WHICH Automakers Do YOU Think AMEX Centurion "Black" Card Holders Prefer? We've Got The Answers...

The American Express "Black" card is one of those mythical beasts that comes along only when someone of extreme wealth decides to throw it down. To keep this brief, it's highly exclusive and you MUST have the credentials to gain access to this card.

The coolest part about the card is that it's actually fashioned out of titanium, unlike all of the other credit cards, which are plastic. Yeah, AMEX wasn't fooling around when they decided to do this one.

But if you were up one night at 3:00 a.m. trying to figure out what cars these exclusive owners would buy most frequently, you'd probably assume "Bentley, Rolls-Royce, Ferrari, Aston Martin," etc. According to Hyundai Motor Co.'s U.S. head honcho you'd be wrong.

That's because Hyundai is one of the top marques with six percent of owners claiming the Korean auto in their garage. Believe it.

This is how the rest of the list shakes down:

1) BMW - 22%
2) Mercedes-Benz - 21%
3) Porsche - 15%
4) Lexus - 11%
5) Ferrari - 8%
6) Acura - 7%


Hyundai Motor Co. has gotten a lot of traction out of offering low-priced, well-appointed cars, appealing to price conscious people who want premium appointments, but don’t want to pay for them.

This is particularly true with its Genesis and Equus models, which offer significant discounts to similarly equipped competitors in the mid and full-sized luxury segments. But today Hyundai U.S. Chief John Krafcik shared a curious bit of info that seems almost implausible. The brand also seems to appeal to the very wealthy.

American Express Centurion Card holders – those people who are rich enough that they are offered a “Black Card” with a nearly unlimited line of credit and a host of other niceties – buy Hyundais at a disproportionately high rate compared with other cars. Indeed, 6% of Black Card holders say they have a Hyundai in the garage. That’s tied with Bentley and Audi. Others on the list: BMW is tops with 22%; then Mercedes with 21%; Porsche with 15%; Lexus, 11%; Ferrari, 8%; and Acura, 7%...


[Source: The Wall Street Journal]


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westy1974 - 7/12/2011 9:28:41 AM

+13 Boost

That's because the people who have the Centurion Card buy Hyundais for their live-in maids and nannys to drive.

0to60 - 7/12/2011 1:19:10 PM

+1 Boost

sounds like hyundai is beating out the corolla for that award

MercBasher - 7/12/2011 9:19:07 PM

-1 Boost

Or for their teenage kids.

BondMI6 - 7/12/2011 10:29:10 AM

+7 Boost

Yes, and..................Acura still beat Hyundai on the list..

Agent00R - 7/12/2011 11:01:35 AM

+2 Boost

Indeed it did!

Acura/Honda buyers are incredibly loyal, aren't they?

sdcarguy - 7/12/2011 11:36:52 AM

-5 Boost

Ultimate Posers Card deserves the Ultimate Posing Machine.

g2ok - 7/12/2011 12:17:01 PM

+1 Boost

That really is true.

94geo - 7/12/2011 12:36:39 PM

+4 Boost

Porsche, Ferrari, and Mercedes must all be poser vehicles right? lol

94geo - 7/12/2011 12:43:34 PM

+5 Boost

To have a black card you need to spend at least 250K every year on it. Which means you make a lot more than 250K to be spending that annaully on misc items.

enthusiastx11 - 7/12/2011 2:26:11 PM

+3 Boost

sd: please attempt to learn the meaning of words before you use them.

po·seur

a person who attempts to impress others by affecting a manner, degree of elegance, sentiment, etc., other than his or her true one.

in other words, some who is NOT what they appear to be.

