PSA: Canadian chicks dig Chevrolet's new Camaro
2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS - click above image for hi-res gallery
Years and years and years ago (like back in the Eighties), we read a study that broke down car ownership by gender. The car most purchased by men? The Porsche 928, with a score of 97% male. Most by women? 69% of the time the ladies bought Nissan Pulsars – you know, those oddball notchback/shooting brake/targa-top modular things that usually came in pink. We mention this because traditionally, muscle cars have aimed at and appreciated by men. In fact, the gender breakdown for the 4th-generation Camaro is 80% male to 20% female. Not anymore.
Despite 'Vettes getting 'em wet as the sleeveless t-shirt proclaims, it seems that what women actually want is a brand new Chevrolet Camaro. At least, that appears to be the case with America's neighbors up in the True North Strong and Free. According to Autos Canada, it's looking like new 2010 Camaro sales in Canada are splitting the gender divide right down the middle, as in 50-50 in some locations. "Unlike the older versions of the Camaro where you probably had the typical motorhead, male, buyer, this is totally the opposite," says one Canadian Chevy dealer.
Why is this? Says General Motors spokesman George Saratlic, "One of our biggest challenges was the muscle car association to the car. We knew we couldn't do a replica of a '69 Camaro – It limits your audience." What does that say about fans of the 2010 Camaro? Probably not much, as the 426 horsepower LS3 version still skews heavily male. Also, the heavy dose of marketing via Michael Bay's Transformers movie series ensures that eight-year-olds and their ilk are way into GM's latest pony car as well. Still, women are clearly seeing something exciting in the Camaro. Thanks for the tip, Lawrence!
Gallery: Review: 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS
[Source: Autos Canada]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
john 7:06PM (10/28/2009)
FIX your photo gallery AB! It's really really annoying.
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010111 3:22AM (10/29/2009)
no kidding. it is beyond annoying. and goes against years of generally accepted UI guidelines.
Tikki 8:52AM (10/29/2009)
whats wrong with their photo gallery? I kinda like it, easy enough to use.
Mike 7:21PM (10/28/2009)
pre-med, 20 years old, and driving a 33.5k car.. wonder who really bought it.
and at that age bracket it'd be more likely to be a female driving it, as the 3000-4000 a year for insurance for a guy rather reduces affordability.
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AntBee 7:25PM (10/28/2009)
Yeah, I know I can't afford to buy a Camaro up here in Canada. By the time you kit one up the way you'd want it, SS, 6-speed manual, sunroof... etc, you're hitting upwards of $45,000 CDN, and that's before the 13% taxes on top! So, no, the Camaro is way way off of my list of potential vehicles, not for that kind of dosh!
James Sonne 7:12PM (10/28/2009)
I always remember the last gen Camaro being a chick car.
It really depends on the trim. I see mostly women driving the base model Mustang around, but rarely a Mustang GT. Based on my observations, that seems to be relatively true across the board regarding trim levels. I doubt many woman will bend the financial rationale to make the SS a better purchase that doesn't appear to offer additional functionality, whereas men are more emotional about cars and care a lot more about the stats and showing off at stop lights.
Fortunately for me, I've taught my wife how to manhandle a vehicle and she tears through traffic with more abandon than I do now. At any rate, she tells me my 7 year old RSX isn't powerful enough for her anymore :-). I'm a lucky man! (Although she wants a MS3 or WRX and I want a 370Z or used Lotus ... but what a fight to have)
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AntBee 7:21PM (10/28/2009)
Yes, James, you are fortunate to have a wife who shares your enthusiasm for powerful automobiles. That's a rare situation!
BassClef 7:23PM (10/28/2009)
My God! How does your wife balance out the awesome with enough reality to keep the universe from exploding? I'm lucky if I date someone who doesn't bitch about me having a manual transmission!
RandyMarsh980 7:41PM (10/28/2009)
I drive a stick-shift so my girlfriend wont drive my car, cause she has wrecked 3 herself................
cruiseoveride 7:45PM (10/28/2009)
haha bitch about a manual trans
arturo 10:13PM (10/28/2009)
I agree- also every time I see a girl driving a sports car like a 350z or a v8 mustang I feel like dating them, And if the car is stick shift even better it only shows that they are experienced with the stick.
Redline 10:55PM (10/28/2009)
Only date chicks that can handle a stick.
Judy Zik 11:30PM (10/28/2009)
Happy to say both my husband and I have an appreciation of cars. But then I think I got it from my Mother. She was probably one of the only single Mothers who drove a Chevrolet Nova SS.
The Camaro is a nice car but it wouldn't be my choice.
Lar7789789 9:11AM (10/29/2009)
You know, when I do see a new Camaro, I have to say about about 8 out of 10 times I see a women driving it.
Usually its a (dare I say older ) I say late 20's to early 40's I don't know that I paid attention to whether its a V8 or not. I have only really seen a handful of SSes around where I live.
fixitfixitstop 11:39AM (10/29/2009)
I only date women who drive stick. I don't know what you guys are talking about.
A Gupta 7:48PM (10/28/2009)
I wonder what Robin Scherbatsky thinks...
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James Sonne 8:14PM (10/28/2009)
LOL. This reminded me of when Barney went to Toronto to get her back in time to take her citizenship test.
Tony 7:57PM (10/28/2009)
Ha Ha This all reminds me of my last auto purchase ( 07 Altima 3.5 SE 6 sp manual ). My wife balked at paying extra for the six cylinder, now try and wrest it from her hot little hands. I have lived life with one automotive rule.
"Only dig chicks who dig guys with a stick"
I wanted a Pontiac G8 GT but felt my drivers license would be in peril.
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Dtown 8:23PM (10/28/2009)
"Still, women are clearly seeing something exciting in the Camaro" Well at least someone sees something exciting in the new Camaro. I feel like that car has been out for years now after seeing it in movies and on the show car circuit for such a long time.
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naggs 5:39AM (10/29/2009)
so because you knew about the car months before it was even given the go, its GMs fault for taking so long...
is it that it looks too much like the concept car or just that GM was so open about the development of the car that really gets your goat?
i swear, people will complain about anything