New Survey Shows Adults Look for and Find 'Sex Appeal Behind the Wheel'
9 February 2000
Romance on the Road; New Survey Shows Adults Look for and Find 'Sex Appeal Behind the Wheel'
CYPRESS, Calif., Feb. 9 -- A new national survey shows that
the spirit of romance, or at least flirtation, is alive and well on U.S. roads
and highways. In the survey, sponsored by Mitsubishi in conjunction with the
debut of its new 2001 Eclipse Spyder, more than one-half (56%) of adults
participating said a stylish car attracts their attention. The majority of
respondents admitted trying to get the attention of the driver of an
attractive car by lowering the window at a red light, honking the horn and/or
asking the other driver for directions (whether needed or not!). And one out
of four adults say that feeling attractive behind the wheel is one of the top
reasons for purchasing an automobile -- especially among 18 to 24 year olds.
The survey was conducted by Roper Starch Worldwide in January 2000.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000111/LATU019 )
Highway Attraction
Apparently, a stylish car can also influence the beginning of a
relationship for some drivers. Approximately one in ten adults surveyed said
they have been attracted to or become drawn to someone based on the kind of
car they drive, and an equivalent number said they had actually gone on to
date someone they met while driving. And, one in 20 of those questioned admit
they have made the decision not to pursue a relationship because of the kind
of car driven by that person, presumably because it just didn't live up to
expectations. Women's romantic interest in someone is more likely than men's
to be affected by the sex appeal of their "wheels."
"Our research shows that sex appeal can be a factor when purchasing a
car," says Peg Dilworth-Hunt, Vice President of Marketing of Mitsubishi Motors
Sales of America, Inc. (MMSA). "Whether we like it or not, people make
judgments based on limited information, and the type and style of vehicle you
drive is the 'street' equivalent of telling someone what you do for a living
at a cocktail party."
Can the Way to a Person's Heart be through a Car?
The survey also found that more men than women have dated someone they met
while driving, but women are more likely to have their feelings affected by
the kind of car a man was driving. Furthermore, the 18-24 year old age group
is most likely to have dated, been attracted to, or to have lost interest in
someone because of the kind of car they drive. A full 75% of them reported
being stirred to action upon seeing a stylish car.
Additionally, people living in the Northeast and West were twice as likely
to become attracted to drivers of stylish cars than those living in the
Midwest and South. More than 40% of African-American adults agreed that
feeling attractive is important when buying a car. Survey participants living
in the metropolitan areas are twice as likely as those living in
non-metropolitan areas to recall an incident where they were flirted with,
asked for their phone number or asked for a date by another driver.
Among those who were able to recall the funniest or most unusual
experience about meeting someone while driving, women are more likely than men
to remember having been flirted with, asked for their phone number or asked by
a date by another driver. Approximately two out of ten women recall such an
experience, compared with slightly more than one out of ten men.
The survey is based on telephone interviews conducted among 1,103 adults
age 18 or over. Interviews were conducted January 20, 2000 to January 23,
2000. Data was weighed to ensure the proper representation of certain
demographic groups and the margin of sampling error is +/-3 percentage points.
The 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder is the second-generation convertible
version of the all-new Eclipse coupe, highlighted by a muscular chassis and
"geo-mechanical" style. It takes 15 seconds to complete a metamorphosis into
a gorgeous drop-top.
Mitsubishi Motor Sales of America, Inc. was established in 1982 by
Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, Tokyo, and markets a full line of vehicles,
including coupes, convertibles, sedans and sport utility vehicles. Their
website address is http://www.mitsubishicars.com.