Sedans are the vehicle of choice for 40 percent of travelers this summer, according to a recent online survey conducted for CarMax, Inc., USA’s largest retailer of used cars. Although SUVs and minivans provide more room for comfortable travel and luggage, only 26 percent and 13 percent…
Sedans are the vehicle of choice for 40 percent of travelers this summer, according to a recent online survey conducted for CarMax, Inc., USA’s largest retailer of used cars. Although SUVs and minivans provide more room for comfortable travel and luggage, only 26 percent and 13 percent, respectively, plan to take their road trip in these types of vehicles this year. One percent will be enjoying their summer trip with the top down in a convertible.
This survey is part of CarMax’s Summer of Discovery campaign, which offers consumers cost-saving vacation and travel ideas. The Summer of Discovery Facebook contest, which is running now until August 19, invites fans to share their best vacation tips in their region of the U.S. The one fan with the most “liked” tip at the end of each week wins $250 and the person who entered the most “liked” tip at the end of the contest will win $5,000. In addition to the fans’ cost-saving ideas, CarMax also offers tips on gas mileage, vehicle maintenance and how to make the right vehicle choice.
Despite the economy and high gas prices, 76 percent of adults plan to take a road trip this summer. Many of these trips will be quite a distance from home, with respondents saying their longest drive will average nine hours one-way. To make the trip more affordable, more than 40 percent of respondents plan on packing food instead of stopping at restaurants and more than a third will be staying with friends or family instead of paying for a hotel.
The following are the results of a national, random survey conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs on behalf of CarMax. More than 1,000 U.S. adults completed the online interview July 5 – July 8, 2011.
What kind of car are you taking for your summer trip?
- Sedan 40%
- SUV 26%
- Minivan 13%
- Truck 8%
- Wagon 2%
- Convertible 1%
- Some other type of car 10%
Are you planning on doing any of the following in order to make this summer’s trip more affordable?
- Packing food instead of stopping at restaurants 42%
- Driving instead of flying 39%
- Staying with friends instead of hotels 35%
- Vacationing closer to home than you typically do 29%
- None of these 23%
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
