Boo! Happy Halloween from Ask Patty! We hope you are out celebrating and enjoying the time with family and friends. But of course before we put on our costumes and go trick-or-treating, we wanted to provide you with all the newest and best automotive news for this week! Thank you to everyone who submitted this week. Put on your witch hats and saddle up your magic broom for a wild ride!

Car buying shouldn't be scary, and women are starting to know it! The buying power of women is becoming a hot topic these days and even the New York Times is yakking about the subject. Ask Patty was featured in the recent article this past Sunday about the buying power of women. Car buying doesn't have to be scary anymore and ConsumerPop talks about how she just might buy a Saturn now because of it!

Starting us off has to be the Official Ask Patty carved pumpkin. We carved Patty into this pumpkin for all of the treaters who will appear at our door for goodies. Instead of candy corn, maybe we will hand out car tips…

In case dressing up yourself isn’t enough, try putting your car in a costume. Crazy you say? Well, not for some people. Halloween Online Magazine held a car costume contest for all of those ghouls who like to go overboard on holiday spirit.

If you want to join in on the car decorating craze, try hanging some garlic from your mirror to ward off the vampires… maybe you should stick with fake garlic so you don’t offend all of your passengers at the same time. Another idea is to get the kiddies involved and create a bat antenna buddy. It kind of looks like an owl, but it’s the right idea!

Back to some regular car news. Melissa at Motor Trend took a trip to the Monterey Sports Car Championships recently and had a great time. Melissa and MotoringUnderGround hit the road in three MINI Coopers fully packed with coolers, chairs and luggage. Who says MINIs are too small?

Lookout – another Ask Patty pumpkin appearance! We just can’t get enough of that thing.

The Lake County News-Sun writes an interesting opinion piece on whether or not dealers truly treat women differently when they come in to buy a car. The News-Sun seems to think they don’t treat them differently than men.  We’re sure not every dealership is scummy in this way, but ask most women and they would say they have been treated unfairly at one point in their life.

Are women harder to please than men? Interesting premise for an article done by New Car Net and Winding Road. Sexual stereotypes, once thought obsolete with the advent of gender-bending breeds such as "metrosexual man" and "the ladette", have been reinvigorated by research into differing customer satisfaction levels between the sexes. What do you think?

Guess who drives more than half of new V6 Mustangs? You guessed it! Women. Hah! The buying power is truly there for us ladies, and companies (and dealerships) are just starting to figure it out. Ford already offers two Mustang packages geared toward female buyers: the Mustang GT/California Special and Grabber Orange Pony package for V6 models. Both favor styling upgrades over performance improvements. Apparently it’s a strategy that’s working!

Dogs, dogs, and more dogs! We love ‘em over here at Ask Patty. We also love pretty much every other furry thing out there (yes, including men). Just like your own brood, you will want to keep your pets safe while traveling. Cars.com has some great tips on ways to get factory-installed options for your vehicles.

HeraldToday.com has a cool article about women riding Harleys. Women are taking on the car world and the Harley world! There are growing numbers of women interested in bike clubs and motorcycle events around the country. Our very own Ask Patty Prez, Jody DeVere, rides a Harley Davidson too.

If your dad was a racecar driver, do you think you would follow in his footsteps? Shoot, we think it might be really fun! Drag racing is about breaking barriers. Usually it involves horsepower and the time it takes to cover a quarter-mile. Candyce Marsh followed her dad, Clarence, into the drag racing circuit and hasn’t looked back.


According to Yahoo Health, after Daylight Saving Time ends and the clocks are set back an hour on Sunday morning, there may be more drowsy drivers on roads and highways across the United States for the following few weeks. With it getting darker earlier, people are more likely to nod off. Drink some Monster!

And one last time we want to show you are Ask Patty Jack-o-lantern. Last time we proimise! But she’s so cute! Make sure to submit to our carnival next week and HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Is your ride all dressed up for Halloween? Consumer Reports that truly an equal-opportunity indulgence, both sexes proved to be engaged in car personalizing, with 77 percent of men and 70 percent of women participating in the car customizing tradition.

Based on the average reported six-year ownership period, this breaks down to $13.5 billion, or $118 per person, spent

The 2006 SEMA ( Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association) show opened today, yes on Halloween, in Las Vegas and Ask Patty will there to trick or treat at several events, check out all the new aftermarket accessory manufactures to trick out our rides and attend one day of the JD Power Internet Roundtable which is running consecutively with the SEMA show this year in Vegas.