BMW owners, are, in fact wealthier. it's not a falsehood. the centurion card required tremendous income and huge monthly spend in order to qualify. oh...and it's by invitation only. you can't fake your way in.

sdcarguy - 7/12/2011 3:36:53 PM

-3 Boost

Thanks, you have the definition right, attempting to impress others by effecting a manner, etc. Don't you agree most Black Card carriers and BMW owners do this? Of course I don't mean the genuine BMW fans here who are authentic connoisseurs of the Ultimate Driving Machine.

enthusiastx11 - 7/14/2011 12:46:36 PM

+1 Boost

"...other than his or her true self." let me explain...this means misrepresenting oneself. how, exactly, are bmw owners who carry centurion cars misrepresenting themselves? back to high school english class for you...

M35MT - 7/12/2011 12:26:32 PM

+5 Boost

ever thought about the fact that just because someone has a lot of money doesnt necessarily mean they like expensive cars

JRobUSC - 7/12/2011 12:33:28 PM

+9 Boost

Sam Walton drove a beat up old pickup truck.

enthusiastx11 - 7/12/2011 2:22:31 PM

+3 Boost

can't wait to hear all the lexus fanboys explain why bmw has more black card holders than anyone else....

also, hyundai makes sense. reliable, quality, inexpensive car...perfect for the nanny and household staff!

enthusiastx11 - 7/12/2011 2:29:50 PM

+3 Boost

"The average Centurion has $16.3 million in assets and an annual household income of $1.3 million."

that's a lot of really wealthy bmw drivers.

MercBasher - 7/12/2011 9:24:24 PM

-6 Boost

30STM30 - like Lexus, the average BMW vehicle sold appears to have a much lower sales price than a typical Mercedes; but don't assume cheap lease deals only impact BMW. Mercedes has some incredible lease deals at the moment too. Audi, unfortunately not so much.

enthusiastx11 - 7/14/2011 3:52:00 AM

+1 Boost

30: there's isn't a 3-series in existence that you can lease for $300/month. if you'd like to put $5,000 down that might work....but not even close with drive off. my 535 is $930/month and the 328i sedan my friend leased 3 weeks ago is $459/month.

Yonder7 - 7/12/2011 4:45:36 PM

+2 Boost

30STM30 : You are right. Example of this is the current sales. BMW is selling more than MB Only when they add the Mini (which I do not see as a BMW) and the most of the Sales are cheap 3 series. In the Other Side MB which move less C class, still selling more cars than BMW without Mini (which is expensive but I do not see it as a luxury car). If we put those sales in money, MB is having a lot more success than BMW. Also Statistics say that MB buyers have bigger incomes (which does not means that some MB owners are no posers). I love MB but also try to be fair and in defense of BMW and even Audi I have to check the sales of the A and B Class and compare those against the Mini and A1 2 3 , lol (which I am almost sure, will be less cause also they are expensive (but not luxury cars).

JRobUSC - 7/12/2011 5:31:56 PM

+6 Boost

You know MB sales figures include Sprinter van sales, right? You're gonna count those and then not count Mini because Mini "isn't luxury"? The Benz figures also include the A and B classes, which are no more "luxury" than Mini, and usually cost less as well.

Yonder7 - 7/13/2011 7:55:58 AM

+1 Boost

JRobUSC: I did not mention that ?....sorry.

roscoep03 - 7/13/2011 11:33:28 PM

+1 Boost

Not all rich guys are into cars. My uncle was worth upwards of fifteen million when he died and drove a six year old dodge ram truck. There are so many fake rich people in southern california that lease their german cars. Many seriously rich people drive unassuming cars like buicks or lexus'. Myself I am a car guy, I would want one supercar like a lambo, but I would also want a car or two that didn't bug people's eyes out or make myself a target.

enthusiastx11 - 7/14/2011 3:53:41 AM

+1 Boost

no, not all rich guys are into cars. but most people who drive really expensive cars have incomes way above the average. it's kinda tough to drive a $70,000 car when you make $50,000/year.

enthusiastx11 - 7/14/2011 12:45:15 PM

+1 Boost

you're totally right. centurion cardholders typically live at home with their parents.