Automakers spend tens of millions of dollars on consumer research, determining which of their vehicles best fits each demographic at what stage (i.e. age) of a consumer's life. Gaywheels seems to feel carmakers' marketeers are missing the GLBT boat. So they've put together a list of vehicles that "suit the four primary phases of gay life." Stage one: "Young, Single and on the Prowl." Car-up with the Volvo C30, Jeep Wrangler or Infiniti G37 Coupe. Stage Two: "Coupling Period." Move on to the Cadillac CTS, Lincoln MKX or VW Passat. Stage Three: "Partnered for Life." The new couple need a Mercedes GL-class, Buick Enclave or (pre-face lift?) Subaru Tribeca. Stage Four: gay geezerhood "The Golden Years." Snag an Audi S5/A5, Jaguar XK convertible or Lexus LS 600h L. So where do the VW Beetle convertible, MX5, Porsche Boxster, PT Cruiser, MINI and VW Eos fit into any of this? Your guess is as good as mine.
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So…
Gay people like the same cars as you or me? Imaginethat.
I won’t even comment on a Lexus being on the list. I’m sure Toyota’s gonna flip… Again.
P.S. Funny thing… Hover your cursor over the “Gaywheels” text ad and “Volkswagon” comes up! Hah!
Audi TT?
Great. Thanks for putting that out there. Now my friends are going to give me even more flack over my Jeep…
Has the Subaru Legacy/Forrester become too stereotypical of the GLBT lifestyle?
What about the poor old XTerra? and the Mini???
This seems “sponsored…”
Study’s have shown that up to 10% of Americans fit into the LGBT sector. As a recent graduate of law school, I think that it might be even higher than that. These people are no different than you and I, they just prefer to get involved in same sex relationships.
On the topic of automotive taste, they might actually have more taste than Pickup Truck/SUV/Grand-Am driving rednecks in Michigan and other parts of the heartland of this country. My one friend, he also goes to law school and he is gay, and he drives a Mercedes sports car.
LGBT are people and they shit, fart, and burp just like the rest of us. The Major Auto makers(and this website) need market themselves to a wide range of consumers, without being offensive and/or patronizing.
Oh great so I’m supposed to have a gay complex now when I drive my wife’s Passat.
Yeah I guess I should have bought a POS Grand Prix or something, then people wouldn’t call me gay; I would just be stupid.
MINI is owned by BMW so it’s a no no for this list.
I was liking that Volvo C30, but ironically, that wide-open ass-end (aka glass hatch), was a bit of a turn-off.
Not really sure how knowing the elements of promissory estoppel translates into quantifying sexuality data. And I can’t speak for anyone else, but I don’t “prefer” to be in a same-sex relationship, that’s like saying you “prefer” to consume your food through your mouth rather than through a tube in your stomach. The alternative is a possibility but not a viable one and therefore there isn’t a “preference.” Most of the gay people I know drive economy cars, like Kia Optimas and Honda Civics. I drive a Grand National. And what about the Toyota Corolla/Matrix/Vibe for lesbians? Since these seem to be recommendations, I recommend a Minivan with those dark tinted windows in the back- useful for antiquing, the trips to Home Depot, and late-night secret assignations.
Someone forgot the Jeep Wrangler.
I guess I fall into Stage 3, “Partnered for Life”. Unless some miracle of science takes place, I don’t see us procreating any time soon. So why the hell do we need a behemoth 7-seater SUV?
Also, the descriptions just read as straight-up excerpts from PR brochures. Where’s the campy gay spin on these cars? Not even one use of the word “fabulous”?
Savage,
Thanks for the spell check. I had two exams yesterday, NY Comparative Procedure, and Biz Orgs both electives, so I am little hung over.
I actually think some are born gay, and some prefer the lifestyle. Either way is fine in my book.
I don’t think you are a bigot. I think people who control this industry tend to be Republican, and tend to be anti-gay rights(doesn’t affect me) and anti-liberal causes(which pisses me off) Infact the ‘American’ companies are so bad at customer relations that I will never ever buy 1.
The Caliber didn’t make it? Jason Vines can retire in peace now.
“I think people who control this industry tend to be Republican”
Where do you get this information from? Michigan was won by Democratic candidates in 2000 and 2004. How do you come to the conclusion that American car companies are anti-gay? Do you have some evidence of a correlation? Furthermore, is making a profit anti-liberal?
