muscatine:
1. Ford F-series
2.Chevrolet full-size pickups
3.Chrysler Vans
4.Chevrolet Malibu
5.Ford Explorer/Expedition.
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