Survey Says! Women across the country reveal what they are driving and why.

Author: LaChelle Neudorfer

From California to Vermont, women shared with us their reasons and motivations for the purchase of the current vehicles they are driving. The women surveyed were from all age groups, professions and family statuses.

Most of the surveys came back showing that these women were buying newer, bigger and more expensive vehicles. While as a single category, four-door cars were the most popular, when combined, vans and sport-utility vehicles dominated. Interior room was the most popular reason when making their new purchases. When the buyer did not want to be a "minivan" mom they chose an SUV. Sharon of Georgia said her 2002 Expedition she purchased, " Had the room I needed without the minivan stigma."

One woman actually chose a smaller vehicle and went from a 1997 Mercury Villager to a 2001 Oldsmobile Alero. Suzanne of Georgia said, "I was tired of being a minivan mom! I chose the Alero because it is kinda sporty but has four doors."

Behind interior room, the women said they chose their purchases based on the perceived value they were getting. There is no way for us to tell if they truly received a good deal, but it does tell us that the women are doing some kind of research to give them the feeling they received one.

These purchases were most likely made before the recent oil crisis, so it is not surprising that fuel economy was the least used determining factor when making a purchase.
These women are not all driving around in brand-spanking new vehicle. Most of the women own 2001 or older vehicles. So while they were moving up in the car world, they either bought used or have had their cars for a while. Both reasons show today's car-buying woman to be very practical. Would you expect anything different?