When my sister was sixteen, the only car she ever wanted was a Pontiac Fiero.
Back then, this annoyed me to no end. I would ask her, “what’s so great about a 4-cylinder, 2-seater, plastic car that goes from 0-60 in a half-an-hour?”
“It’s cute,” she’d reply.
“You know they are recalling a bunch of them because the engine spontaneously catches on fire… and I think that they’re saying that if you rear-end a semi with it, there’s a very good chance of decapitation.”
“So?… I like it.” And every time she’d see one on the road, she’d eye it with longing.
No matter what I said, I could not convince her that it was a terrible car. It was like she was brainwashed or something. I didn’t know at the time, but it was my introduction into the intricacies of the female decision process when choosing a car. I wouldn’t call myself an expert on the subject, but I’ve noticed some trends when I talk to some women and what they look for in a car.
Bankrate.com recently came up with its top five ‘chick’ (their word, not mine) cars.
- VW New Beetle
- Mini Cooper
- VW Jetta
- Mazda Miata
- Mustang Convertible
I’m not saying these are bad cars, but I don’t think I’d buy any of them. Yes, I actually drove one in a rental car mix-up a few years ago and enjoyed it. I’ve also eaten quiche on occasion, but I would still choose a steak over it 99 times out of 100.
So with my limited experience and the list above, I would like to proffer my personal insights on the subject of female automobile selection criteria. I’ll call them my “3 C’s” of girl cars.
Color:
I’ve actually had a conversation with a woman who, when I asked what kind of car she was getting, she replied, “a silver one.” I think many of the factors that go into choosing a car have to do with aesthetics with color being one of the highest of priorities. Before they think of powertrain or wheelbase or even trunk space, they know what color they want. I once bought a car in a color I didn’t originally choose simply because they offered to take $500 off the price because it wasn’t selling. I don’t think most women would do this. It would be like asking them to wear their bridesmaids dress again to another function.
Cuteness:
I don’t know what exactly makes a car “cute,” but I think it’s one of those things that you just know when you see it. Cuteness doesn’t make a car safer or faster or even more fuel efficient. In fact, I think it might actually hurt all these things, but it doesn’t matter. You could put a tractor engine on wagon wheels with ropes for steering, but if you can make it cute, some woman somewhere will buy it. I don’t think this is because they have some attraction to the car, but rather due to how they look in them. Perhaps the cuteness of the car will extend to their own personal appearance.
Convertible:
I think it’s no coincidence that four out of the five cars in the list above come in convertible models. I’ve always been astounded by how many women like convertibles. I thought that this was counter-intuitive because wouldn’t it mess up their hair? But I think convertibles are appealing to them because if they’ve taken so much time to find a good-looking car, they want people to see how this good-looking car looks on them. But then as I was looking at photos of these cars, I realized something… these convertibles look like SHOES! It all makes sense now. They don’t DRIVE these cars… they WEAR them.
Now, again, I’m not saying this is true for all women. I’m always impressed when I meet a woman who drives a manual transmission car or knows the difference between naturally aspirated and turbo-charged engines. But I think that what was true for my sister is true for a lot of women. And nothing is wrong with that. Car manufacturers will continue making cute “chick” cars because a dollar from a man is the same as a dollar from a woman.
lol i saw this on the front page as featured blogs and i had to read it.
Wow who knew that a guy could be so good at analyzing girls. What u said is 100% true. Haha My dream car is a silver porsche convertible ^^.
Props ^^
regardless the cuteness,color and convertable, i think the first thing that everyone should put into consideration when it comes to buying car would be the safety. I cant not stress this enough, my parents purchased a ford windstar 10 years earlier when it first came out. I mean the car is a gas eater, but it’s safe as hell. We got into a family car accident couple years ago and the only thing that was damage was the back bumper, it didnt even bend in as much as the other card that collide into our. The other car was a mini cooper was barely visible after my family got out of the car. I have to say, the mini cooper’s engine was what i would say “gone”. Drivers and the passenger on both cars are safe of course, but yeah it was a frightening experiences, The head of the mini cooper was underneath my family van.
