ESTROGEN BASED CAR BUYING

J.D. Power and Associates recently compiled sales figures which show the top 9 vehicles women chose. Three out of the nine carz are Volkswagen, no surprise there (I'm one of them)!

The compact crossover Volkswagen Tiguan (a mix between a Tiger and an Iguana) has taken over the number one spot from the new VW Beetle, making it the top choice for chix.

The VW Beetle, with the flower vase on the dash  (eliminated for newer models), has been the quintessential "chix car" since it returned to the market in the late 90's. 

Here is the complete list showing the percentage of buyers who are female:

1)  Volkswagen Tiguan, 61.7% female buyers

2)  Volkswagen Beetle, 57.9% 

3)  Hyundai Tucson, 55.7%

4)  Kia  Sportage, 53.5%

5)  Nissan Rogue, 53.1%

6)  Volvo V50, 52.6%

7)  Volkswagen Eos, 51.3%

8)  Honda CR-V, 50.9%

9)  Nissan Sentra, 50.1%

Did you notice how all 9 of these carz are foreign? The domestic automakers are making some headway with women, but not fast enough. 

Women aren't just influencers. They've been steadily growing as prime car buyers since the early 80's. Although car manufacturers still heavily market to men, women buy 52% of all new cars. C'mon ad agencies - wake up and smell the motor oil!

What are women looking for when selecting a new car?

1) Safety (visibility, side airbags, outside mirrors)

2) Good Value (affordable, fuel-efficient)

3) Four-Door Models (no explanation needed here)

4) Positive Reviews (women are more likely to do more research, visit dealerships and rely on referrals from friends and family)

Here's what guys are looking for:

1) Styling

2) Horsepower

3) Engine Design

4) Front Visibility

While the popular car choices for men (Porsche 911, Vette, BMW M3, Ford F150) have a higher price tag, are more sporty, impractical and not fuel efficient, the women's more practical and economical choices certainly mean lower insurance premiums. It could also mean that your teenage driver would most likely ask to borrow Daddy's car.