Men in flashy cars really do appeal more to women

Rediff ^ | March 24, 2009 | Rediff

[MyTwoCopperCoins]

While a recent study concluded that men prefer dating beautiful bimbos, new research has confirmed what many males and advertisers long believed: driving a flashy car really does make a person more attractive to women.

Psychologists at the University of Wales presented women with separate images of the same man sitting in a silver Bentley Continental, then a red Ford Fiesta. The study involved 120 participants, reports The Scotsman.

After seeing the male, the volunteers viewed him as 'more attractive' in the prestige car. However, when men were shown images of a woman of comparable attractiveness sitting in the same cars, she was judged to be equally alluring.

Dr Michael Dunn, who led the research, which has been published in British Journal of Psychology, said: "In the past, women were very restricted economically and tied to men for financial security but in recent years, through female emancipation, they have become independently wealthy with access to their own financial security."

"But what you find is that there is still a preference for wealthy males, which suggests that these preferences are evolutionary, rather than social factors." According to him, men were hard-wired to view women in terms of purely reproductive attractiveness, regardless of the outer signs of their wealth or status.

Donna Dawson, a psychologist specialising in personality, behaviour and relationships, said: "This doesn't surprise me at all. It's hard to fight against our genetic inheritance. I think women have always looked to men for some sort of financial security and the car is proof of that."

[Osage Orange]

Hemorrhoids?

[ecomcon]

1960 Buick Invicta, baby! Beautiful...

[Don Corleone]

And I always thought buying a flashy car was to compensate for a small ——.

No...that's a big watch.

[thesharkboy]

I see Hope. Where’s Change?

[ccmay]

I made a few independent confirmations of this study back when I had a new 280Z in about 1980.

[RandallFlagg]

How long is yours? My hair goes down to my beltline.

[arealconservativeforachange]

It’s more fun to rent the car.
Pick up the chick.
Do your deed.
Then tell her you have to make a stop before you drop her off.
That stop is to return the car and pick up your POS car.
Then you can take her home ;)

Oh just try it!

[darkangel82]

LOL, just to my shoulders. Anything more and it gets too hard to manage.

[AndrewB]

Hey baby..wanna see my etchings?

[Kimmers]

I like men with big diesel pickup trucks or muscle cars.........gimme some noise !!!!!!

[Salamander]

How odd.
I looked for a guy who could beat the ever-lovin’ snot outta anybody who might wanna harm me.

[My hearts in London - Everett]

Doesn’t this really only prove that there is a ton of shallow, easily impressed women out there?

[RandallFlagg]

I keep hairties with me all the time.

[UCANSEE2]

It's been going on a long time.

[Mikey_1962]

GAY!

[Sherman Logan]

It proves men and women tend to be shallow in equal and opposite ways.

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

Time to put another couple more coats of wax on my old, but mint, and gleaming LS 400. Time to cruise!

[wvguy]

How does that explain the fact I married my college sweetheart who only had a bicycle and a used Subaru Justy to his name?!??!

Because you're not shallow? :-)

[Kimmers]

LOL.....if the two of you start discussing hair care products you will be kicked off the thread.....

[USAFJeeper]

Well, I have been married for 23 years... Drove 4x4s mostly... I am buying a Rally Yellow 2010 Camaro this year, I will let you know if it makes us stay together another 23 years!