SANTA MONICA, Calif. -

The auto buyer landscape may be shifting toward a younger generation these days, but Baby Boomers still yield quite a bit of power.

Many in this generation — those buyers born between 1947 and 1965 — have greater flexibility when it comes to time and money, thanks to an empty nest at home and more bountiful income, according to TrueCar.

With that in mind, the firm has found that these shoppers often go for more luxurious rides or cars with “flash appeal.” So it may be no surprise that the top three brands on TrueCar’s list for this age group are all luxury makes: Mercedes-Benz at No. 1, Jaguar at No. 2 and Porsche in third.

“Many Baby Boomers are experiencing another phase in their life, the nest is empty and because they have reached a heightened income level giving them both time and financial freedom, they chose vehicles that provide them with a luxurious, safe feel and a youthful, sporty drive,” explained Jesse Toprak, vice
president of trends and analysis at TrueCar.com.

Based on the proportion of their respective buyers in 2009 and 2010 that were Baby Boomers, TrueCar listed the following as the Top Brands for Baby  Boomer Buyers:

The top brands for Baby Boomer buyers in 2009 and 2010 were:

1. Mercedes-Benz (56 percent)
2. Jaguar (55.6 percent)
3. Porsche (54.7 percent)
4. Ford (53.9 percent)
5. Suzuki (53.7 percent)
6. BMW (53.4 percent)
7. Dodge (52.5 percent)
8. Lexus (52 percent)
9. Mini (51.7 percent)
10. Volvo (51.5 percent)

“Baby Boomers buying preferences have shifted as their lifestyles have changed and can now afford the luxury vehicles they had been desiring but were unable to purchase due to priorities with raising a family,” explained Kristen Andersson, TrueCar automotive analyst.

Breaking it down further, TrueCar also provided a list of the top models for this generation:

1. Porsche Boxster (84.2 percent)
2. BMW 6 Series Convertible (79.8 percent)
3. Mercedes SL Roadster (69.9 percent)
4. Land Rover LR2 (67 percent)
5. Mitsubishi Eclipse Convertible (66.5 percent)
6. Audi A5/S5 Cabriolet (66.1 percent)
7. Volvo C70 Convertible (65.3 percent)
8. Chevrolet Aveo Hatchback/Aveo5 (65.1 percent)
9. Mercedes M-Class Hybrid (64 percent)
10. Chevrolet Corvette (63.8 percent)