Cars before Kids

Filed under:
News
on 03/10/2006

Source: evecars.com

Who needs to spend money on kids when four wheels are far more exciting? A generation of women are choosing cars before kids as material possessions overwhelm maternal instincts.

Sales of cars to women are booming with the biggest increase reported among those aged 29 to 44 with disposable income – and without children. The British car trade will see almost 5 million car purchases by women this year – half the UK's forecast total sales. According to the RAC Foundation women buy almost 50% of new or used cars, but have a deciding influence on 80% of purchases".....this means either buying the vehicle themselves or being consulted by their partner.

Car manufacturers recognise the power of female purchase power and some are actively targeting women who have chosen to postpone parenthood. A huge number of women don’t settle down until their 30s and 40s and they are opting for possessions such as cars before spending their money on having kids." said Lesley Jones, Editor of evecars.com, eve Magazine's motoring website for women.

"There is a clear trend among independent, affluent women to treat themselves to the better things in life before they settle down. This includes squeezing every moment of maximum enjoyment from their hard-earned cash by driving their dream car. And who cares if it has no back seats to speak of? There's plenty of time for a mum-bus when the kids eventually come along."

Car advertising was worth £700 million in 2004 and the industry’s approach has softened over recent years to appeal to female car buyers, who have already helped the UK to second spot in convertible sales in Europe.

The average age for a woman to get married has risen to 30 and the number of 40-something women who became pregnant has increased by six per cent in one year. That's almost double early 1990s levels, according to the Government’s Office for National Statistics.

One in five women now enter their forties without children.

Birth rates have been collapsing among younger women who value education, career, cars and mortgages before having children. Research states that a woman who has her first baby at 24 will miss out on up to £564,000 earnings over her lifetime.