Fairer sex in the driver’s seat

MEN ARE LIKELY TO BUY THE CARS THEIR WOMEN WANT ‘They also lose the battle in most cases when it comes to deciding the colour.’

South African men may try desperately to persuade their spouses about the benefits of a sports car over a practical sedan, but they know in their hearts their better halves make the decision about what will be parked in the garage when it comes to buying a car.

But, says Des Fenner, general manager of Datsun South Africa, local men shouldn’t feel alone. Reports around the globe have shown that women control the purse strings, but are also less emotional than men when it comes to buying cars.

“Men should also realise they are likely to buy not only what their women want, but in most cases, will also lose the battle when it comes to deciding what colour the new car will be. They are definitely in the driver’s seat.”

Fenner points to several major surveys that have delivered supporting evidence of this. They include:

An assertion by Bloomberg, the international financial wire service, that women in the US make nearly 85% of consumer purchases and influence nearly 95% of all buying decisions.

An iSeeCars.com survey of preowned car buying habits looked at the genders of more than 500 000 people inquiring about cars. This revealed “stark differences” between the buying habits of men and women.

Women consider price, affordability and practicality when buying cars.

Fuel efficiency, safety and reliability ranked higher with women than men.

The cars men really wanted cost on average three times more than the price tag women were happy with. Men made up about 90% of buyers for “posh” European sports cars and “fancy” SUVs.

They will take 75 days thinking about the pros and cons of buying a car, while men will take 62 days.

Women do more web-based research on vehicles and dealerships than their male counterparts. Men are 25% more likely to choose orange as a car colour. Women prefer white, gold, silver and beige. “As if this isn’t enough for men to absorb, a recent report in the US, quoted in Forbes magazine, found that women with driver’s licences in the US outnumber men across all age groups above the age of 25. The same scenario is evolving in other countries across the world.

“In the UK, new driver’s licence applications by men are declining, and those by women are increasing. In Germany, women hold more than 40% of licences and the rate is increasing rapidly,” says Fenner.

“A limited ‘dip-stick’ survey of Datsun dealers around the country underlines the international trends. It indicates that more women than men make inquiries about the fuel efficiency and practical aspects of the Datsun GO.

“Generally, about 55% of purchasers entering our showrooms are female, 25% tend to visit dealerships on their own. Affordability is a major consideration by most female customers. The most popular colours for vehicles at our dealerships are white and silver.

“There is no doubt that manufacturers are becoming more aware of the importance women play in acquiring cars for the family, or for their own driving pleasure. Perhaps we should all be taking note of the latest ‘extra on offer’ with many vehicles in the US – an accelerator pedal that is specially designed to accommodate high heels,” says Fenner.

There is no doubt that manufacturers are becoming more aware of the importance women play in acquiring cars for the family, or for their own driving pleasure. Des Fenner General Manager of Datsun South Africa