It's the first date. Do you want him to show up in a Prius or a Hummer?
Oh goodness. Talk about setting the match a little close to the powder keg.
Two Cars.com interns were sent out into the streets of Chicago recently and asked women their opinions about various cars that a guy might show up for a first date in and what their reactions would be. Coming from someone who thinks about cars just a wee bit more than the average person on a daily basis, let's just say I cringed more than once while watching this clip. I feel kind of bad for these ladies, who are portrayed as harsh, simplistic and somewhat ignorant. Or maybe that's just who they are.
Starting at around 2:25, the video gets to the first of our titular items, the Prius. Aside from barely knowing that the Prius is "good on gas," most of the women react favorably to the hybrid. As for the Hummer H2, well, just watch.
I don't think the Prius v. Hummer debate is ever going to go away, do you?
UPDATE: Thanks to Alex's comment below, I've posted about the video with men answering this question as well.
[Source: Cars.com, YouTube, thanks to Linton for the tip]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
catherine 3:31AM (5/22/2008)
Women get no points for knowing about cars. They have to look good and not be annoying,that's it. It's an unfortunate part of our reality. And men can try to deny it ,but putting themselves into debt to drive a "sexy" car is their way of getting a "better" woman. Me personally...I couldn't care less about the car he drives,I pay more attention to how clean it is on the inside(tells you about his personal *ahem* hygiene habits) and how he drives tells you alot about his character. I agree that this random sampling of people on the street is pretty useless though.
Reply
Shorel 4:25AM (6/17/2008)
So, the Toyota Prius is by far the better, not only attracts the smart girls...
But also repels the shallow ones!!!
It's a win-win situation.
Reply
HummerOwner 10:43PM (10/07/2008)
Lets get serious people. The majority of women want to "talk" to a man in a vehicle that shows some status (its does not matter what it is). A woman wants a man that is finanacially stable and if you disagree, you are on some sort of drug. There is a small percentage that actually care about the environment, but not many. There are so many other issues, regarding global warming that no one talks about. A new H2 is no different in mpg than an older SUV, but no one knows that because they really do not care. What it comes down to, is seeing a big intimidating truck in front, behind, or on the side of you that is the concern....its not the environment.
But for the subject on hand....women want security and a $20,000 Prius is no comparison to a Escalade, Porche, H2, Benz, or anything else along these line.
Reply
Owen 11:33AM (7/12/2007)
Wow, it's kinda sad that they are all so shallow, but I guess the question is kind of leading.
"what would you think of a guy who picks you up for a date with 'this' car?"
That being said, I wonder what the size of their poll was? You can pick the first 5 people you walk up to and they may be total nutcases. At least that's what I'm telling myself so I can keep some semblance of faith in humanity.
I am surprized what they said about the Prius and even more so the Miata! Overall though, they seemed pretty ignorant about cars. I was sad to hear what they said about the MINI... because I have one, lol.
Reply
rex 11:44AM (7/12/2007)
I agree Owen. Those women are so caught up in status and looks. They sound like they care more about what the guy has that the guy. "What if he showed up in a Toyota Prius...He's cheap, which is bad"(not a good quote mind you), this is really disturbing to the state of people anymore. Someone who is frugal and wise with their money is bad in their eyes. Very disturbing indeed.
Reply
wnordmann 12:25PM (7/12/2007)
Wow that is shocking. Not just the shallowness but the lack of real knowledge about cars.
The girls would wouldn't talk to the guy in the MINI and didn't like the shifting in the MINI, would be willing to put out with the Miata. The cheapest Miata is only $2000 or 10% more than the cheapest MINI.
Reply
Don 12:36PM (7/12/2007)
Wow, people are stupid.
Reply
kballs 12:41PM (7/12/2007)
Car image is everything!
I wonder how women rate men in societies without cars... "he had a really big spear so I married him"... oh wait that's how it ultimately works everywhere. :)
Reply
Don M 1:43PM (7/12/2007)
This is interesting video -lame but interesting.
