Once it was big shiny convertibles that caught the ladies' eyes. Then it was Corvettes, Lambos or anything else low, fast and expensive. But the times they are a-changin'. Yahoo! Green reports that hybrids are this generation's automotive codpieces. A survey done by GM during this year's Challenge X competition reveals that 88 percent of women say "they'd rather chat up someone who owns the latest fuel-efficient car versus the latest sports car." On top of that, 80 percent of American car buyers would rather talk with someone at a party who has the "latest fuel-efficient car" than someone with a sports car. And for the fashionists out there, 45 percent of "18- to 43-year-olds say it's a fashion faux pas nowadays to have a car that's not green or environmentally friendly." But does that now mean that those who buy the highest mileage cars are overcompensating? And what does that say about all those who put down deposits on Teslas and Volts? The mind– or something– boggles.
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I’m not making this up — driving the Escape Hybrid the other week I had more women check me out than, well, ever. And this was in Beverly Hills.
A cute blond in a Saab even rolled down her window and started chatting with me.
As a former Ferrari owner (back when they were the done thing), I can confirm the oft-expressed (and completely ignored) fact that any woman that wants to sleep with you because of your car is not a woman with whom you should sleep.
if it’s all the same to y’all, i’ll continue doing my compensating with horsepower and donuts. at least i’ll be having fun while women continue to ignore me.
@NICKNICK:
That has to be one of the funniest comments I’ve ever read on this site.
I have both, a Porsche, and a Jetta TDI.
the TDI attracts strange hairy women, and guys who give me advice on how to exact the most mileage out of it…
the Porsche attracts attractive vapid blondes who say “like”, and “way” too much…
I don’t want to date any of them. The best car to get dates in Oklahoma City, my 25 year old Audi Quattro, intelligent brunettes who enjoy outdoors activities, and also have college degrees.
Yet another sign that the Monster Truck and Muscle Car fads are over, as is conspicuous consumption of any kind.
Cheap, cheerful and green are in. As go the gals, so goes the world.
Mike Solowiow
the TDI attracts strange hairy women, and guys who give me advice on how to exact the most mileage out of it…
At least it doesn’t attract strange hairy men….
But does that now mean that those who buy the highest mileage cars are overcompensating?
Well, the typical buyer is a geek, so they generally don’t try to compensate or go chest-thumping, but are happy setting strange challenges between their computers and themselves. Cue in hypermilers.
“cute blond in a Saab even rolled down her window and started chatting with me”
Ya I bet you forgot to mention it was a GUY!
I don’t buy it. Chicks do a credit check on you when they see your ride. If you can’t afford the gas, you can’t afford the a$$
big mpg? small penis!!!
Just kidding!!!
I agree completely with RF (comment #2) that you don’t want to date women who like you for your hot car UNLESS the woman happens to be a car nut who truly appreciates whatever you happen to be driving.
Years ago in DC I had this friend, a big black guy who drove around in a ’65 ‘Cuda who avoided white people (I met him because I wanted to photograph the car and we got friendly), who kept telling me to get a classic car if I wanted attention from women. Women were always hitting on him (he was VERY happily married and had no interest).
When I started dating the woman I eventually married, she thought I was a snob because I was driving an six year old 530i. When she eventually told me her initial impression of me based on my car, I told her that if Ford built a 530i, I’d buy it.
Women DEFINITELY make assumptions about guys based on their whips… even the keepers.
BTW, I keep threatening to buy a Fiesta when it comes out. She doesn’t believe me, but if gas hits $5/gallon, that Fiesta will be mine! Or the Mondeo wagon if AM is kind enough to bring it over.
And I always thought that “Green Babes” went for Starship Captains.
If this means that I’m gonna ‘get lucky’ in my new Elantra, then it’s money doubly well-spent (but I ain’t holding my breath)
mmmach1: She as in fact of the female persuasion.
But hey — a cute blond’s a cute blond, right?
GS650G
Anyone who thinks that you drive a high MPG car because you don’t have any $$$ for gas is probably one of the above-mentioned vapid blonds (of either the male or female variety). Plenty of people who don’t feel the need to prove anything drive economical cars even though they can afford plenty of gas at any price. You’d be better off assuming they do have the $$$ until you find out otherwise.
This theory may not apply so much in a place like Southern California, but it absolutely applies up here in Portland, Oregon. In fact, the reverse is often true in places where image is paramount. When I lived in SoCal I knew more than just a few people who drove whatever expensive gas hog was in style at the moment, but barely managed to scrape up the payment each month.
I always assumed that the term “Blonde” was self-eplanatory — ‘blond’ is driver’s license material.
Wienermobiles get women.
By the time a girl sees your car, she’s already decided whether or not you’re someone she’d be willing to sleep with.
Not setting capital on fire with a high lease payment helps me to sleep at night.
A Prius isn’t going to pick up chicks.
The other side of the game is fun too. Try driving an H2 in downtown Ann Arbor, Michigan, home of the University of Michigan. One woman told me “that vehicle is frightening!”. And that was while it was parked.
Captain Tungsten: H2s ARE Frightening! Newtonian Physics put everyone around them at significant risk.
As for “green cars” I’m not getting any extra attention from the opposite sex when I drive the homebrew-fueled TDI… especially when compared to driving the vintage sports car.
–chuck
http://chuck.goolsbee.org
I hate it when they do surveys in Williamsburg.