Is a Mini-Cooper a Chick Car?

[zianuray]

[Poll #1553293]

Comments

[duane-kc.livejournal.com]

I don't believe there is such a thing as a "chick car", any more than there is a "real man's car".

[diermuid.livejournal.com]

You sir, I disagree with. ;-)

It is a very rare woman who drives a modded GTO, that is not something that appeals to women.

It is an uncommon man who drives a pink Chevy Luv, it can happen, but they are not parading their masculinity in it.

From there, other cars fill both sides of the bell curve until you hit the Family vehicles. Even then, the Chevy Venture appeals more (and is marketed more) toward women (focusing on family & comfort features), while the Chevy Astro is designed/marketed more for men (concentrates more on power and towing ability).

[marence.livejournal.com]

I never wanted a GTO. I lusted after Mopars - Chargers and Chellengers mostly.

[diermuid.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I've got a brother in law (to be) that's a Mopar guy. It is a very rare woman that lusts after Mopars. However, a Testerossa? That was the defining car for many trophy wives. Guys drove them too, but only because of Don Johnson. I still prefer cars that don't break if you back into a pole at low speed. ;-)

[marence.livejournal.com]

Yeah, my absolute dream car is a 68 12-cylinder Jaguar XJE, but I can't afford the British mechanic that goes with it. ;)

[diermuid.livejournal.com]

See, there you go... I wanted the XJS. the 12-cylinder versions were guy cars... the XJ6 were chick cars....

Or even if we go to Camaros, the 80's IROC-Z was a guy's car, the RS was a chick's car... same sexy styling, but without the balls.

[jeffs-page.livejournal.com]

Do a google search on mini cooper vs. any other vehicle in an accident. Guess who doesn't win?

[5rings.livejournal.com]

Car companies try to guess at the demographic that'll like any given car, and they regularly get it wrong. The '65 Mustang was aimed squarely at secretaries.
The Honda element was aimed at surfers. Seriously. Boy did both of those miss.

[gem-handler.livejournal.com]

According to Click and Clack, it is!

Get a Honda Element.

[torakiyoshi.livejournal.com]

I decline from polling because apparently I have no concept of chick-caredness, as I think a Toyota Prius is a fairly manly setup.

-=TK

[reynai.livejournal.com]

I will answer your question with another question: What the heck is a 'chick car' anyway? Is it like a 'chick flick' in the assumption that only (and all!) girls like sappy romances? If so... how do you make a car model romantic?

Or am I once again the weird man out in not finding cars in the least bit romantic?

[diermuid.livejournal.com]

Not romantic, look at yogurt commercials vs beef jerky commercials... not romantic, but definitely tailored to more feminine interests.

What is amusing is when they market men's products to the women more likely to buy them. Old Spice's new commercials are awesome like that.

[reynai.livejournal.com]

I fear I've watched less than 10 hours of television so far this year, but from what I remember of those sorts of commercials (well, I can't remember ever seeing a beef jerky commercial...) the words 'light and fluffy' seem to describe them well. Maybe I'm an odd goose, but I wouldn't put 'feminine' and 'light and fluffy' in the same room together, much less put them as synonymous.

Yeah, I'm probably an odd goose.

[diermuid.livejournal.com]

Since you've been away from the TV, I'll bring you up to speed.

For some reason, yogurt commercials today are like the tampon commercials of years ago... definitely catering to females more than males. Only now their big selling point is that yogurt helps you lose weight and poop better.

[reynai.livejournal.com]

Yeah... I was hoping that I was just misremembering the part where yogurt's big selling point in some commercials was that it helps incontinence. Aren't some brands of yogurt specifically advertised just for that? Good grief.

On the other hand, for the boys, there's that dude with the smile that makes me want to punch him. And I'm about as nonviolent as you get, really.

[reannon.livejournal.com]

A car for women is a practical car with good gas mileage that has sufficient space and features for what she needs.

A car for men is tight, dude, and looks awesome.

This is why women make up 52 percent of new car buyers and influence 85 percent of sales. They spend less and research more.

None of this is addressed in car commercials.

[featherynscale.livejournal.com]

Given that most of the people I have seen driving Mini Coopers appear to be dudes, I'm gonna go with "No, actually." Incidentally, Playboy did a bit about how to have sex in a Mini. :)

Cars I see driven by women more often than men include: any S-series Volvo, the VW New Beetle, the Toyota Prius, any Subaru at all, and the Toyota Corolla. This is not based on scientific observation, just casual observation, so I can draw no conclusions.

[diermuid.livejournal.com]

Mini's are a crossover, they have the cute factor, but they also have some serious balls. The meaty tires are not for show, the mini's power-to-weight ratio makes them a 'sleeper' on the road. They were designed to be quick, nimble, and powerful. I had considered one, it appealed to my prurient interest. It's like buying a Ford Mustang, but without the compensating asshole factor.

[featherynscale.livejournal.com]

They're great little cars, don't get me wrong. They're certainly on my short list for next car, if I could find a used one in good condition.

[duane-kc.livejournal.com]

I could see you in one of these: http://www.televiso.com/~caterhamusa/classicspecs.html

[featherynscale.livejournal.com]

I often have occasion to wish that my life allowed for the kit-car hobby, or even the car-modding hobby. This is certainly one of those occasions. *sigh*

[diermuid.livejournal.com]

Chick car = cutesy. Or stylish without balls. Sort of like the Ford Ranger of Chevy Trailblazer... they're a cute little pickup, but can't haul much more than a jet ski. No one hangs trailer-hitch testicles from a Ranger.

[marence.livejournal.com]

Everyone I know who owns a Mini-Cooper is male.
I want a Mini Cooper because of "The Italian Job." The problem is that they are too small for John's full drum kit (item 3 of 3 in my must-have list for cars, the first two being fun to drive and economical).
If we ever go back to two cars, I'd probably get a Mini Cooper. Or a Smart Car. Or a Sportster.

I like cars. I used to own an auto body & repair shop with my husband, and my daughter spent part of her childhood learning how to tune up a straight six and pound out a dent.
I hate chick cars. I hate the idea of chick cars, unless it's my daughter's idea of a chick car - a pink vintage Shelby Cobra - which is just ridiculous, because cars should never be pink.
Being a motorhead has less to do with gender and more to do with personality, like everything else in the world.