Funny….
This is true for a lot of females…For me, i go for longevity and gas emission. I know what the value of a dollar is… so basically, i prefer Toyota’s & Hondas~
Hahaha, this was very funny. And very true.
Too bad my car is mad ugly and from ’96 and going to break down at any instance while on the highway. I could use one of those cute cars.
You know, if you think about it, the car-related superficiality applies to many men, too, if they’re hitting their midlife crisis. Though they tend to get Corvettes and equally sporty things, which are relatively high-performance.
“these convertibles look like SHOES! … They don’t DRIVE these cars… they WEAR them”funny. . hehe.. yup, right now i look at colors and the ‘cuteness’ of the car. dont know til i actually have to buy a car.
hahaha i like ur “shoe” point haha out of that list, i would probably drive the mini cooper.. just because of the movie the italian job.. they made it look so fast n cute haha but i normally dont like small cars. i like big trucks and suvs. i own a white toyota tacoma.. by choice =]
I would love to learn to drive stick, and a motorcycle, might as well go for it. :)The car I like is the Mitsubishi eclipse 2008, silver or black. I don’t really have a thing for convertibles. Haha, and I drive well for a girl. ;P
As of now though, I’m cool with my 88 Mazda 323. It’s good on gas, and my friends don’t drive…cuz they’re losers…even my guy friends. PSsh.
i would most likely not drive any of those cars. maybe the miata but that’s it.
& haha, i think that DOES go through most girls heads. including me, besides the convertible part. & if you change cute to sick or hot. xD
& i think i would settle for a different color? not too sure. haha.
that’s hilarious…and mostly true!
Hahaha… this post made me laugh, and it is true for a lot of women, at least women I know. I worked for a while on cars, wiring diagrams mostly for engineer and design work…. mostly a lot of aftermarket stuff since i was an intern. I think I was one of about two girls in the office (if you don’t count the receptionist) and even though we worked on cars we NEVER talked about cars.
You nailed it! Color…Cuteness…Convertible…!
Whenever my fiance goes shopping (he’s quite the wheeler dealerr), I want to know Make, Model, Year, Color, and does it have a Turbo that I can hear wistle!!! (I love those turbos!)
The one thing I disagree with is the Chick Car list. Ick! My favorite car (by far) is a 1999 black Mitsubishi 3000 GT. But I also like the McClaren F1, and most convertibles.
Good post! I don’t have time to read all the comments, but they are interesting, too. As a guy that ‘specs out’ a car or truck to all the functional details, I can say that I have not had the color I wanted since 1980 when I ordered it instead of going for the price. I always end up happy with it when I drive it and put it through its paces, no matter what color it is. Once when my sister and I had the same model van, I asked her which size engine she had, and she replied “Oh, I don’t know, I think it’s an automatic!” My wife and I laughed about that one for a long time. My wife, as the daughter of a mechanic, gets under the car/truck and changes oil and works on them when they need it. Often we do it together – even body work! There is the contrast.
I would choose a truck just because I could use it to haul things and still have room for friends, food and other thing (especially when your camping or out on the lake). Chevy is a good truck but I prefer a GMC.
I prefer big trucks with huge wheels and you can feel it vibrating under your ass when you push the gas pedal.But, I’ve been told before that I’m not a “normal” girl.
