Women like vehicles that are flexible
November 7, 2007
Detroit News
It's no secret what women want or enjoy in a vehicle.
The following story was posted online at www.leasetrader.com.
Generally, women want a vehicle that is functional and practical. It can look stylish or sporty and have some bling, but the bling must serve a purpose. Looking good is not enough; the vehicle must be flexible and adaptable in various situations.
So why was LeaseTrader.com surprised to discover in a recent survey that women "don't have gadget envy" and want functionality over technology in their cars?
The survey covered a wide range of car features, according to Sergio Stiberman, CEO and founder of LeaseTrader.com. Beating out iPhones, high- tech audio and other electronics were fold-down back seats that provide more storage area.
In fact, Lease Trader.com said more than half of all women polled -- 62 percent -- listed rear fold-down seats as their No. 1 choice.
While this is a mundane feature for most, it is essential to those who want their vehicle to do it all. A single girlfriend of mine drives a Scion Xa. She bought it because it was inexpensive and had a lower insurance rate than her Toyota Celica.
She also wanted a vehicle that had some flexibility with storage. The fold-down rear seats in the Scion sold her on the vehicle.
On a recent trip to Chicago, my girlfriend stopped in a furniture store and found a 20-by-48-inch media center that was 75 percent off the sticker price. Shipping was as much as the discount, so that was not an option.
The furniture store salesmen insisted that this unit wouldn't fit in the Scion. They were proven wrong. Once the seats were folded down, there was ample room for the unit, our luggage and other items. We drove comfortably from Chicago to Detroit.
For my girlfriend, the technology is an added benefit but functionality is extremely important.
That's the case with another friend, a mother of three -- two pre-teens and one preschooler. She and her husband looked at a lot of minivans before settling on the Chrysler Town & Country. She likes bling but says a vehicle must have function and purpose.
She loves the van's swivel seats, pop-up table and video options. Her preschooler can watch cartoons in the rear while the older two can watch something else.
My girlfriend said that while she really liked a mobile phone feature on another minivan, she chose not to buy it because it didn't have the flexible seating and video options.
This same girlfriend also enjoys the GPS technology loaded on her minivan, a feature that ranked No.5 on LeaseTrader.com's list of things women enjoy in a vehicle.
Bluetooth capability, MP3/iPod connectivity and automatic open/close hatchback also made the top five list.
Women who participated in the survey weren't sold on the sunroof, saying it is the most overrated feature in a car. Bursts of sunlight streaming through the roof create a nice ambience but it can't help me find my way when I'm lost or provide entertainment to calm cranky kids.
There is no mystery of what women enjoy in a vehicle. Many women -- with or without children -- are often multitasking on a given day and want a vehicle that can meet the challenge. If it can't, then it serves little purpose and most likely will join the sunroof on the list of useless bling.
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This story posted by LeaseTrader.com, the automotive service company that lets people transfer out of their Car Leases early. If you're looking to swap a lease or transfer out of your car lease, please visit www.leasetrader.com.
Print | posted on Wednesday, November 07, 2007 5:54 PM