Women give thumbs up to 'green' men
According to a survey in the US, 88% of women said they would prefer to talk to a man with a new fuel-efficient car than to a man with a new sports car.
By TNN |
| Red and black, the metaphoric "babe-magnets" are out (TOI Photo) |
WASHINGTON: Forget that Ferrari, put away the Porsche, and junk the Jag, if you are haring after that neighbourhood hottie. The rules of romance are changing where cars are concerned. Red and Black, the metaphoric ''babe-magnets'' are out. Green is in.
A new survey in the US sponsored by the Department of Energy and General Motors shows 88 per cent of women saying they would prefer to talk to a man with a new fuel-efficient car than a new sports car.
In other words, something like a Toyota Prius is the new ''babemobile'' and will get you places a Porsche or a Ferarri (Tendulkar and Sanjay Dutt own one) can���t.
As for the Hummer -- Harbhajan Singh's preferred choice -- it's a bummer when it comes to winning hearts.
The gas hog is now considered so vulgar, gauche, and anti-social that its makers General Motors are considering selling it or discontinuing it.
The survey, conducted more than a month ago, also found that 36 per cent of Americans on the fence about buying a hybrid would be pushed to seriously consider one if gas rose to $4.00 a gallon -- where it has already reached in some places.
Rising fuel costs will be a factor when choosing a car for 73 per cent of car buyers. Some 80 per cent of car buyers said they would prefer to talk to a fuel-miser than a fuel-wastrel.
There's also lots of interest in a reality show similar to ''Project Runway'' about designing stylish fuel-efficient and emissions-free cars, with the nearly three quarters of survey respondents saying they'd tune in.
The survey comes at a time Americans are moaning from coast-to-coast about soaring gas prices, although the $ 4 per gallon they pay is among the cheapest among developed nations -- about half of what most Europeans pay and less than what Indians pay, even after the recent hike.
All in all, the new mood sweeping the west puts a big question mark on why Tatas, a thoughtful, conservative company, chose this time to go after the Jaguar and Land Rover.
The survey, which had a limited sample of 500, had its doubters.
''The girls around here like guys with big trucks,'' joked one respondent from California. ''After all, anyone who can afford the gas for it must be making bank.���
A new survey in the US sponsored by the Department of Energy and General Motors shows 88 per cent of women saying they would prefer to talk to a man with a new fuel-efficient car than a new sports car.
In other words, something like a Toyota Prius is the new ''babemobile'' and will get you places a Porsche or a Ferarri (Tendulkar and Sanjay Dutt own one) can���t.
As for the Hummer -- Harbhajan Singh's preferred choice -- it's a bummer when it comes to winning hearts.
The gas hog is now considered so vulgar, gauche, and anti-social that its makers General Motors are considering selling it or discontinuing it.
The survey, conducted more than a month ago, also found that 36 per cent of Americans on the fence about buying a hybrid would be pushed to seriously consider one if gas rose to $4.00 a gallon -- where it has already reached in some places.
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Rising fuel costs will be a factor when choosing a car for 73 per cent of car buyers. Some 80 per cent of car buyers said they would prefer to talk to a fuel-miser than a fuel-wastrel.
There's also lots of interest in a reality show similar to ''Project Runway'' about designing stylish fuel-efficient and emissions-free cars, with the nearly three quarters of survey respondents saying they'd tune in.
The survey comes at a time Americans are moaning from coast-to-coast about soaring gas prices, although the $ 4 per gallon they pay is among the cheapest among developed nations -- about half of what most Europeans pay and less than what Indians pay, even after the recent hike.
All in all, the new mood sweeping the west puts a big question mark on why Tatas, a thoughtful, conservative company, chose this time to go after the Jaguar and Land Rover.
ADVERTISEMENT
The survey, which had a limited sample of 500, had its doubters.
''The girls around here like guys with big trucks,'' joked one respondent from California. ''After all, anyone who can afford the gas for it must be making bank.���
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