Quirky mix in customer preferences

Seattle may be rainy and cool, but its drivers are the most likely to get moon roofs and air-conditioned seats in their cars.

That's one of several unexpected trends in some Ford data released about customer preferences in various US regions.

Ford looks at the colours and features buyers favour and uses the data to ensure dealers have the right mix of cars to match local tastes.

In addition to moon roofs and cooled seats, Seattle has the highest percentage of buyers who opt for rearview cameras and blind-spot warning systems. Seattle is also second to San Francisco in the popularity of navigation systems.

Seattle-area buyers were well-heeled, well-educated and tech savvy, said Mark Scarff, general manager of Bowen Scarff Ford Lincoln Mercury in Kent, Washington.

They drive in the mountains and on the coast - that explains the moon roofs and navigation systems - and they like to equip their vehicles with the latest technology. Ford's Sync entertainment system, for example, was designed at nearby Microsoft.

"We're counting on that kind of customer," Scarff said. Many of Ford's results aren't surprising. Hybrid cars are most popular in eco-friendly San Francisco.

Drivers in pick-up truck territory - Dallas and Houston - are most likely to opt for towing features, such as a hitch and wiring for trailer lights. Buyers in Cincinnati - home of the Cincinnati Reds - like red cars; motorists in sunny Phoenix like orange.

But there are plenty of quirks. Drivers in San Francisco, Atlanta and Charlotte - not those in snowier climates - are the most likely to get heated seats.

Drivers in New York, Los Angeles and Dallas are most likely to opt for rear-seat DVD systems.

Those are motorists who face long drives outside their sprawling cities for their weekend getaways.

As for colours, people in the US capital are most likely to get blue, while flashier folks in Miami like gold.

Green cars don't seem to be popular outside of the East Coast. The top markets for them are Boston - home of the Celtics - followed by Philadelphia. AP