| The sun continues to shine brightly over Naples, | | | | in Naples. It was found out that the median income |
| Florida's developed economy. This could be reflected | | | | for a household was $65,641, and for a family was |
| in the lifestyle and activities of its inhabitants. As a | | | | $83,831. Males had a median income of $50,092 while |
| fact, automakers could attest the burgeoning | | | | females have $30,948. The per capita income for |
| segment of luxury vehicles in the said territory. | | | | Naples was $61,141. About 3.1 percent of families and |
| As the mighty sun prepares to rest on the Gulf of | | | | 5.9 percent of the population were below the |
| Mexico, the lights started to flicker over the courts | | | | poverty line, including 15.1 percent of those under age |
| at the Wyndemere Country Club. At the parking lot, | | | | 18 and 3.3 percent of those ages 65 or over. |
| tennis players are pulling into their Lexus, BMW, | | | | In 2006, the average home sale price topped |
| Jaguar and Infiniti cars. Entrepreneurs, bankers, | | | | $475,000. In addition, the migration of money from |
| developers and retirees - almost every one is driving | | | | the Midwest and other northern area arrives like a |
| a luxury car or sport utility vehicle. | | | | gold rush for makers of expensive, fully loaded luxury |
| Naples is one of the fastest rising cities in the United | | | | sedans, convertibles and sport utility vehicles. "When I |
| States and the baby boomers living an ideal kind of | | | | came in five years ago, this store was doing 55 to |
| life help make luxury a standard in the city. "I feel | | | | 60 new cars a month," said Igor Maas, sales manager |
| good when I drive the Jaguar," said Ron Freedman, a | | | | at Germain Lexus of Naples. "November was our |
| 50-year-old mortgage broker. "It's like a suit. I know | | | | best month ever -- 171 new cars. And there is no |
| it's a high-end car, and other people know it's a | | | | limit, no limit at all." |
| high-end car." | | | | Baby boomers in their 50s and 60s expect quality |
| The Naples inhabitants are the richest generation in | | | | and performance "as givens" in their luxury vehicles, |
| the history of the United States. The income of the | | | | said Barbara Caplan, a partner in the marketing |
| 78 million boomers has pulled the trigger for the | | | | research firm Yankelovich Inc. of Chapel Hill, N.C. |
| amazing growth in luxury cars and light trucks sales | | | | Caplan added, "In many ways, the concept of a |
| for more than one and a half decades now. Further, | | | | personalized car is a very important one," Caplan said. |
| in Naples, automobile manufacturers have knocked | | | | "It depends on what fits me, what suits me best, |
| the mother deposit. The territory is a haven of | | | | what feelings does it evoke. The market is swamped |
| million-dollar homes, unspoiled beaches, and over 50 | | | | with brands that are trustworthy. But when these |
| golf courses within a half-hour's drive. One does need | | | | people give you their business, they want to know, |
| not have an EBC redstuff equipped sports car to be | | | | what are you giving me?" |
| fascinated with the equally-fascinating panorama and | | | | Luxury vehicles' sales are brisk. "I have 10 salesmen, |
| way of life in Naples. | | | | and we're probably going to double that within a |
| "The luxury-car market here is probably the best in | | | | year," said Mark Bennett, general sales manager at |
| the country," said Bob Germain, an 81-year-old | | | | Mercedes-Benz of Naples. "You don't get the |
| megadealer from Michigan who owns the Lexus, | | | | hoity-toity," Bennett added. "People come here to |
| BMW and Lincoln-Mercury dealerships in Naples. | | | | get away from that." |
| In 1990's, the population of Naples increased by 65 | | | | For some purchaser in their golden years, money is |
| percent to its 251,000 inhabitants. It is the second | | | | not the problem when they visit their local |
| fastest-growing metropolitan area in the United | | | | dealerships. "The luxury buyer is looking for |
| States, next to Las Vegas. Naples is also one of the | | | | something new, something that is talked about," said |
| richest areas in all the land. | | | | Madi, the Lexus manager. "We are here to give it to |
| Based on the 2000 census, there were 20,976 | | | | them. |
| people, 10,803 households, and 6,568 families residing | | | | |