What women really want (car engineered and built by women)

The Times ^ | 29 February 2004 | Sophie Tweedale

[disclaimer]

Vulva YCC - Old Datsun design reconstituted?

[MamaTexan]

That's what women want.

You forgot the climate-controlled chocolate storage compartment. :)

[PBRSTREETGANG]

What women really want (car engineered and built by women)

[Teacher317]

[GraceCoolidge]

I think the best new car for women is the Dodge Magnum... it is a station wagon... with a Hemi engine! Now, that's the car I'd want!!!

[Jack of all Trades]

It's only good business sense to acknowledge that women rule the check books. I may have a stilted viewpoint because that's the way it works in my house. Most of our big purchases are probably an 80/20 split with my wife taking the lead, although I reserve veto power. This works for me because I'm not good with money. It also gives me a little latitude to buy things I really want. It makes the motto "better to ask for forgiveness than for permission" work.

The article itself is kind of a fluff "Grrrl Power" piece. In the end, this was just a styling exercise. If it has generated usable ideas - good. Profitable companies will realize that there are ideas that work, and those that don't, and it's irrelevant where they come from. IMHO, women's advocacy is great as a leadership tool, but terrible as a design filter. The same is true for any anointed design team.

I'm curious, what were the factors that lead the team to include a relatively high powered engine?

[ElTianti]

A woman will drive a man's car. A man will never drive a woman's car. That's why you very, very rarely see a man behind the wheel of a VW Cabrio

[Xenalyte]

. . . and a team leader of 27 called Anna Rosen, who graduated from design school only three years ago.

Wonder what her real name is and why they call her Anna Rosen.

[TXBSAFH]

A few guys I know drive these as well. It has all the inside room and comfort you could ask for in a small ute. It also had the nearly the same ground clearance and wheel base of the Jeep Wranglers and with an optional 210 hp V6 it moves around the deer lease quite well. I know.

[JosephW]

Subaru SVX. They discontinued them in '97. Hoping to replace it with a Subaru B11S when and if they come on the market

[Alouette]

One thing I'd appreciate from the car designers, though......make the shoulder straps adjustable. I'm tired of being strangled by them! They're made to fit tall people!

Years ago, I worked at the GM Cadillac engineering center. I had the opportunity to test drive Cadillacs. I am a very short person and in my evaluation recommended adjusting the shoulder belt so that it didn't cut into my neck. I don't know what make of a vehicle you drive but my Pontiac has adjustable shoulder belts. I like to think they really did read my evaluation. :)

One other thing that I suggested which never did catch on was to make nail polish in all the new car colors.

[hobbes1]

Two words. Vibrating Seats.



Thats why women love Harleys.

[wjcsux]

We need to start a "Mans Car" thread!

[fdsa2]

I would drive this... Gearstick removed to allow more storage Guess thats all you have to refill.... Design group

[fdsa2]

Fom manly concept cars visit http://www.salon-auto.ch/en/

[TC Rider]

Now that is a car for the newlyweds in San Francisco. ;>)

..and I thought it was a staff car for French Field Marshalls. (Chevrolet is French isn't it?)

[Smokin' Joe]

I thought the SUV was a 4-wheel drive designed by women.....

[Smokin' Joe]

I thought the SUV was a 4-wheel drive designed by women.....

[Smokin' Joe]

They're made to fit tall people!

You are only seeing one side of it. I'm a tall people, and they are made to fit middle sized people. My wife and I have the opposite problem.

[fdsa2]

? A lot of the design and technical solutions in the X90 (volvo suv) comes from women focus groups and women engineers...