General Discussion

Hekate

(100,133 posts)

22. Both my common sense and my budget tell me to shop with Consumer Reports in my hand

Thu Mar 7, 2013, 04:07 AM

Mar 2013

A combination of price, safety, mileage, and durability are what I have always looked for in a car. Used Toyota, used Datsun, new Toyota Tercel that lasted 24 years, new Toyota Camry wagon that is almost that old by now that my husband drives, and a new Honda sedan that may be my last car, given that I am 65 and plan to keep it as long as the others.

As an American, I am exceedingly glad that President Obama saved our auto industry. I'm also glad their quality is improving, especially mileage. But in all the years I've been buying cars, the US auto industry has tried to sell the people on everything but the combination of qualities I look for in a car. "Urban assault vehicles" were just about the last word in unsafe, arrogant, consumption.

And yes, I am a woman, and yes, my voice counts in this marriage.

Hekate

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Women Don't Like Buying Cars Made In Detroit [View all] FarCenter Mar 2013 OP

Perhaps women have not so fond memories of... kairos12 Mar 2013 #1

'74 Pinto! My first car! Matariki Mar 2013 #21

I had a Pinto in the 70s. LWolf Mar 2013 #32

A Gremlin was my first car and I loved that LibertyLover Mar 2013 #38

Do they even try to market their cars to women? Lex Mar 2013 #2

Not that I've noticed, but not a TV watcher. politicat Mar 2013 #6

aren't a lot of the ads about how manly men those cars would make one feel JI7 Mar 2013 #10

And just look at them. Angry masculine front ends, square, blocky without a curve to be found. Egalitarian Thug Mar 2013 #63

Warranty, warranty, warranty. politicat Mar 2013 #3

Another thing they don't take into account: depreciation. Initech Mar 2013 #19

The marketing I recall seems to be aimed at couples or men, not women. enlightenment Mar 2013 #4

Hey, Detroit! Make a mini-station wagon, and I will buy it! raging moderate Mar 2013 #5

I miss station wagons. They are my prefer car build. KittyWampus Mar 2013 #15

Yep! Loved my Escort wagon Freddie Mar 2013 #27

I had a Subaru mini-wagon and I LOVED that thing! I had plenty of space in the back to carry Nay Mar 2013 #31

Reminds me of the 1988 VW Fox Wagon I used to own. kentauros Mar 2013 #36

Me too, but I will only drive stick shift. I was told at 2 GM dealerships "Nobody drives a stick". we can do it Mar 2013 #54

How about a mini-suv? I just got a annabanana Mar 2013 #57

Both my daughters love Control-Z Mar 2013 #7

I drive a Mini Cooper S now too LibertyLover Mar 2013 #41

cars are usually designed for men... snooper2 Mar 2013 #8

This woman has always bought American cars - out of principle. Marie Marie Mar 2013 #9

I drive a Buick. Lugnut Mar 2013 #17

I'll be driving my Saturn Vue until it falls apart. Buy America Always! n/t UtahLib Mar 2013 #11

I'm hanging onto my Ford Ranger. Starry Messenger Mar 2013 #12

This woman only buys cars made in Detroit n/t OhioChick Mar 2013 #13

I'm a woman and my last four cars have been American. kiva Mar 2013 #14

I'm used to Japanese cars. Manifestor_of_Light Mar 2013 #16

I want a small car. I drive a Honda. JDPriestly Mar 2013 #18

Yep, small car get the red out Mar 2013 #26

For my lifestyle and pocketbook, I find a Car a problem. Knightraven Mar 2013 #20

Both my common sense and my budget tell me to shop with Consumer Reports in my hand Hekate Mar 2013 #22

The better looking American sports cars, sedans, and SUVs have a masculine feel/look and/or ecstatic Mar 2013 #23

I LIKE the masculine feel to a car Fawke Em Mar 2013 #43

I know a woman who bought a new challenger last year octothorpe Mar 2013 #53

Japanese cars are a better 'fit' for my height/reach than many domestics REP Mar 2013 #24

As a male pig olddots Mar 2013 #25

My last four vehicles were from Detroit. Ilsa Mar 2013 #28

Women tend to be more practical about cars--men are more aspirational bklyncowgirl Mar 2013 #29

I agree completely. As a female, I couldn't care less about a car's sexiness, style, 0-60 Nay Mar 2013 #34

I owned two Saturns spinbaby Mar 2013 #30

Kia, Nissan, Honda, and Fiat, manufacture cars that are fuel efficient,... OldDem2012 Mar 2013 #33

I am on my second Altima. I bought the current one in 1999. I'll die before this car will... CTyankee Mar 2013 #37

Kia and Fiat? Fawke Em Mar 2013 #44

Don't know about Fiat, but I'll vouch for Kia. politicat Mar 2013 #47

That's nice, but I live where I-40 and I-75 meet. Fawke Em Mar 2013 #62

My Fiat 500 Sport averages about 33 mpg WilmywoodNCparalegal Mar 2013 #55

I'm getting 36.7 mpg with mine doing mostly highway driving. Ganja Ninja Mar 2013 #60

Some of it is a trust issue. LWolf Mar 2013 #35

Only drive american sports cars - japanese cars are too small for me, I'm a 6'2 woman and like to MillennialDem Mar 2013 #39

My Jetta Ron Obvious Mar 2013 #40

Foreign cars definetly have better handling davidn3600 Mar 2013 #46

I'm female and I don't own anything BUT American-made Fawke Em Mar 2013 #42

I would love to have a Mustang. HappyMe Mar 2013 #50

Money talks and bullshit walks is the story here madokie Mar 2013 #45

Their sample size and random sampling are far better than yours however dmallind Mar 2013 #48

Wow...that's some astute data analysis. Dreamer Tatum Mar 2013 #52

YMMV. I drive a Subaru and my wife drives a Dodge. lumberjack_jeff Mar 2013 #49

We needed a second car when we lived off base near Ft Bragg, NC. So on a saturday southernyankeebelle Mar 2013 #51

I would love to buy American cars union_maid Mar 2013 #56

Maintenance? One_Life_To_Give Mar 2013 #58

I bought a new 2012 Fiat 500 last Labor Day. Ganja Ninja Mar 2013 #59

Most DUers only pay lip service to supporting unions. It's shameful. nt Romulox Mar 2013 #61

Make better cars and provide better service and people will come davidn3600 Mar 2013 #64

Exactly. And if Americans were better workers, I wouldn't support outsourcing, H1Bs. Romulox Mar 2013 #66

I love my Chevy. Of course it was made in 1966... LeftyMom Mar 2013 #65

We've been giving American cars a try, but I'd like to go back to Japanese cars next time. Arugula Latte Mar 2013 #67