cabrio

A few years ago I read an article in one tabloid about how all cabriolets were now being bought by middle aged females. This has played on my mind ever since. I say played on my mind, I really mean that it’s really annoyed me! All I can think about is that the journalist that wrote it gets paid a lot of money and is able to drive all the latest models that the world of motoring has to offer, for one of the biggest newspapers in the country and he hasn’t bothered to think about what he wrote or gather the correct facts! Just shows that I’m a bit envious I suppose.

He babbled on about how middle aged women now have a disposable income so are now able to buy cabriolets like the Audi TT, BMW 3 Series, Merc SLK and Mazda’s cute but brilliant little MX-5.

I don’t want to sound sexist, but I agree with his vague point in principle. I do think that cabriolets are aimed at the ladies! Most cars can be categorised to suit a male or to suit a female buyer and deep down I think you all agree.

To prove this point and staying away from cabriolets for the moment, take the Nissan Juke: lots of curves and a bit of an odd interior – definitely a girl’s car.

But on the other hand you have the Chrysler 300C: straight panels, bulbous headlights, definitely a guy’s car.

These two cars are quite obviously gender orientated and there are others that can be classed quite easily too. Next time you are on the motorway, play the game – as you catch a car have a guess who’s driving, then when you overtake you can see if you are correct. I bet you get more right than wrong!

There are more difficult ones to call, such as the Range Rover (I have just recently written about these – take a look) INSERT LINK, the VW Golf and Ford Fiesta.

Obviously it is all a matter of opinion, take the BMW 1 Series – I would class this more of a feminine motor but watching the roads there are a lot of guys driving them. (Including myself last year!)

So let’s get to the point:

Is the babbling idiot who wrote; ‘within the last few years its just mature women who are buying cabriolets’ right?

Hell no. In my opinion (and don’t forget I’m a Used Car Salesman, so I’m always right,) cabriolet cars have always been aimed mainly at women!

He’s right with the cabriolets mentioned, Audi TT, BMW 3 Series, Merc SLK, but let’s just think about all the drop tops that have been available over the years: Vauxhall Tigra, Peugeot 307CC, Renault Megane CC, Golf Cab, Toyota MR2, Nissan Micra C+C, MG TF, the list goes on… The most obvious car in the category to be aimed at the ladies is the Ford StreetKa. I have driven one (and yes I did have the roof down too) and thought it was brilliant, but it is undeniably a girls car (and it was produced in pink!)

Again, I don’t want to sound sexist, and I’m not by a long shot, there are only a few exceptions to this rule! These being Honda’s S2000 and the US’s Corvette but being a ‘car guy’ there is something quiet arousing about seeing a girl in a guy’s car. (I know there are ‘car girls’ out there before you girls start screaming at your screen as you read this.) This has to be one of the best pics I’ve seen for a long time: