A recent survey of automotive enthusiasts indicated that nearly three out of four (74%) recent vehicle buyers purchased specialty equipment for their rides, according to SEMA research. The online survey, administered in mid-February, garnered 1,078 responses from subscribers to 21 mainstream automotive magazines. Forty percent said they'd purchased a new vehicle in the past year.
Of these new vehicle buyers, one in three (32.9%) purchased engine performance upgrades, ranging from air filter upgrades to more high-end modifications, such as turbos, superchargers and engine swaps; audio upgrades (32.2%) and performance tires (30.8%) followed. Additionally, these enthusiasts spent an average $1,493 on their specialty-equipment purchases, a notable sum when you consider that the sample represents only a fraction of total magazine readership and the enthusiast pool.
For further insight into the specialty-equipment market, read the member-exclusive 2007 Trends and Forecasts Quarterly Updates-Q1 and Q2, produced by the SEMA Research & Information Center, available at www.sema.org/research.