Women choose green

New research* suggests that male 4×4 drivers should reconsider their choice of motor if they want to impress the ladies.

A survey into the sexiest cars, reveals that women tend to be drawn to men who drive smaller cars,  whilst larger models such as 4x4s, did not appear to capture as much female interest, coming bottom in the ranks as the least likely car to attract the opposite sex*. In contrast 1 in 5 women admitted that they were most likely to be wooed by a green car*. 

Carcraft spokesperson Howard Ryder emphasised the point that not only do greener, smaller cars have more “curb- appeal,” but that they are also cheaper to run.*

The RAC Foundation supports the move to more environmentally friendly cars and these survey findings indicate that people’s views are starting to change. Big is not necessarily best making the traditional “macho” car sterotype more of a quaint old fashioned idea than a real life phenomenon. 

* www.motorbar.co.uk

*Carcraft Supermarket

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Drink-driving has a negative impact on men’s love lives

Drink driving has a negative impact on men’s love lives according to new research*. Two-thirds of women want to be with a man who has a car and therefore convicted drink drivers risk losing more than just their licence.

30% of the women surveyed said that they would be angry if their partner was caught drink driving and 9% said that they would not show any sympathy if their partner was caught over the alchol limit. The survey also found that men were more concerned about the impact that losing their licence would have on their love lives than the prospect of losing their job or facing a huge fine. These findings have been used in the new DfT sponsored Think campaign which targets young male drivers.

Drink driving is an increasing problem in the UK, especially amongst the young and it is really encouraging to see that messages about this behaviour are being presented in the way that connects with the people most at risk. We all know that we shouldn’t drink and drive, and reminding high risk offenders of what they stand to lose is a good way to get people thinking about the consequences of their driving habits.

Source:  http://www.whatcar.com/news-article.aspx?NA=226658

* Think! campaign

  

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The reason you choose your car…

Research in the US has shown that buyers of S.U.V.s  and minvans think very differently.*  Not suprisingly therefore, there is huge appeal for automakers to read the minds of the market to better target their desired group and reel them into the showroom.  Hence, big money is being spent on research into consumer psychology, the results of which are then fed through to design and advertising departments.

DaimlerChrysler‘s market research team found that sports utility buyers tend to have a desire to “feel sexy” and therefore often to opt for smoked windows to maintain a sense of mystique.*  A writer for commuter.typepad.com also echoes this idea by saying that S.U.V.s can be used to attract attention from the opposite sex.

Researh by Honda’ also found sport utility buyers to place huge emphasis on the external appearance of their vehicle in contrast to minivan buyers who are more concerned with the interior features.

On a safety note, marketing teams have tried to portray S.U.V.s as indestuctible robust vehicles, because as Dr. Clotaire Rapaille’s psychology studies have revealed, it is vehicle size which makes people feel safer, not actually the scientifically tested safety features.**

Driver behaviour has also been  found to coincide with the type of vehicle being driven, as a higher proportion of sport utility drivers did not feel that courtesy was important whilst out on the road (Source: Auto Pacific Inc.). 

Looking at the wider picture- community life-  Strategic Vision  have discovered minivan buyers to be more likely to be ‘involved’ in their communities and to take part in volunteer work (see blog entry: Are long commutes eroding our social networks? July 17th)  On the other hand, sport utility buyers have been found to concern themselves more with going to the gym or out for a top-notch meal in their free-time.

* The New York Times July 17th 2000

** http://commuter.typepad.com July 2007

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Is congestion having a serious impact on your love life?

Ever thought that congestion and traffic problems are having a serious impact on your love life? Well according to the new report ‘Why Mobility Matters to Personal Life’ by Ted Balaker from the US Reason Foundation, congestion is seriously limiting people’s opportunity for happiness…

‘All across the nation, Cupid’s arrow is stuck in traffic. Although Westchester County is geographically close to Manhattan, because travel is such a hassle, New York singles often tag Westchesterites as ‘geographically undesirable’. Thousands of Atlanta-area Match.com subscribers will not date anyone who lives more than 10 miles away. Atlanta spans nearly 2,000 square miles, but immobility limits those love seekers to a tiny corner of the metropolitan area.’  p.13

Congestion does not just have economic implications. It has a significant impact on how we conduct our lives with our lives with our family, friends and potential partners. The report questions whether a father or mother, who wants to reduce their commute by travelling outside the conventional rush hour should do so at the expense of seeing their children or whether people should opt for local partners in a changing world where online dating opens up a whole new world of potential partners. This frank look at transport constraints is certainly an interesting and welcome addition to the debate on congestion. (Source: www.planetizen.com/node/25716 )

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Mind your language ladies…

Women are more likely to be  verbally abusive to other drivers on the road according to a survey of 1,000 drivers by BMW.

These findings turn traditional gender stereotypes on their head as women were found more likely to say ‘idiot’ and less likely to say sorry to other drivers. Men are also slightly more likely to say thank you (48%) than women (46%). There is also evidence that a new unofficial language has been developed for the road using headlight signals.

The RAC Foundation has long recognised that communication on the road network is an important issue that can have very confusing and aggrivating consequences. The Foundation is due to publish some findings and recommendation on this issue shortly.

(Source: The Secret Life of Cars and what they reveal about us, BMW, 2007) 

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What does you car and driving habits say about you?

Who would have thought that choosing to place one hand or two on the steering wheel might indicate how we truely feel about our car? According to a study commissioned by BMW called The Secret Life of Cars and What They Reveal About Us- one hand or two represents the level of connection we feel to our vehicle. 

Psychologists and co- authors of the report, Dr Iain McRaury and Dr Peter Marsh found that women are more likely to hold the wheel with both hands indicating that they think of the car as a separate entity which should be controlled.  In addition, women also often name their cars, placing more distance between themselves and their vehicle.  In contrast, men were found to be more likely to cruise along one- hand on the steering wheel, with a more relaxed approach expressing feelings of ‘being at one’ with their vehicle.  Men’s protectiveness over their cars and ‘affectionate patting’ was also said to be a symbol of the close relationship.

Motorists habits to and from work were also studied, findings that drivers are more likely to sing on their outward journey viewing the drive as an extention of “me-time” whereas on the journey home they’re more focused on what the evening will bring.

The car itself, MacRaury and Marsh believe, also speaks volumes, whereby drivers who make extensive use of their cup-holders were deemed to be workaholics.  Car colour too featured as an expression of drivers’ personalities with neon pink entering the domain as motorists feel the desire to be more “expressive”

(Source: The Daily Mail, 12/07/07 ) 

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