What makes the Perfect Car?

Often, Gender will decide.

"Darling, this is the last time I let you have the wheel, next time, get your own car!"

What do women want?

That is not only the question that dateless guys ask themselves on Saturday nights but a question that increasingly puzzles the auto industry.

With increasing numbers of women becoming car buyers, the auto industry is beginning an initiative to attract female buyers, which begs the question, what kind of car will a woman find attractive?

"An Audi TT," gushes Christy Shilling, a senior family consumer sciences major. "It's got more power, and it's absolutely beauttiful!"

The Audi TT that Shilling has her eye on boasts a 180 horsepower Volkswagen engine and can goes from 0 to 60 mph in less than 7 seconds.

Shilling may well be in the target demographic the auto industry is looking for.

Marketing experts think women driving hot, sexy, stylish cars may be the next trend coming after SUVs, according to an article from The New York Times.

Despite extensive research, a definitive answer still eludes the auto industry.

Shilling, owner of a 2000 Honda Civic, said the one thing lacking in her car is power. Three out of four of the current models of Honda Civic have 106 horsepower, measly compared to the standard 150-180 horsepower of most cars today. However, Shilling still gushes with praise for her Civic.

"Hondas have the best gas mileage, they're cool!" she said," And it's very affordable."

For Lucy Koetters, a family and consumer sciences graduate, price is the deciding factor as well. Koetters remarked that the main reason she chose her current Chevy Corsica was because she knew people who were selling it cheap.

"I certainly like it, got my money's worth," said Koetters who has driven the car for 10 years.

Koetters will make the decision for her next car based on word of mouth rather than fancy advertising.

"I'd pick the Dodge Stratus," Koetters said, "My friend owns one and she says it's a great car."

Sarah Johnson, a historical administration graduate, will tailor her next car choice around practicality.

"Chevey Blazer," she declared emphatically." I like it because it's durable and has lots of storage space."

Since she would be working in a museum, Johnson reckons she will be transporting a lot of precious cargo.

Carmakers are also making cars that are user friendly, or, more correctly, female friendly. For example, the 2002 Cadillac Escalade will have a lower lift gate to accommodate women's smaller build,  lighter removable seats for easier folding and lights to help women to see under their cars at night---- in case they run over the family cat sleeping under the car. Another plus? Fingernail friendly door handles.

However, car makers also had to take into account the notoriously fragile male ego; a car that has too many female friendly features may be labeled a "chick car", something that would drive male buyers away.

Some cars that are overwhelmingly preferred by women include the Suzuki Esteem and Saturn, the later largely due to its no-haggle policy, which most women prefer.

In a survey conducted by JD Powers and Associates, a research company, the top 3 vehicles that women bought were also among the top 5 overall best sellers, not so for male buyers, whose favorite vehicles were trucks and SUVs.

I would say the male ego would steer us in the direction of a more sporty type of vehicle sych as the Z28 Camaro or a Ford Mustang," said Nate Griffin, Internet sales manager of Bill Stasek Chevrolet Inc of Wheeling.

"Female buyers are a lot more reserved and practical in what they need for transportation," he said.