Did I buy a chick vehicle?

In the parking lot at my office in Studio City there are 3 other 4runners. White limited and SR5 driven by women, and a grey SR5 driven by "prefer not to disclose" type. So based on this sample yeah, I'm driving a chick car..

 

To answer the original question. No I don't think it's a chick car. A Fiat 500 on the other hand...

 

Lately it seems that when I see one it is driven by a woman. Including yesterday the MGM TRD OR I saw lifted with a gobi ladder and full roof rack. I pulled alongside expecting to just see another dude like me (stubble on the face, a hat referencing a geographic location, maybe a hoodie, and that hella sweet vibe of chillness) but no it was a woman who had no interest in acknowledging a fellow human let alone 4 runner afficianado.

 

Latest stats show that slightly more women buy Tacomas over men. I wouldn't be surprised if more women buy the 4runner than men based on that as well.

 

When you think that ~ 1/2 the population is women, it’s not unusual to see so many driving a 4 Runner. Not many women work on their vehicles, some do, though. Mostly though, they’re sharing that ride with a significant other who is probably a member of this forum.
I have 3 daughters, all grown up with their own families now and professionally employed, but they all grew up knowing how to change the oil and maintain their vehicles. No service department can BS them on their vehicles, lol.

 

I agree, but I'll add that a lot of younger men don't work on their vehicles either. It seems more common for people to have a shop or the dealer do their work.

 

As long as men we don't drive a Highlander we will be ok.

Or Rav

 

Dude .... I loved my highlander! It was a true cheater minivan. Three rows of seats, power everything, more than 30MPG on hwy, super quiet on the inside, car-like handling, awd and so on.....

 

But, it couldn’t do cool stuff like this

 

Boo! Highlanders rule! If I hadn't gotten obsessed with off-roading, I'd be driving one. Or an RX.

 

Sorry wife has one. It is nice and better on MPG.

But me driving one daily? Nope.

 

This topic generated some of the funniest comments yet on the forum! I haven't particularly noticed a gender trend with 4Runners around here, but I can tell you that my wife probably likes my 4Runner more than I do. She drives it way more often than any of my prior cars. She might have gone a year -- literally -- without driving my BMW.

Of course, my 4Runner is a Limited. So, yeah, not exactly the "manly" version.

 

Funny is my plan is to buy a RAV4 or a Highlander within the next year for my commuter car. Been my plan since before I sold my 14’ Tacoma. Keeping the 4Runner for the fun stuff. that way if my projects take longer than a couple of days on it, I’m not stuck hitching a ride to work

 

I had a Mom with her young son pass me in a newer 5th gen as I was parked the other day. He was scoping my rig and said look at that 4Runner Mom!
Her jaw dropped and then she couldnt take her eyes off the snorkel. It was hilarious.
And I say yes, yes we do drive a chick car.
Dozens where I live.
What I like is the contempt the diesel bubbas have for them.
Takes someone who is secure in their masculinity to drive one lol.

 

The 4Runner is a safe and reliable vehicle. Husbands and significant others want to ensure their partner is safe so that is why they want them to drive a 4Runner. Plus my wife thinks it is just badass when she does drive the 4Runner. She says she feels like she owns the road and no one can get in her way.

 

Here in Oahu I see a lot of that too the men drive a Tacoma and women drive a 4Runner

 

Funny cause I love my moms 2018 Rav 4. The old ones used to be horrible rattle boxes but these new ones in hybrid form are legit. I was just telling my wife that if we needed to replace the little grocery getter Yaris it would be with a 2021 Rav4 Prime.

 

That’s how I feel too I use to drive a small little car and now that I bought a 4Runner I feel so much higher and more in control of the road lol

 

I’m with you, the 4Runner isn’t the most practical and with kid number two coming (currently about a month away) the sedan went away for a Highlander.

 

Yeah but thats your wifes right? So you safe. LOL.

Don't get me wrong I drive the Highlander. Its a lot better than my 99 Accord DD. But I wouldn't make it my DD.

 

Idk, @Dillusion , if it takes a secure man to drive a 4runner, just imagine the testicular fortitude of a guy DD'ing a RAV4!

 

yeah. heh. But id switch to driving that around from my 4runner. Gonna need a custom plate so people know its hers though.

 

This is an interesting discussion... I will add that I daily drive a Camry to work occasionally . Like when I am in the mood to save some gas, or know that will have to park in a crappy place where chance of picking up dings is high. So, I will drive my beater Camry, and it is just amazing how differently you get treated and looked at (or not looked at - ignored lol) when in that car as compared to the 4Runner. It’s rather sad how shallow we can be really.

 

Congrats on Nr 2.

 

I haven't met one yet.

A gay couple down the road from us drives a Volvo SUV (I honestly couldn't tell you what model) if it helps any. Nothing against them but just saying.

 

Not to brag but mine are kinda a big deal...but maybe thats the cancer

 

Not sure whether to laugh or cringe..

 

My brother, who is a Detective, SWAT team sniper, big game hunter, and at 42 is married to a 26yr old female attorney, drove a Geo Metro for years. He loved that little thing and said it didn't make sense to get rid of it. Of course, he also owned a V10 Ram pickup and a Jeep Wrangler for his outdoor adventures.

When his new wife became pregnant, he reluctantly sold it and his wife's old Focus and bought a Honda CR-V.

My son drives a Highlander, and my daughter drives an AWD Sienna. Funny how when I was raising them, we drove Ford, Nissan and Infiniti vehicles. Now, we all drive Toyotas.

My mom drives the ultimate old white chick car; an 80's Mercedes Benz SL450 convertible. I can only drive it with the top off since I'm 6'2" and lack the yoga skills to get into it.

 

I don't see a lot of women in Runners here (northeast Florida). most of the soccer moms/Karens either drive the midsize things like Highlanders or whatever the BMW equivalent is, or they go full battleship mode and stomp around in Armadas or Land Cruisers. That said, the woman next door is a hairdresser who buys a brand new 4Runner Limited every year almost to the day.
When my son started driving I gave him my Trailblazer...dreamed of a 4Runner but finances weren't agreeable so I bought a Camry just to have something reliable but affordable. After a year, my wife 'talked me into" putting the money down on a 4Runner and the first thing she said when I brought it home was 'yes. you look like a real man again".

 

I see A LOT of women in my area driving 5th Gen 4Runners and FJ's. Modified of them are mostly men.