Do people think its a "girly" car?

[BBP]

I hardly ever see a woman driving a MX-5. It is usually men in their 30s or 40s, and good drivers they usually are too.

[AdamD]

I hardly ever see a woman driving a MX-5. It is usually men in their 30s or 40s, and good drivers they usually are too.

+1. A good friend of mine drives two cars - a 400awkw Skyline GTR, and a series 1 MX-5 as his daily. And the MX-5 is the 'laugh out loud' fun car that is a much nicer place to be.

As for this whole (pretty amusing) debate on whether a car's more masculine or feminine - I recall watching a video review of the GTI vs Megane vs Focus RS recently, where a number of women were interviewed about the cars and asked which would appeal more to them (when driven by a man). The GTI won out, as the car for the 'fun-yet-sensible, financially comfortable guy'. I'd much rather be perceived in that light than as a wannabe hoon with a penchant for cars with more masculine traits (noisy, heavy, unrefined comes to mind).

[Monk]

+I'd much rather be perceived in that light than as a wannabe hoon with a penchant for cars with more masculine traits (noisy, heavy, unrefined comes to mind).

nooo i like the bolded traits.. in moderation anyway. Besides, a GTI is heavy.. unless you mean truly boat-like (looking at you, VE commodore)

[G-rig]

And yes, MX-5's are definitely pretty fem convertable cars, guys. Again its all about the handling. But they are cute and convertible. Then again if you had a SLK55.. different story!! Or a 350Z/330CI/A4..!!!

You obviously haven't been in a 2F race car or MX-5 Turbo race car. The handling is amazing.

RWD+Manual+Sports body =Mans Car

FWD+Auto+Hatch=Not mans car

You'll have to take that back when you get DSG next time . The VW manual box doesn't seem that good to me with the ratios and always hate the 1st into 2nd clunk when the revs are lower..

[Troy Boy]

Its NOT his car.

That's right, not my car....but I do drive it an aweful lot, and must say that I enjoy it every bit as much (if not more than) as driving MY R32.

Yes, the bright colour does make it look Girly...but the performance is definitely masculine.

[PassatB6]

The Golf is Euro-Chic. Anything Euro Chic is misinterpreted as 'Girly' by people who have not been exposed to European style and fashion.

[diop]

Hear hear!

[GTREA]

My Mrs thinks the Golf GTi is a girls car...and presumed thats what everyone thought!..?

I however do not.

I think the general masses might think so, being 'girl car' size...and shape perhaps....but the purists will respect it....and I dont give a toss about the masses.

[Karlosovic]

Yes, the GTI is definitely a girls car.

I LOL myself to pieces

[Karlosovic]

Second hand 130i or 330Ci or Alfa 159 (it looks mean in black with a tint)

or, for something a little different:

Jeep Wrangler - Fully Loaded Man would approve.

Jeep Wrangler - just voted worste car in a survery of new car buyers

[cameronp]

Oh man, this thread continues to be absolutely hilarious! If there's one thing it shows, it's that different demographics have very different stereotypes about cars. And that there's more bogans on this forum than I'd realised

A few friends have given me teasing comments about buying the car I did - mostly for buying one with a DSG instead of a manual. I've had far more positive comments. I've only had one person tell me that I should have got a manlier (performance) car than a Golf to replace my previous Ford XR5. A couple of people have told me that I should've bought a diesel to help save the planet.

One friend told me that I should be riding a bicycle instead. I think that's the real put-hair-on-your-chest option. There's almost no risk of dying in your daily commute in a car, but on bike, you're right at the bottom of the food chain and have to avoid hitting anything - even a pedestrian - if you value your safety.

[Monk]

Jeep Wrangler - just voted worste car in a survery of new car buyers

also considered the other option of telling your parents you like other men

. There's almost no risk of dying in your daily commute in a car

i dunno, i've seen some shocking drivers.. :p

[booya]

The Golf is Euro-Chic. Anything Euro Chic is misinterpreted as 'Girly' by people who have not been exposed to European style and fashion.

That's true. Italian men love scooters (not motorbikes) which in Oz is definitely girly. They also carry "man-bags".

[booya]

[QUOTE If you're comfortable with your sexuality then there's no such thing as a girl's car.QUOTE]

Just because a man is comfortable holding a purse, at the end of the day, its still a purse.

I guess this is a Golf forum, so some guys seem to be a little defensive about the reality that they drive, what the general population consider, a girls car.

Hey, Im buying a GTI for $50K. But I will be the first to acknowledge that it definitely is a girly girls car. Just a real good handling, for a FWD, auto, car. And extremely well put together.

And I dont need to compare a Golf to a SS Torana, or Walkinshaw to make the point, or to answer the original posters query. Just ask women. Ask some normal, down to earth guys. They know it. A real man would simply be content with their decision. But wise enough to stand by it.

I obviously cant change people minds, thats for sure. But I have always considered my self a realist. Even when I bought a MY09 WRX, I was fully aware, that It was ugly, looked pretty soft, and handled like crap.

And yes, MX-5's are definitely pretty fem convertable cars, guys. Again its all about the handling. But they are cute and convertible. Then again if you had a SLK55.. different story!! Or a 350Z/330CI/A4..!!!

RWD+Manual+Sports body =Mans Car

FWD+Auto+Hatch=Not mans car

I must say though, nearly all the above mentioned cars, from everyones posts, would be fun to drive.

+1 well said. The "man bag" never caught on despite it being more functional for carrying wallet, phone etc. No matter what some posters say, at the end of the day we do "care about what people think", it just comes down to how much you care.

[anarchycamp]

All GTI's are massive girls cars... wouldn't be caught dead driving one..