Please reply with some empirical evidence support your theory that American companies hate gays and are Republican.
Lewissalem
The workers may be Democrats. But at the heart of the industry the managment of the corporations–they are dominately Republican. The CEO’s, top management, and the companies themselves give lots of money to the Republican Party. Its really quite sickening.
John M: I used to write for Gaywheels when they got started. I warned them that my copy would incur the ire of the carmakers’ PR flacklings. But they said they were down with that (so to speak). After the first post-Farago PR phone call, they suddenly changed their mind. I’m with you. Gay, straight, lesbian, bi-sexual or transgender– who cares? Just don’t bore me with the same old automotive fluff.
@ VeryDemmanding:
The only thing worse than a Republican—-is a mean and nasty Republican from the heartland—-especially one who drives a low rent domestic make like a Buick ;)
BTW—you may want to fact check with organizations like the Human Rights Commission (HRC). HRC’s corporate equality index rates companies on their diversity actions and polices related to the GLBT community. Shock of Shocks—–alot of your so called “Republican Dominant” American Companies (including Ford and GM who scored a perfect 100) are rated great places to work for those in the GLBT community. Probably won’t find these facts posted on moveon.org website though….go to hrc.org for the real facts.
Well, I’m gay and seemingly in stage 1, though I’m 32 – so old, apparently.
Anyway, as if to confirm to the stereotype, I’ve owned a more than a few Minis.
In fact, my last two cars were MINIs – a Cooper and a Cooper S and I have another on order for January. Also, my first car was a Rover Mini.
I find it surprising that American cars are listed at all, aren’t we Gays supposed to have good taste?
Maybe it is all the closted Republicans who drive them?
Regards,
Andrew
umterp85
Do you know how much money Detroit and other big business give to the Republicans. tons
Then the Republicans win office, and they pass favorable laws for the industry.
Unfortunetly we also get no stem cell research, a war in Iraq, a failed tax policy, and poor monetary management–as we consume chinese made goods–at a profit for american corporations.
And as a straight person–who is in favor of equality in the law–I can tell you that these Republicans hate gay rights with a passion.
Republicans paid for and owned in part by American Corporations, including Detroit
willbodine :
Someone forgot the Jeep Wrangler.
Wrangler is listed as a “stage one” car.
VeryDemmanding:”Do you know how much money Detroit gives to the Republicans. tons”
link please ?
BTW—as a straight person—you might want to ask those who are actually gay that work at Ford and GM what big bad companies they are. As stated above—they seem to provide a strong place to work for those in the GLBT community. Lets not let facts get in the way of good entertaining hyperbole though.
John M : I guess I fall into Stage 3, “Partnered for Life”. Unless some miracle of science takes place, I don’t see us procreating any time soon. So why the hell do we need a behemoth 7-seater SUV? I wondered the same when I saw their selections for that stage. I guess you'd need it to bring home treasures from those fabulous antiquing trips.
umterp85:
If the facts don’t fit the theory, change the facts.
I’m straight, but I would totally rock a Miata for a track/autoX budget build.
umterp85:
you might want to ask those who are actually gay that work at Ford and GM what big bad companies they are
Not only that, but someone needs to call the American Family Association and tell them how horrible Ford is toward their GBLT workers so they can call off their boycott.
Frank: Good One :)
What does GLBT mean? What “boat” is Frank referring to?
Didn’t Ford get burned by some social conservative outfit for daring to advertise in a gay magazine? Perhaps that experience is why they are “missing the boat”?
yankinwaoz: What does GLBT mean?
Guacamole, Lettuce, Bacon and Tomato!
As a gay car guy, I always love to see what GayWheels lets me know what I should be driving. Granted, we do have a Miata, but I like it because its a sweet handling ride, not because of the fashion statement it might makes. Ours is a 1993 so its probably considered ‘retro’! But, we also have a couple of other cars that are only ‘gay’ because I have a rainbow stickers in thier windows.
Subarus are quite popular with the gay that I know, but that might be from Subaru’s early recognition of the gay market, and its targeted marketing campaign – my favourite being an ad that said It’s Not a Choice. It’s the Way We’re Built’. If I weren’t a car guy, I would consider a Subaru for this reason – or a Volvo for that matter. Both companies have been supportive of my community, either through sponsorship of different events and charities within the gay community. So, I would like to be supportive back. But, I like to think that I know my cars, I choose based on the car, but you can bet I will be looking to put my money to gay friendly companies if I could.
