Updated: Top Ten Cars for Women
First of all, let me say how hard it is to get any work done when it's so darn nice outside. Perfect car-driving weather is here... how's a guy supposed to stay inside and write? I'm trying to stay disciplined and make some much-needed updates on the site such as revising our Top Picks lists. Before fuel prices spiked to $3/gallon, the Top 10 Cars for Women was one of our most popular articles. Gas prices seem to have settled a bit (grrrrr), and while fuel efficiency remains on everyone's mind, Cars for Women is clawing its way back on top.
Here's the deal: Generally speaking, women make much better car buyers than men. When it comes to vehicles, we guys tend to buy what we want, while women tend to buy what they need. Our list of the Top 10 Cars for Women is a result of years of feedback from female readers and acquaintences on their vehicular needs and wants: Practicality, affordability, economy, and, yes, enjoyability. The resulting list is a great starting point for male and female buyers -- and no, there's not a minivan anywhere to be found. Matter of fact, it includes some of our favorite cars such as the Volkswagen Jetta GLI and Mazda MX-5 Miata. Check it out and let me know what you think. -- Aaron Gold
It is funny that no American car made the list. TheAmnerican people are the biggest bunch of dummies to read an article like this and go by it. Just think how they will feel when there are no jobs left here and they will be marching across the Arizona desert to get into Mexico so they can work. Keep listening to these idiots and the end result will be disastrous to American labor.
Actually, John, there is an American car on the list – the Ford Fusion. It used to be built in Mexico, but Ford moved production to the US in order to make room for the new Fusion. (So much for giving American workers a crack at building the latest and greatest.)
The Toyota Camry and Honda Civic, both on this list, are built in the US by American workers. The other manufacturers on this list – Mazda, Mercedes and Subaru – all build cars in the US. The sole exception is Volkswagen; the Jetta GLI also happens to be the only one built in Mexico.
If you are concerned about US labor, then you probably know that the Japanese and Korean brands are the ones making major investments in American labor. Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Mazda and Subaru all build cars in the US, and Korean automaker Hyundai recently opened a major plant in Alabama which employs 2,700+ workers.
The domestic brands are the ones laying off UAW workers; the import brands are the ones investing in American labor.
– Aaron (proud owner of two American-built Hondas and one Canadian-built Dodge)
Hmmm. Why such a bias toward Japanese econo cars? The Focus shouldn’t be on the list because it’s poor reliability and lousy resale value make it a bad choice overall.
You missed out on several cars that are popular with the women I know. No Mustangs? No Jeep Wranglers with city tires? No BMW auto transmission convertibles? No Hyundais or Kias? No RAV-4 “the SUV that is inexpensive like a car but lets me see around traffic?”
Just to clarify, John #3 is not John #1!
p.s. The Wrangler, BMW and Mercedes are not at all practical. I think women only prefer economical cars if they can’t afford luxury cars (as I live in an area where you can spot a Rolls Royce, Lamborghini, or Enzo Ferrari on public roads–rich women seem to have tastes similar to rich men).
Hey John #2 — what, women don’t drive stick-shift BMWs?
The Focus has its downsides but overall it’s an enjoyable car to drive. And some people do prefer to buy domestic. I debated between the Focus and the Cobalt; the Cobalt really is a surprisingly decent little car, but the Focus has more character (though I still haven’t forgiven Ford for the watered-down styling that came out in ‘05).