The Car Care Council's Women's Board is having a cocktail reception Halloween night , the SBN
( SEMA Businesswomen's Network), is having a speed networking breakfast , ( like speed dating only more fun!), and will be presenting their annual achievement awards to aftermarket industry women on Thursday November 3rd. The United Spinal Association MotorSports program will be on hand at the PRIMEDIA booth to support SCCA members who are racing with hand controls!

One of Cadillac's high-profile SEMA vehicles will be a special edition of the 2007 SRX with a cabin that has been redesigned by Dana Buchman, an upscale women's fashion designer.

The '07 SRX already benefits from an all-new cockpit for the new model year, but Cadillac's mandate to Buchman, a former Liz Claiborne designer who now markets her namesake label, was to take the cabin a step further.

Bob Long host of Motor Trend Radio will be interviewing  Ask Patty on her take on the female car buyer Thursday November 2nd on his live radio broadcast fromt he SEMA show at 3:30 PM so tune in !

The SEMA Show is the premier automotive specialty products trade event in the world. It draws the industry's brightest minds and hottest products to one place, the Las Vegas Convention Center. As part of AAIW, the SEMA Show attracts more than 100,000 industry leaders from over 100 countries for unlimited profit opportunities in the automotive, truck and SUV, marine and RV markets. SEMA Show 2005 drew over 50,000 domestic and international buyers through two million square feet of exhibits. The displays are segmented into 11 sections, and a New Products Showcase features more than 1,400 newly introduced parts, tools and components. In addition, the SEMA show provides attendees with educational seminars, product demonstrations, special events, networking opportunities and more.

2006 Show dates: Oct. 31 -  Nov. 3, 2006.

Happy Halloween from all of us at Ask Patty !

Jody DeVere
President

Motor City Service and Sales co-owners Gayle and Julius Clark show the students at the class where the tire PSI is located and Co-owner Gayle Clark and Angel Glaze of Detroit watch as Malaysha Blanch Canton learns how to remove the oil filter and oil pan plug to change the vehicle's oil during the basic car maintenance class for women at Motor City Sales and Service in Detroit, Mich. on July 29, 2006. The class is being offered for $20 the last Saturday of each month.

All I can say is WOW , do I know some women who could use these classes. Ask Patty is being bombarded with questions on simple repairs like these from women all over the country and Gayle Clarke an advisory panel member of Ask Patty is ready to answer your questions. Be sure to click through the link and see the great gallery of photo's of women learning how to take charge of their automotive needs!

Photo Gallery of Women Who Get Under the Hood

Bring it on ladies !!!! Email or comment on this post with your questions!

Full text Detroit Press click here

Jody DeVere
President
Ask Patty
www.askpatty.com

Inspect Your Vehicle’s Lights So You’re Not Left in the Dark

Proper vehicle lighting will be vital to safety when daylight-savings time ends on October 30. To prepare for fewer hours of daylight and the extra hours of darkness, the Car Care Council encourages motorists to take a few minutes to inspect their vehicles to ensure that all of the lights are working properly.

The Car Care Council recommends checking all vehicle lighting on a monthly basis, including the headlights, turn signals, brake lights, side lights, parking lights, tail lights, backup lights and license plate lights. Whether you do it yourself or visit a professional automotive technician, it is important to repair or replace non-functioning lights immediately.

Something as simple as a burnt-out brake light could potentially have major consequences. Results of vehicle inspections during National Car Care Month found:

• 8 percent of vehicles inspected needed work on at least one of their turn signals.

• 6 percent of vehicles had problems with at least one of their brake lights.

• 5 percent of vehicles failed their side light inspection.

• 1 percent of vehicles failed the inspection for their headlights, parking lights, tail lights, backup lights and license plate lights.

Ask Patty was featured today in the New York Times Business section. The article refers to women's buying power, which of course we knew we had all along!

What Do Women Want? Just Ask

What BeJane.com is to home improvement, AskPatty.com hopes to be for women and cars. While there are just two Janes, a whole panel of expert automotive women are behind AskPatty, which gives women a blog and a Web site to post questions about all aspects of automobile transactions and maintenance.

