Why don't women like driving 'big' cars? (seriously)

[Welly]

Asside from all the usual 'cos they're crap drivers' one liners I am going through this very same conflict with her indoors over her replacement car.

I suppose a hatchback is a little easier to reverse park as you can usually see quite well behind but even modern hatches are becoming huge now (the Focus is almost 6 feet wide).

The thing is, safety on our horrid roads is paramount so I would rather cart the Tea Pot Lids around in a 4 door Saloon with a decent rear crumple zone than some poxy small hatch wouldn't you?

I would also prefer to have a crash in a decent saloon than a hatch. So why, with mummy being so protective of her brood, does she want a tin pot half-arsed shopping trolley?

In addition, I think when I see a woman in an 4 door saloon then they gain a bit of respect from me for not following the girly hatch thing, you know, like they can actually manage a "mans" car.

Conversely, (apparently) a rugged manly type driving a Renault Clio gains ubber brownie points with the ladies for not willy-waving in a bigger car

So why is it? Small Car = Woman, Big Car = Man

Discuss.......

[old codger]

I think women tend to go for the hatch back design on the ease at which they can load & unload shopping/buggy/dog whilst still hanging onto the ankle biters that are intent on escape.

'big cars' tend to have deep boots that mean they are distracted whilst loading allowing the escape of offspring/dog/buggy.

For some unknown reason they never load the escapees first.

[DaiRees]

Aha Mr Welton, but a modern huge medium sized hatchback is a very very safe place to put your tea pot lids. Thinking further on the train of thought that has currently seized my easily distracted mind I think I'd prefer a hatch to a saloon as the charriot of choice for my offspring, something about forces from a rear end smash being channelled around said sprogs rather than along the bootlid and solid parcel shelf straight into the back of their heads.

Anyway, 99% of birds can't drive big cars . OK that's bollocks, but they like to think that smaller cars are easier to drive, and let's face it we like to let them think that . In my experience, whenever they actually start driving a large car they love it, but most of the time they're too scared to try for fear of parking etc...

[mjb]

they like to think that smaller cars are easier to drive, and let's face it we like to let them think that . In my experience, whenever they actually start driving a large car they love it, but most of the time they're too scared to try for fear of parking etc...

That's pretty much what I was about to say.

TBH I'm quite happy about it - the less people who want a go in my beloved tubby the better ;)

[Welly]

rear end smash being channelled around said sprogs rather than along the bootlid and solid parcel shelf straight into the back of their heads...

I suppose I was thinking of small hatches where the rear passengers heads are nearly brushing the rear window

A hatchback is usefull if you put the seats down you can get big stuff in there but that doesn't happen much, and doesn't envolve women, and if it's that big you ought to get it delivered really.

I've been offered a tip top 3 series at a good price by someone I know well but fear constant ramblings over it's size, lack of hatchbackiness, parkability, non diesel economyness, manliness, etc. ness.

[djp30djp]

That's odd I can't think of any Woman I know who drives a small car! They are all into Estates, People Carriers or 4X4's, the only hatches I see round here are driven by Kids or Blokes as a "get to work" second car,'cos the Wife's got the big un for the Crumb Snatchers. That don't mean they can drive any better though.

[Welly]

That's odd I can't think of any Woman I know who drives a small car! They are all into Estates, People Carriers or 4X4's.

Funny isn't it? a 4x4 which never goes off road, a pick up which never picks anything up, and an MPV which carries lots of people but no luggage (and likes to tip over sometimes).

[steve_earwig]

Oh yes, those 4x4s that have to struggle across hostile terrain all the way to Sainsbury's and back...

I dunno, my 406 etates are "too big", my Vauxhall Ashtray estate was "too big". Maybe it's because they look at a car as an extension of their handbag...

[teamster1975]

I've been lucky with my wife, she was fine with the saab and the 406, it's just reverse parking that's the killer! No scrapes on the bumpers though!

[neildavies]

I know Deb didn't used to like driving my old 406 saloon because "it's like parking a tank". Funny enough though, the problem didn't seem too bad when I moved to the coupe! Still though, even that novelty's worn off.

As for Dai's comments of the parcel shelf chopping people's heads off, pleasant thoughts!!

[steve_earwig]

(though it didn't have much in the way of tyres left)

Oh yeah!

I once got a Micra as a loaner, half a mile is all my back could take My mate ended up driving it. Twas only for a day tho.