I am part of a gay car club, http://www.bentcarguys.com. To see what gay car guys and girls drive, just go to that website. That is probably more accurate than GayWheels IMHO
Also, not sure if anyone knows how gay friendly the big 2.86752 are, but Ford’s former CFO Allan Gilmour is gay, and probably one of the only gay executives at such a high level of corporate America. Bill Ford hired him out of retirement in 2002-2003 to get Ford’s books in order. He broke through the rainbow ceiling…..
“Gaywheels seems to feel carmakers’ marketeers are missing the GLBT boat.”…”Volvo C30, Jeep Wrangler or Infiniti G37 Coupe, Cadillac CTS, Lincoln MKX or VW Passat..” etc.
Hmm I dunno, those seem like cars most people would consider buying or like to have. I see no missing out on anything whatsoever. Unless the GLBT community wants an uber ‘queermobile’ that just screams it’s FAAAABULOUS!
are gays always this funny/clever?
there have been some good comments.
i particularly like the “rainbow ceiling”
i’m straight, but when i get my miata next spring, hopefully it’ll fool people into thinking i’m witty too
yankinwaoz :
What does GLBT mean? What “boat” is Frank referring to?
GLBT – Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered
The “boat” is the one the automakers are missing by not marketing specific cars to specific demographics within the GLBT community.
Didn’t Ford get burned by some social conservative outfit for daring to advertise in a gay magazine?
That’s the American Family Association I referred to above. And I don’t know if “burned” is the right term to use. They’ve been more like a gadfly.
Maybe small cars will become more “acceptable” or “fashionable” if people learn to be more tolerant of the alt.lifestyle crew. I’d like to see more small cars on the road in place of the big honking SUVs and heavy duty pickups. They have their place but hauling a lone person around with no cargo is just plain silly.
Once I never complained – to each their own – but the consumption levels in this country have driven prices up for us all so indirectly I’m paying for what the other guy is driving.
Anything that gets less than 16 mpg ought to come with stickers on the dash, gas cap, and sun visors in caution yellow that reads in big letters “for occasional use only”… (Unless you are towing or hauling something heavy)
Me? I’m a normal guy married to a wonderful girl and we’ve gotta couple resident short people riding around with us in the back seat. The funny part is that I drive a white VW Cabrio which is according to the conservative people nearest me – very! very! gay…
Like I care… (grin!) I like clever compact cars and have for 20 years.
VeryDemmanding
Where to begin.
1. Check Frank’s wonderful reference to the AFA’s boycott against Ford for “promoting homosexual agenda.” Please read here for further information.
http://www.afa.net/ford052506.asp
2. As I said in a previous post, please provide us with some empirical (statical) evidence that management in the American automotive companies vote predominantly Republican.
Please, save the sensationalism for the Wired.com Autopia comments section.
The TT didn’t need to be on this list, it was voted tops by the Australian Gay Auto Journalist Association (or something) a few years back. Of course I’ve owned my TT Roadster (225 of course) since long before that & been gay even longer. But I finally have a Jetta (another stereotypical car), mine’s a 1982 diesel though. :^)
umterp85:
I agree with that, though I’m not so sure it’s the companies so much as the bulk of the employees. I went to GMI..er..Kettering for a year back in the 90’s and I felt less comfortable to be out there, than I do in Dallas, the shiny silver & gold belt buckle of the bible belt. Blue collar auto union workers (on the average) aren’t any more tolerant than blue collar workers anywhere else. If it were for the Unions telling them who to vote for, methinks they would be republican. Myself, I’m Libertarian, I hate the Donkeys & Elephants equally.
NICKNICK:
Yes we are.
Back in stage 1, I had a passion for getting a stage 2 Passat wagon…and now that i’m in stage 3, I have a burning desire for the Stage 4 S5. I’m so ahead of the curve.
The funny part is that I drive a white VW Cabrio which is according to the conservative people nearest me – very! very! gay…
Those folks are misinformed. Driving a Cabrio doesn’t suggest that you’re gay. It merely suggests that you’re daddy’s little girl.
Personally, I find myself attracted to the old design B9 Tribeca.
My wife likes the Weinermobile.
Personally, I find myself attracted to the old design B9 Tribeca.
Is it true that you need a speculum to do diagnostics on them?