The site, which has no advertising, is rolling out an AskPatty Certified Dealership Program. Dealers that complete it are deemed to be female friendly and are searchable by ZIP code. The company has given its seal of approval to 25 dealerships and says that hundreds more have inquired about joining the list.

Just who is Patty?

“Patty is a mom, daughter, wife, niece, grandmother and auntie,” the site explains in part. “Patty is young, old, married, single, an experienced driver, a new driver, a racecar driver, a hot rod driver, a classic car driver, a minivan driver, a truck driver, a luxury car driver, an S.U.V. driver, a disabled driver, a carpool driver.”

Jody DeVere, president of AskPatty, which was formed last summer, notes that women buy more than 50 percent of the new cars and trucks sold in the United States. In 2005, based on data from National Automobile Dealers Association, that amounted to about $200 billion spent on about eight million new vehicles. Although women also bought about half of new cars and trucks a decade ago, Ms. DeVere said, their approach to those decisions has changed.

“The main difference is that women are beginning to understand their purchasing power,” she said. “They are now beginning to demand better treatment and have gotten their voice.” While there are some other valuable auto-buying sites for women, like Edmunds.com/women, Ms. DeVere said, AskPatty is different in that “it is from women by women, but more than that, AskPatty is heartfelt. It’s not just words and information.”

After spending hours on the Internet researching a new car over several months, Beverly McMullen of Upland, Calif., hit upon the AskPatty site. She has a physical disability and needed specific auto modifications.

She visited the site before and after her family bought a 2006 Saturn Vue. Ms. DeVere responded personally to her questions, passing along useful information. Ms. McMullen said she was hesitant about asking for help, but was glad that she did.

“It seemed like I had a task force supporting me,” she said in an e-mail exchange. “AskPatty really jump-started what had seemed like a dead end for me.”

by Deborah Renshaw
Previously I outlined a few suggestions for dealerships to consider on how to improve their verbal communication skills with women buyers and create a better “buying” experience for women buyers. Communication can be verbal and non-verbal. Let’s look at some non-verbal ways to communicate with women effectively.

1. Smile and look women in the eyes when you greet them, keep your gaze above the shoulders.

2. Pay attention to her non verbal “cues,” she came to shop for a vehicle and wants to feel “in charge”, try not to rush to open doors and be the gentile escort, ask  her if she would like you to get the door for her. Being the “gentleman” is appropriate behavior on a date; however these gestures may undermine her confidence and dilute her feeling in control during the sales process.

3. Provide a nice assortment of women’s magazines in your waiting rooms.

4. Have separate, clean and pleasant restroom facilities that include a changing table for young mothers with small children. Keep it well stocked with supplies. Go the extra mile and stock a few “extra necessities” to show you appreciate their “waiting time.”

5. Women want to be respected as savvy consumers, support and educate her during the sales process rather than take the role of the “know-it-all” expert car guy.

6. When women come in to your dealership with their husbands, be sure to greet, speak and make eye contact with both husband and wife EQUALLY, rather than direct all your questions and comments to the husband, in many cases she will actually be the one to make the final buying decision!

7. Go at her pace during negotiations, rushing her to close the deal “today” might backfire, women generally take longer to make a buying decision, however once satisfied with their purchase and experience with your dealership are typically more loyal then their male counterparts.

Ask Patty's expert women collectively know all there is to know about cars and trucks. We asked them for opinions on some of the brands and models out ther right now and we got some great feedback! Check out our reviews of the 2007 FOrd Edge and the 2007 Chrysler Sebring.

A CUV That Every Woman Will Want - The 2007 Ford Edge
by Lauren Fix, The Car Coach®
The quest for the perfect female friendly car is not easy.  So many manufacturers boast they meet every females needs, but I wonder if they actually speak to women and then produce the product they plan.  After driving the new 2007 Ford Edge, I think I've found the best all around female friendly car. 

Visibility and seating comfort are two of the most important factors women consider when purchasing a new auto, the Edge has covered both with the least amount of blind spots than I've seen in a long time, and comfort that should make any size and shape women comfortable. 

The bold new Ford Edge is in the red-hit crossover utility segment that offers dynamic driving character and innovative features designed to make it female friendly.  Equipped with a 265 horsepower engine that give you power and fuel economy, plus a quiet ride that we all need.