LOL your post is awesomness!! well i have always wanted a corvette … red. and then i got older and now i want a bmw. either one will suffice. what year you may wonder??? i have no idea!! i just have it in my head of the one i want!
damn you touched on quite a few good points there. Yeah, you’re right not all women are like that, of course. All in all it was a good read. It made me laugh quite a bit.:) nice work nice work…..
convertibles look like shoes! AHAHAHAHAHA!!the only conv. I’ll drive is the Audi S4. Personally however I’d have to say the Audi A6 man. diesel is better. course the vw golf is more gas efficient. =]](German cars are best cars ever made. =]])
I LIKE MY HONDA CIVIC,WITH SUN ROOF,AND AS LONG AS IT GOES IM OKAY WITH IT………..MARY
haha convertibles. nice observation
Then I guess I’m not your typical girl then. I’ve grown up around cars and I have VERY specific wants and tastes when it comes to picking them. I’ve already owned three and the one I have now is my baby. I have an ’85 Nissan 300ZX NA (and yes, I know the difference between NA and Turbo or TT depending on the make/year and yes, it’s manual transmission). Although I love it more than anything, it’s a Z31 and my ultimate dream car is the Z32 (all Z’s years ’90 up to ’96). But then again, I refuse to drive a Z33 (the current 350Z) because so many girls want it for the simple fact that it’s “cute”. That annoys me to no end as well. They don’t appreciate that the 350Z’s steering response, brakes, and suspension are top notch. Those are only a few things I look for. But hey, I could go on and on about this topic. And about Mustangs, I hate them. Not that I don’t like domestic cars mind you (although I’m truly a JDM girl at heart), but Mustang owners are one of my biggest pet peeves. Again, we won’t get into “why” because like I said, it’s another topic where I could go on and on.
Your post immediately caught my eye and I wanna thank you for writing it. I always jump at the chance to talk about this stuff. Feel free to comment me. Believe me, I could talk your ear off. Haha. =P Anyways, have a great rest of the week.
Funny but the same can be said of the male of the species. I have know guys that married women because of the way they looked IN THE CAR! When they had to sell the car they were desperate to find one that made the wife look good. Then there are the men who are the car. They don’t wear it, they become the car…It is an extension of their image. It is true of color. No woman wants to drive a car that is “baby poop brown” -ever.
im a girl and no, i do not want any of those cars listed abovei know what you’re saying about the girl falling in love with a car though. my best friend is in LOVE with the 350z and every time she sees one on the road, even if a cop just pulled her over she would just yell Z! I LOVE IT -_-;
haha, that is so me. I want a hot pink VW Beetle..convertable..convertable so I can enjoy the sunshine in summer though!
haha, that was a satisfying read! good job..
haha. Normally I hate gender generalizations, but I can’t lie–I wanted my car because it’s red. I LOVE the color red. It’s just a little Pontiac Grand Am, but I love it! It’s shiny! And yes, it’s CUTE! ^_^
lol and you’re right, convertables to look like shoes! I’d never drive one–it’s too dangerous. You’d lose your head in a n accident of any kind.
There’s nothing wrong with wanting a cute car ^_^But why is it almost all men are amazed that anyone lacking a penis (like say, oh me?) can drive a manual car? I always liked the looks on their faces when I told them.
I think eclipses should be on that listanyway, this all has to do with what women are raised to like – look at car magazines anyway, they’re usually directed at heterosexual men and there’s quite a difference in the toy aisle from the doll section and the car section, last I checked they weren’t being placed in the same aisle at the toy store
It’s good to see that people can still create stereotypes and that stereotypes still exist for a reason, e.g. the top five chick cars. However, with every rule there are exceptions, as can be seen with many of the comments posted by girls. But have you seen the cars that came out in India that run off of air? Not only are they adorable, but they have no emissions what-so-ever, can go up to 68 mph, and can go 500 miles on a single tank of air. The air compressor will refill in the tank in 4 hours, or air can be pumped into the tank in a matter of minutes, but you have to have a really high powered compressor to do this. Check it out if you get a chance. That’s probably the next step in automotive revolutions.
lol XD looks do count for a lot when it comes to buying a car doesn’t it. but i agree with the convertable thing. i’d never buy one because my hair would get all messed up. it’s kinda long, so if i was driving, i’d probably be blind O.o
~flo~
lol XD looks do count for a lot when it comes to buying a car doesn’t it. but i agree with the convertable thing. i’d never buy one because my hair would get all messed up. it’s kinda long, so if i was driving, i’d probably be blind O.o
~flo~
I can drive a stick, in fact, I would choose that over automatic. And I want a fast car.
