The Ways Women Show We Love Our Cars
by Jody DeVere -- Ask Patty

Pinkandblackimpala_2 I was stuck in traffic recently, cruising along slowly amid a sea of bumper-to-bumper cars when a shiny flash of pink caught my eye. A few cars ahead of me was a gorgeous black impala that looked brand new. Clearly its owner loved her car, because not only did it shine as if it was just driven off the lot, but all its chrome and badging, even its wheels, had been trimmed in amazing hot pink!

In its interior, along the back package shelf and at the base of the windshield, the Impala was decorated with a feathery pink boa. The car, and its owner's personalization made me grin -- which was a happy change considering the way I really feel about creeping along the freeway at speeds slower than I can ordinarily walk. I battled against the traffic tide to catch up with the sedan, so I could give the owner her kudos on her car.

Pinkfeatherboa_2 As I struggled to keep her glorious car in my sights I began to speculate more and more about the woman and her ride, and what adventures the two must have together. I wondered if she might have named her car with something fun to reflect their travels together... yes I was daydreaming about a total stranger and her car. In my mind, I imagined that to her, her car was her personal princess, and with all that pink, she must love to pamper her.

At last, my lane allowed me to get near the car, so I rolled down the window of the Buick Enclave I had been testing. From my perch above them, I could see two girlfriends inside the car, chatting enthusiastically while they cruised to their destination. From my lane, I hollered out the window "Girl! I looove your car!" and she hollered back "Thank you, kind lady!"

I told her about AskPatty, explained that it was a woman's automotive website, that her car's pretty pink touches put a smile on my face while I was driving, and I wanted to ask a few questions about her car. (Yes, some might question the safety of doing car-to-car interviews in rush-hour traffic, but trust me, nobody was rushing anywhere at that moment.)

We hollered back and forth a few times: She told me her name was Pamela, she had only had her 2008 Chevrolet Impala about three weeks, that she did all the work herself, and that if I liked this car, I should see her previous car because it was decorated with jewelry and had its own tiara! On a whim, I asked whether the Impala had a name and when she told me "Diamond Princess" I was delighted that I had already guessed her black beauty must have been a princess of some sort!

It wasn't long before traffic parted us for good. Pamela and her Diamond Princess headed off towards their destination, and I went on my way home, feeling very happy about my interaction with this vivacious lady and her special car.

How much do you love your car? Have you personalized it with any special touches, or given your car a nickname? Come join us at carblabber.com and tell us all about your car and what makes it special. We'll be giving away some goodies soon,  including a set of awesome floormats from Yes Essentials worth up to $200! Before she drove away, I invited Pamela to stop in at AskPatty.com  -- I sure hope to see her and the Diamond Princess here sometime soon!

jody devere, askpatty presidentJody DeVere
President
www.askpatty.com
www.carblabber.com

Submitted by Jody DeVere -- Ask Patty (view blog) on Fri, 08/15/2008 - 10:14

Comments

 

I do love my car

It's not girly or customized, but I love my car and get a great deal of pleasure from the way it performs on the road.

People often say that men see their car as an extension of themselves while women see cars as a tool to get from point A to point B. I disagree.

Vered DeLeeuw

http://momgrind.com/

Submitted by Vered on Fri, 08/15/2008 - 11:27
 

the boob-mobile

to say I love my car is an understatement. it is so an extension of me that anyone that knows me and does not know that it is me has thought of me if they have seen it driving around dc. I am a breastfeeding educator/advocate and my car is the ultimate breastfeeding mobile. I have a magnet with a baby(tastefully!) breastfeeding (only a bf mom would know that devlish little smile is a baby attached), a lactivist sticker, a babies were born to be breastfed campaign sticker, a BF sticker (for breastfeeding mom) and a international breastfeeding sticker in the front windshield. and, because I am, I also have a "Modern Mom" sticker in the front window that looks like a hindu goddess with 6-8 arms juggling a cell phone, a laptop, a baby and other items that moms typically juggle. putting the stickers on makes me feel as though I am expressing myself and I love to get comments (good and respectfully bad) on the road. I love to see people's expressions when they are driving in back of me when they notice what the baby in the magnet is doing. at least they are talking about it. I am not a breastfeeding nightmare and totally respect people's views and personal perspectives but it is what I believe in and advocate and being able to have an extension of that on my car is pretty fun.  I should add that my car is actuallyl a truck---  blue FJ Cruiser (2007)

Gina, washington, dc

Submitted by gciagne on Fri, 08/15/2008 - 17:58
 

Love my new car

I've never loved a car before Molly, but two weeks ago, as I realized all three of my children could drive and I didn't need the large mom car, I decided to go look for my own ride.

 I test drove all of the typical mom cars.  Large cars with back seats, all of the typical sedan-style perks in tow I drove every car I could find, none gave me a sense of joy or ownership.  On a whim at the Ford Dealership I decided to drive this hot little red 'stang sitting there teasing me on the parking lot!

Thirty minutes later I was madly in love and Molly and I rode home.  My hubby was happy that I'd found a hot sports car, my kids were envoius because the old lady had a nicer ride and I feel like a teenager again!

 

Doris

The Leaky Cauldron
Everything Harry Potter.


Fit, Fabulous and Forty the Natural Way! The fitness journey of a forty year old mom.

Submitted by Doris on Fri, 08/15/2008 - 18:51
 

Ain't Loving Your Ride Grand!

Thanks for all your great stories and comments.

I get to test drive many new cars and fall in love or get crushes too often on new cars. Guess I am a fickle car lover!

Jody DeVere
President
www.askpatty.com
www.carblabber.com

Submitted by Jody DeVere -- Ask Patty on Fri, 08/15/2008 - 19:58
 

Girls and their Cars

Hi,

Yes- I totally agree-cars for women are so much more than simple boxes with engines capable of transporting us from one destination to another. For me (and a host of other women) cars mean freedom- I can get in my motor turn the music up and forget all my everyday worries. I'm by no means  a 'girly girl' (I love lifting weights, have a Second Dan Black Belt in Karate, oh, and four academic degrees) but I love to customize my personal space in my motor....Check out www.me-mo.co.uk for a host of ways of dong just this!

Happy Driving!

Ruthie x

Submitted by ruthieatlarge on Mon, 08/18/2008 - 05:35
 

I also like pink because its pretty & 4
Breast Cancer Awareness

platesmall.jpg

Chevrolet Covette is brand name dominated by "older" gentlemen.

I wanted to change that stereotype.

I purchased a convertable Corvette and put a Pink Breast Cancer Awareness plate (as we all know its a great cause) and put my name on it to show that plate.jpgwoman can also drive Corvettes! And I wear a pink corvette hat!

Submitted by suzannecampbell on Sat, 10/25/2008 - 07:35
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