People show love for their cars pretty much the same way they show love for people — by spending time with them, lavishing money on them, caring for them at the local car wash, naming them, and talking them up to whomever will listen.
Some of life’s most significant moments happen in cars, which is no surprise given that American drivers spend an average of 17,600 minutes — that’s 293.3 hours — behind the wheel.
Here’s some proof that Americans are as car-crazed as ever.
The average motorist drives 29.2 miles per day and waits 38 hours in traffic per year.
Number of cupholders in the 2019 Subaru Ascent, promising plenty of long drives: 19, which is 2.5 per passenger.
Percentage of car owners who’ve eaten full meals in their cars: 70%
Percentage of car owners who’ve shaved in their cars (includes men and women!): 9%
Percentage of female car owners who’ve sung a power ballad in their cars: 58%
Percentage of female car owners who’ve changed clothes in the car: 57%
Dollars spent per year, on average, to own and maintain a car: $8,469 or $706 a month.
Most expensive car: Rolls-Royce Sweptail, at $13 million
Average length of a new car sale: 53 minutes
Most car-obsessed city in the country: Los Angeles, where drivers spend more on their cars than the national average. 133%
Least expensive car: Ford Fiesta S, at $13,660
Priciest type of car drive: Pickup trucks 13.9 cents/mile
Cheapest type of car to drive (and also the least popular!): Small sedans 7.2 cents/mile
Number of minutes during which buyers enjoy the new-car-buying process: 90 minutes (After that, the pleasure diminishes.)
Percentage of drivers who used a professional car wash in 2014: 72%
(up from 68.2% in 2011 and 47% in 1994)
Average age of vehicles still on the road: 11.5 years
Number of cars washed each year in North America: More than 2 billion
Number of car washes in North America: More than 100,000
Percentage of car owners who use a professional car wash twice a year: 14 to 17%
Percentage of car buyers who post selfies with their new cars online: 34%
Circulation of Car and Driver Magazine: 1.23 million
(U.S. Motor Trend is second at 1.02 million).
Who makes the most cars per day in the world? Toyota, at more than 13,000 cars per day
Who makes the fewest cars per day in the world? Ferrari, at no more than 14 cars per day
What’s the best-selling car in the U.S. right now? Ford F-series
What’s the best-selling car of all time? Toyota Corolla
Percentage of drivers who have named one or more of their cars: 42%
Percentage of cars with female names: 35%
Percentage of cars with male names: 15%
Percentage of cars with Gender Neutral names: 50%
