Luxury is Now Standard in Naples

The sun continues to shine brightly over Naples, Florida’s developed economy. This could be reflected in the lifestyle and activities of its inhabitants. As a fact, automakers could attest the burgeoning segment of luxury vehicles in the said territory.

As the mighty sun prepares to rest on the Gulf of Mexico, the lights started to flicker over the courts at the Wyndemere Country Club. At the parking lot, tennis players are pulling into their Lexus, BMW, Jaguar and Infiniti cars. Entrepreneurs, bankers, developers and retirees - almost every one is driving a luxury car or sport utility vehicle.

Naples is one of the fastest rising cities in the United States and the baby boomers living an ideal kind of life help make luxury a standard in the city. "I feel good when I drive the Jaguar," said Ron Freedman, a 50-year-old mortgage broker. "It's like a suit. I know it's a high-end car, and other people know it's a high-end car."

The Naples inhabitants are the richest generation in the history of the United States. The income of the 78 million boomers has pulled the trigger for the amazing growth in luxury cars and light trucks sales for more than one and a half decades now. Further, in Naples, automobile manufacturers have knocked the mother deposit. The territory is a haven of million-dollar homes, unspoiled beaches, and over 50 golf courses within a half-hour's drive. One does need not have an EBC redstuff equipped sports car to be fascinated with the equally-fascinating panorama and way of life in Naples.

"The luxury-car market here is probably the best in the country," said Bob Germain, an 81-year-old megadealer from Michigan who owns the Lexus, BMW and Lincoln-Mercury dealerships in Naples.

In 1990’s, the population of Naples increased by 65 percent to its 251,000 inhabitants. It is the second fastest-growing metropolitan area in the United States, next to Las Vegas. Naples is also one of the richest areas in all the land.

Based on the 2000 census, there were 20,976 people, 10,803 households, and 6,568 families residing in Naples. It was found out that the median income for a household was $ 65,641, and for a family was $ 83,831. Males had a median income of $ 50,092 while females have $ 30,948. The per capita income for Naples was $ 61,141. About 3.1 percent of families and 5.9 percent of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.1 percent of those under age 18 and 3.3 percent of those ages 65 or over.

In 2006, the average home sale price topped $ 475,000. In addition, the migration of money from the Midwest and other northern area arrives like a gold rush for makers of expensive, fully loaded luxury sedans, convertibles and sport utility vehicles. "When I came in five years ago, this store was doing 55 to 60 new cars a month," said Igor Maas, sales manager at Germain Lexus of Naples. "November was our best month ever -- 171 new cars. And there is no limit, no limit at all."

Baby boomers in their 50s and 60s expect quality and performance "as givens" in their luxury vehicles, said Barbara Caplan, a partner in the marketing research firm Yankelovich Inc. of Chapel Hill, N.C. Caplan added, "In many ways, the concept of a personalized car is a very important one," Caplan said. "It depends on what fits me, what suits me best, what feelings does it evoke. The market is swamped with brands that are trustworthy. But when these people give you their business, they want to know, what are you giving me?"

Luxury vehicles’ sales are brisk. "I have 10 salesmen, and we're probably going to double that within a year," said Mark Bennett, general sales manager at Mercedes-Benz of Naples. "You don't get the hoity-toity," Bennett added. "People come here to get away from that."

For some purchaser in their golden years, money is not the problem when they visit their local dealerships. "The luxury buyer is looking for something new, something that is talked about," said Madi, the Lexus manager. "We are here to give it to them."