What would be better is if ABG can do this with real women like those that you find at a University campus or business district or ask the question to a guy. Wonder how many guys would be interested in a woman who drives a vespa, hummer or BMW?
Reply
Joseph 10:46PM (7/12/2007)
It really annoys me to see people so ignorant about cars. But oh well, I'm sure there's all sorts of stuff I'm "ignorant" about.
I wonder what the response would be for the Tesla Roadster!
But I think we all learned something from this, take the bus next time for your date!
Reply
pkuhl 2:33PM (7/12/2007)
Did everyone who commented actually watch the whole thing? There were positive and negative comments for all cards. One said the Prius owner was smart and saving the world, another said he is cheap. That's 1 positive, 1 negative. Pretty sure somebody liked the Hummer and another said it was bad for the earth. One said Mark Wahlberg was in the Mini so it must be cool. Another said she would not fit in there. Again, +1, -1.
So, all they did was raise positive and negative views that an *extrememly* small sample of women had. This group was not unified on their view of anything. This is not a scientific poll and predicts nothing.
Reply
shmuupy 4:12PM (7/12/2007)
this one is interesting. I think the issue of how the car is perceived is important because it really does drive people's decision making. this is why I am so frustrated with the choices of green cars out there. for example, I think the prius is really boring, I hate it for myself even though I respect it as a hybrid. thats why I would feel like a fake driving one. I would not want to date in a car I feel does not represent what I like. I'd by psyched to have a turbo diesel volvo c30, cool, nice and gets great mileage. but its simply not an option. that sucks.
Reply
George Krpan 7:39PM (7/12/2007)
I wouldn't date anyone that dumb.
Reply
Murc 9:29PM (7/12/2007)
One word sums them up.....idiots.
heres just a few reason why.
-A Prius is more expensive then a miata.
-Mini Coopers dont have a shifting problem.
-The H2 has the same gas milage as a Bentley...its just that the hummer has been the lighting rod for bad efficiency.
how about you poll some people who dont have steam rolling outta their ears.
Reply
Turbofrog 9:32PM (7/12/2007)
George is on the money. I don't care if you're ignorant about cars, but none of them were very articulate in the least. And had bizarre pre-conceptions.
Reply
Sean 6:34AM (7/13/2007)
Holy Crap at these womens' lack of automotive knowledge that even a child possesses, articulation skills of a three year old, and grave shallowness...Judging a guy based on the car he drives? Shallow, Shallow, shallow....That fat blond on the Prius was the stupidest of them all.
Reply
Kal 4:54PM (7/13/2007)
Let's see how this exercise would've faired with women if the roles were reversed...men judging women by the cars they drove...Awww SNAP.
Reply
Peter 8:28AM (7/13/2007)
Realize they were asked to judge the guy by the car. As in "what kind of guy do you think would drive this?"
I also imagine that they excluded intelligent responses or that the intelligent stopped participating when they asked them to judge people buy their cars.
In Hummer vs Prius, I think there was only one positive for the hummer and one negative for the prius. Possibly the same person. They didn't like the prius because it was economical. Liked the hummer because it wasn't! "If he can afford that and afford to put gas in it, he would be a good date..."
There you go. Want to attract gold diggers drive a hummer.
Reply
Derek 8:31AM (7/13/2007)
hmmm, woman driving a Hummer... (probably an H3 tho?)
Not everything was balanced, the minivan was pretty much snubbed by everyone. The only girl who sounded like she'd give him a chance admitted that she drove one as well.
Haha, so much for women caring about personality, etc. I'll just avoid all this shallowness and bring a bicycle!
Reply
Alex 10:12AM (7/13/2007)
To the guy who wondered what if the sexes were reversed in the interviews:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaWTeIMs2OM
It wasn't a scientific poll, we were just having fun with the idea. I was kind of shocked by some of the answers though.
Reply