Ladies in love... with practical cars
BY ELIZABETH LAZAROWITZ
DAILY NEWS BUSINESS WRITER
Monday, October 22nd 2007
The following story was posted online at www.leasetrader.com.
For female car buyers, function trumps form.
Nearly two-thirds of the women in a new survey said having backseats that fold down to create more storage space was the most desirable feature in a car.
Women are a big chunk of the automobile-buying market and are behind about 46% of all new car purchases, according to CNW Marketing Research.
"It's interesting to note that women want functionality over technology in their cars," said Sergio Stiberman, CEO of LeaseTrader.com, which conducted the survey.
Still, in New York at least, women may not be so willing to give up the latest gadgets.
"I want a car with all the high-tech stuff," said Upper West Sider Ellen Shore, who was recently car shopping and considering a Ford Escape.
In particular, Shore thinks a global positioning system is key, although only 3% of the women in the study listed it as their top choice.
The survey did cite two high-tech features as a distant second and third among women's priorities: Bluetooth capability, which lets a driver use her cell phone hands-free via a microphone and speakers installed in the car, and a stereo compatible with MP3 players.
Karen Brown-Spry, 47, is a fan of options like power doors and windows, the Mott Haven, Bronx, resident said from behind the wheel of her new Range Rover. While she said she rarely uses her GPS navigation system, "it's nice to know it's there if you need it."
Her top option, though, is her stereo system. "I love driving with music," she said.
A hatchback that opens and closes automatically was fourth on the wish list for the more than 1,000 women surveyed, followed by GPS technology.
Women in the survey also said a sunroof was a car's most overrated feature, but Brown-Spry disagreed.
"When you're out at night and you have the stars above you, it's just so romantic," she said.
So what about the guys? They're chiefly concerned with performance, according to a 2005 survey by GfK Automotive. Most said they lusted after hot models like the Porsche 911 coupe and the Maserati Spyder.
This story posted by LeaseTrader.com, the automotive service company that lets people transfer out of their Car Leases early. If you're looking to swap a lease or transfer out of your car lease, please visit www.leasetrader.com