It's summer, historically a "hot" time to swim, grill out and catch a baseball game. But shop for cars? Actually, that's become something of a

dog-day tradition, too, according to the Charleston Post and Courier.

"In the last 12 months, August was our biggest

month," said Sears Sauls, general manager of Hendrick Honda of Charleston, S.C.

National figures back up the contention that summer is a car-buying season, according to the Post and Courier. For instance:

• NADAguides.com, the online consumer division of the National Automobile Dealers Association, reported that interest in its consumer post climbed 58 percent this summer from a year ago. Formed in 1933, NADA is maybe best known for its yellow and blue vehicle appraisal guidebooks, which car dealers and consumers have used for decades as a resource.

  
  

  
  

  
  

• Carfax, the Fairfax, Va.-based vehicle researcher, cited findings of CNW Marketing Research that the five most active months for used-car sales in 2002 were May through September -- and July ranked first.

  
  

  
  

  "This year, more than ever, consumers are hitting the open highway in their favorite summertime vehicles," Len Sims, vice president of NADAguides.com, said in prepared remarks.

  
  

  The Web site, citing AAA figures, noted that summer travel rose 2 percent in 2003 to 36.2 million motorists. "As a result, we've seen an influx of consumers researching vehicles perfect for the summer season," Sims said, according to the Post and Courier.