Share

JIMS - it's not all about men!

THE FAIRER SEX HAVE THEIR SAY: Women have encroached on the hallowed turf of the motoring world.
THE FAIRER SEX HAVE THEIR SAY: Women have encroached on the hallowed turf of the motoring world.
Motoring has always been mainly a man's world but women have as much say as they do nowadays. Expect to see a lot of the fairer sex at the 2011 Johannesburg International Motor Show in October.

Women buy cars as often as men and most have a big say when it comes to a joint purchase.

According to a study in America, women account for 85% of all consumer purchases - and that includes includes cars.

WOMEN'S PERFECT CARS


Gone are the days when the patriarch made the household's fiscal decisions and mode of transport. Women hold as much sway as men and they become adept at choosing their perfect vehicle.

Women are known for their particular tastes and choices, so it's highly unlikely that they'll pass up a chance to view new models on show.

LOTS TO SEE

With metallic eye candy in the form of the Lexus GS 350, the muscularity of Hino trucks, cute small scooters and the digital experience of the Ford Ranger simulator (simulator, ladies) there will be lots to keep women busy.

"I want to see every single car there, if it takes me all day to wander around," said Claire Veitch who's never hesitated about buying a car she likes, whether for her or for the family, and confesses she never takes advice from her husband.

“That’s because I have no interest in Lancias, beach buggies or clapped-out old Landys,” she said.

GUT INSTINCT

It's said women first go with gut instinc, then worry about price and fuel-efficiency; men are more concerned by size and performance and perhaps those simulators. Even though women are able to negotiate fair deals without a man around, it is said that some don't always get the respect they deserve from salesmen.

Donna Kane, PR for Hyundai Motors America, once described a meeting she had with a woman who’d gone to a dealer to buy a car and filled out the paperwork. When she got home and re-read it she found she’d actually leased the car. Kane later explained that the customer was misled

HER CHOICE, HER CAR

Sherelee Clarke has always bought her own cars and negotiated the deal herself. "However, I did ask my brother to take my latest car for a drive before I bought it. Even if he hadn’t liked it, I would have bought it."

She said her brothers felt strongly that women shouldn’t be in charge of making the final decision on a family car. "They seem to think a woman is incapable of making the right choice," she laughed.

MEN HAVE THE FINAL SAY


A Globalnews.ca  survey said 99% of men agreed that women should not be in charge of making the final decision on a family car.
Surprisingly, women agreed with the survey - 96% agreed the man should decide on a new car.

The survey further said 51% of men and 40% women said the man should take charge while 48% of men and 56% of women agreed on a shared decision.

Regardless of surveys and the number crunching, women are bound to have fun at the Johannesburg International Motor Show.
We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE