Women + Car Dealerships = Intimidation

Have you or would you shop for a vehicle for yourself alone?  That is, without your husband, dad, brother or other male with you?  I realize in 2011 that’s a horrible question to have to ask but the fact of the matter is that even today, women are still intimidated at the prospect of shopping for a major purchase like a vehicle by themselves.

So far this year, women accounted for 36 percent of all new car and truck purchases, according to the Power Information Network, although some in the auto industry say the figure is closer to 45 percent. In certain segments, especially compact cars and midsize cars, women make up nearly half of all buyers.

While we may hold more buying power, I’m curious to know statistics on actual vehicle shopping.  Is she alone on her venture, or does she have him at her side?

When we purchased our van last year from our home town Dodge dealer, my husband and I shopped together.  Although the purchase was primarily as a vehicle for me (my husband drives a vehicle for work so we’re a single-vehicle family), there’s just no way I would have shopped for this vehicle alone.  I know what I’m looking for, features that are must haves and things that don’t impress me and can be left out, but I still don’t think a major purchase like this is one that I could do on my own.

My sister recently made her first vehicle purchase on her own, without any input from anyone else other than her 18 year old daughter, and my sister is in her 40’s (I outed your age, sorry sis!)  It was incredibly stressful for her but now she is awaiting the delivery of her brand new vehicle and I’m very proud of her (for this and many other reasons!)  This got me thinking about how we, as women, seem to balk at situations like this.

So, would you walk into your local Jeep dealer (or other, take your pick) alone to test drive a vehicle or are you like me and prefer the reassurance of a guy, regardless on his knowledge of what’s under the hood?