Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • Automotive News
  • Rubber News
  • European Rubber Journal
Subscribe
  • Login
  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • Current Issue
  • BEST PLACES TO WORK
  • News
    • MID YEAR REPORT
    • TIRE MAKERS
    • HUMANITARIAN
    • COMMERCIAL TIRE
    • GOVERNMENT & LAW
    • MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS
    • OBITUARIES
    • OPINION
    • SERVICE ZONE
  • ADAS
  • Data
    • DATA STORE
  • Custom
    • SPONSORED CONTENT
  • Events
    • ASK THE EXPERT
    • LIVESTREAMS
    • WEBINARS
    • SEMA LIVESTREAMS
    • RUBBER NEWS EVENTS
  • Resources
    • ADVERTISE
    • AWARDS
    • CLASSIFIEDS
    • DIRECTORY
    • SHOP FLOOR
    • Best Places to Work
    • BALANCING
    • DEMOUNTING
    • SAFETY
    • TIRE REPAIR
    • TPMS
    • TRAINING
    • VEHICLE LIFTING
    • WHEEL TORQUE
  • DIGITAL EDITION
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. News
May 09, 2014 02:00 AM

Hey, let's all go retro

Tire Business Staff
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print
    (Mentalfloss.com photo)
    Pop that baby in and cruise to the rockin' sounds of…The Captain and Tennille?

    CINCINNATI (May 9, 2014) — Believe it or not, there are still car shoppers in 2014 looking for a cassette tape deck in a vehicle.

    Vehicle leasing website Swapalease.com said it analyzed more than 20,000 vehicle searches on its car lease marketplace to find items and features people still seek in a car or truck. It found that some items were popular decades ago, while others traditionally have been only for select tastes.

    Here's a rundown on what some vehicle shoppers would like:

    T-tops: If you're old enough to be a fan of “Smokey and the Bandit,” you'll realize why T-Tops are still a fan favorite for some, Swapalease.com said. These car features are still sought out by Swapalease.com shoppers, although they represent less than 1 percent of total searches for features in the marketplace.

    Targa roof: Known as a semi-convertible body style, a Targa Roof, also known as a Targa Top, was made popular by Porsche. Targa Tops are different than T-Tops in that it allows for a more open rooftop feel, according to Swapalease.com. Like T-Tops, these roof features represent less than 1 percent of total searched features in the Swapalease.com marketplace.

    Cassette tape deck: Drivers who actually know what a “Smokey and the Bandit” is are likely also to remember having to rewind a favorite song a bunch of times until their vehicle's cassette deck was ruined. And a certain number of Swapalease.com shoppers apparently still long for those days—though this feature is requested in only 0.2 percent of searches.

    Running boards: These features add muscle to any truck, Swapalease.com said. “Perhaps this item is a dying breed because they just don't look right on SUVs and Crossovers, but running boards are represented in 1.6 percent of searches” on the company's website, it said.

    Leatherette: Mmmm, can you smell it? Nothing says “luxury” like the soft, supple touch of vinyl on your skin as you sit in bumper-to-bumper traffic on the freeway—during a cat-on-a-hot-tin-roof summer. Leatherette, or synthetic leather, is represented in 1.9 percent of searches on Swapalease.com, according to the company.

    “There are certain features that were once popular that you typically no longer find in a car, nevertheless a car lease no older than 2011,” said Scot Hall, Swapalease.com executive vice president. “However, there are a few hardcore fans out there that continue to seek vehicles with these items, even on the Swapalease.com marketplace.”

    The Cincinnati-based company said its website matches a person wanting out of their auto lease with a person who is interested in taking over the remaining portion of the lease contract. The online marketplace has vehicles and customers in every state in the continental U.S. and across Canada.

    Prospective buyers can search Swapalease.com's listings for the exact vehicle they want, and then register for a “nominal” fee, allowing them to use the website's safe online system to contact a prospective seller and close the deal, the company said.

    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Do you have an opinion about this story? Do you have some thoughts you'd like to share with our readers? Tire Business would love to hear from you. Email your letter to Editor Don Detore at [email protected].

    Most Popular
    1
    Pirelli won't bid for WRC tire supply contract
    2
    Canada court rules for Michelin in tire trademark case
    3
    Grupo Tersa's Valle becomes first Mexican to earn Humanitarian award
    4
    Atlantic Tire & Service founder Blackman dies at 69
    5
    TIA elects 6 new board members
    SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTERS
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    Newsletter Center

    Staying current is easy with Tire Business delivered straight to your inbox.

    SUBSCRIBE TODAY

    Subscribe to Tire Business

    SUBSCRIBE
    Connect with Us
    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • RSS

    Our Mission

    Tire Business is an award-winning publication dedicated to providing the latest news, data and insights into the tire and automotive service industries.

    Reader Services
    • Staff
    • About Us
    • Site Map
    • Industry Sites
    • Order Reprints
    • Customer Service: 877-320-1716
    Partner Sites
    • Rubber News
    • European Rubber Journal
    • Automotive News
    • Plastics News
    • Urethanes Technology
    RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    • Terms of Service
    • Media Guide
    • Editorial Calendar
    • Classified Rates
    • Digital Edition
    • Careers
    • Ad Choices
    Copyright © 1996-2023. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • BEST PLACES TO WORK
    • News
      • MID YEAR REPORT
      • TIRE MAKERS
      • HUMANITARIAN
      • COMMERCIAL TIRE
      • GOVERNMENT & LAW
      • MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS
      • OBITUARIES
      • OPINION
      • SERVICE ZONE
    • ADAS
    • Data
      • DATA STORE
    • Custom
      • SPONSORED CONTENT
    • Events
      • ASK THE EXPERT
      • LIVESTREAMS
      • WEBINARS
      • SEMA LIVESTREAMS
      • RUBBER NEWS EVENTS
    • Resources
      • ADVERTISE
      • AWARDS
        • Best Places to Work
      • CLASSIFIEDS
      • DIRECTORY
      • SHOP FLOOR
        • BALANCING
        • DEMOUNTING
        • SAFETY
        • TIRE REPAIR
        • TPMS
        • TRAINING
        • VEHICLE LIFTING
        • WHEEL TORQUE
    • DIGITAL EDITION