J.D. Power Survey Shows Women Like Small Crossovers. Well, DUH!
WSBTV.com seems somewhat surprised by a J.D. Power study that shows the obvious reveals a new trend: sporty crossovers appeal to younger women. Roger that. Women are generally attracted to the appearance of sportiness (witness the VW Tiguan's 61.7 percent female ownership and relatively dismal performance). J.D.'s mob says they also go for utility. Also "revealed:" women like 'tried and true' safety features (newer technological safety advancements tend to come with high price tags– something more 'rational' women tend to avoid when purchasing vehicles. No doubt crossovers appeal to women who are a bit gun-shy on a gas-guzzling SUV, but still want space, a higher riding position and the eventual child-hauling ability (yes, some women do think that far in advance). Another non-stunner: 90 percent of Corvette and Porsche 911 purchasers are men. Mid-life crises? What mid-life crisis? The real surprise: automakers still aren't marketing to women. J.D. reckons women account for about half of all auto purchases, and influence 80 to 90 percent of all auto-purchasing decisions. You'd think they'd be marketing something more than Beetles and Mercuries to the ladies by now…
I'm a computer security geek raised in Nebraska and recently transplanted to Atlanta. I like me some cars, got into car geekery a few years ago and haven't looked back since. I also volunteer at a local ferret shelter and participate in various charity and fund-raising events related to that.
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My wife prefers compacts, as they fit into tight parking spaces and are cheap to own and drive. She also likes cars that can be easily whipped around curves and handle well. She also prefers manual transmission. To her, high seating means it's easy to roll over. Maybe I should just consider myself lucky?
I think any man who wants to deride women for not wanting a wagon when they can have a CUV or SUV should be made to drive a wagon for a month. Each time they get in or out, they should have to strap in a phony child (that is made even heavier to adjust for the weight difference between a man and a woman). At any time during the month, they can surrender the point. Massages, pain relievers, and chiropractors will not be allowed during the lesson. At the end of the thirty days, if they can still get in and out of the wagon with their fake kid without showing signs of pain or fatigue (such as groaning and grunting) they will be allowed to continue shoveling out their criticism. On top of that there are plenty of other good reasons to choose the other vehicles. Just because people don't choose what you think is best, does not mean that their reasons for doing so are petty, irrational, or stupid. OTOH, when you post one of these quips, we all get a chance to decide which of the three you might be.
Landcrusher> I do even better. I have ridden a 600cc sportbike 500+ miles in a weekend, I'm in my 30's and it doesn't bother me at all. My wife prefers car's or minivans. Those are what she likes to drive and I don't think anything would change that (although I could be wrong...we don't have kids yet). Rix> 4 cylinders are useless? She should try an STi, a high end evo, an elise, or a sportbike (any 600+). You can even get away with 2 cylinders for fast on sportsbikes.... She should quickly change her mind ;) And before someone says "hey what about...._____..it has 4 cylinders & is fast too!" -- I just mentioned 4, 4 cylinder fast vehicles I know of off the top of my head.