Actually, my fiance’s dream car is a Fiero. He has one. I don’t really find it cute. . . actually, I don’t ever find cars cute.
I just want one that works. When I have money I’ll want one that works well. I’d gladly make a sacrafice on appearence if it meant saving money.
My father is a mechanic. Sometimes I think I should have him teach me stuff. It’s not a matter of how girly I am, it is a matter of how lazy I am, really.
Yeah, but if you don’t know anything about cars and you’re not interested in learning more about them because driving is not recreation for you and you’ve got enough money to pay for gas and repairs… why not choose a car for its aesthetic value? Why care about horsepower or anything “guy-ish” like that? I drive a little old Mercury Tracer. It runs. For this I am thankful.
Oh, and my doctor (who also happens to be my neighbor) has ALWAYS driven a Fiero. It seems like a cute personality quirk, having enough money to afford a much nicer car, but driving a little old kind of crappy one. It makes for an interesting life.
HAHA I guess I don’t really fit into your chick car mentality. I always consider engine cylinders, gas mileage, interior space, then I go for cuteness and color. 🙂 BUT I remember thinking those ugly fieros were cute at one time a long time ago.
Those top 5 cars are my favorite and I own a VW Passat and love it. I don’t take offense at all to this because I do care about what it looks like, the color, and yeah I love convertables. Whoever posted “another post about how stupid women are” and was mad…he is right, women can be very stupid…at least I can admit to it.
lmao i love this…whats sad is that while i was reading this, i was thinking to myself…i used to want a silver convertible…-.-”its depressing, actually, how goddamn predictable i am.^_^
I’m more of a Lincoln Navigator person. They’re so big and you can fit a lot of your friends in it. =]
I liked the entry though.
LOL. love it! can’t say thats how i chose my car (performance safety and fuel efficiency is actually very important to me on top of cuteness and color) but that’s how I chose my bindings for my snowboard!!! color IS OF THE HIGHEST PRIORITY… when my friend asked what kind of bindings will I get, I may have very well answered ‘a white one’ …….
You’re on to something there Nathon .. not just how girls buy cars but buy ANYthing in general!
LOL. I love it! can’t say thats how I chose my car (performance safety and fuel efficiency is actually very important to me on top of cuteness and color) but that’s how I chose my bindings for my snowboard!!! color IS OF THE HIGHEST PRIORITY… when my friend asked what kind of bindings will I get, I may have very well answered ‘a white one’ …….
You’re on to something there Nathon .. not just how girls buy cars but buy ANYthing in general!
-hates cars all around-
Ugh, I hate generalizations. My dream cars:1967 Impala, black1957 Bel Air, red or blackOne of the plum colored Plymouth Prowlers, from back when they were still made by Plymouth. Only something like 50k of them were made in that color.And I have no female friends who want a “cute” car. We want gas efficiency first (which is why the ones on my list are my dream cars…never gonna happen), followed by strength, and then appearance…
this is pretty funny, and oddlyt enough it applys to most girls i know. not me tho….i like a nice big car that can run things over..
I’m a chick and I want a wrangler.I own a 1994 saab 900s and the tranny is going. Here’s to hoping for that wrangler to find me.
Pretty funny post I’m a girl, and actually own an 87 Fiero GT .. but it was my fiance’s desire to own one now – I had wanted one about 5 years ago. I also will drive nothing but manual transmissions, and plan on supercharging my new drivetrain when the swap is done
Just as car companies will always make cute cars to appeal to girls, they will make penis cars to appeal to boys.
And that’s the truth.