Most impressive was the standard safety features that other brands will charge extra for Edge includes: 4 wheel disc brakes with factory anti-lock brakes, side impact air bags, energy absorbing steering wheel and knee bolsters, safety canopy system for rollover protection, extended side air curtain, roll stability control, and Advancetrac® will give any women control of the road. 

After driving this impressive vehicle I was impressed with the handling as it wasn't over assisted like many new cars and still give the flexibility of a SUV, yet graceful and a joy to drive.

There is so much storage that you can actually put your purse or laptop in the center console that has adjustable storage, more cup holders that you can fill, four power outlets, pen holder, and even a tissue box holder.  As for sound add your own with a MP3 adapter or listen to the factory Sirius radio - the sound was just as impressive.  Every control, even the navigational system was easy to use even with acrylic nails.

Most enjoyable was the panoramic vista roof, this large glass moonroof provides a grand view of the sky and can partially open as well as tilt or slide back.  There is even a cover to keep the sun out of the kids eyes. 

This very responsive Edge offers drivers a confident ride without compromising the fun factor and gives women a new place to call their second home.  All for a starting price of $25,900 for this sporty CUV.  I'd recommend you take a trip to your local Ford dealer, you'll get a lot for your investment.

by Heather Conary
There are an incredible number of career choices for women in the automotive industry, vehicle dealerships being one of many. They are everywhere now, and are often looking for new people. Typically, most women think of an automotive dealership as somewhere they could only work as a receptionist or a secretary.  While those jobs are available, there are many other positions available to women in each and every department within an automotive dealership.

Dealerships are high-tech facilities, with challenging and fast-paced work environments, requiring many skilled employees to keep the company running in an orderly fashion.  Coming into an auto dealership from another career path can be an easy transition, since most jobs require a high level of interpersonal skills, as well as technical and computing skills.  Not all jobs require any technical knowledge of automobiles, so there is truly an opportunity for anybody at a dealership.

Administrative & Clerical
Every dealership has needs for friendly, helpful people who like to talk to people.  The ability to multi-task and work well in busy environments is a necessity.  These jobs can be a great stepping stone to other positions higher up within the dealership.  Some entry-level position clerical jobs may have titles such as receptionist, administrative assistant, cashier or secretary.

Many dealerships employ department managers, meaning individuals who have control over one facet of the organization.  These jobs require the ability to manage and motivate employees, as well as keep control of a department and maintain its role in the dealerships success.  Administration and clerical jobs include titles like comptroller, office manager, billing and title clerks, human resources management, and department managers.

Sales & Finance
A salesperson today is far from the stereotype of a sleazy, used car salesman.  The ability to form a bond with a customer, work with them as a partner to find a vehicle that best suits their needs, and continue the relationship after the sale are keys to a successful sales career.  The abilities to listen and empathize are skills that many women have an advantage in.

Most dealerships offer an on-the-spot option to finance your vehicle, as well as purchase add-on warranty and insurance packages.  Women in these positions are often able to easily assess customer’s needs and work with them to find solutions.

by Candie Leigh White, author of "The Green Pea"
I was listening to NPR the other day when famed author Kurt Vonnegut said he had made a poster addressing our countries attempts to help others and the poster read- Be like us! After 100 years let your slaves free-  After 150 years let your women vote!  Go Kurt!

Oh how sad it is that with the millions of women buying cars every year, there are just a virtual handful that are able to influence and affect this whole process.  I feel as if I am in a third world country and I can’t get the veil out of my mouth to be heard.

Having stood in the trenches and sold cars for over ten years, I thought that writing a book to shed new light on car dealerships would be an invaluable asset for anyone who has ever sold a car or tried to buy one.  That by offering an easy and fun explanation of the whole auto sales process would ease the fear of the buying public and gain support from the powers that be in the auto world.  I tried to be in the middle of the road and less feminist in my verbiage so I wouldn’t offend the salesmen and offer my understanding of all parties. 

I wrote articles with a positive perspective of salesmen and I told myself that things weren’t as bad as what women were saying- those women just didn’t understand.  And I kept marketing my book and my idea to Presidents and CEO’s of companies that have the power to change the way dealerships run; people who have the connections to make dealerships friendly places for women to work and do business. 

Although I have received accolades I have been told that my story is just not what they are looking for.  They being the powers who determine what is important to the buying public right now.  In light of the failing American auto industry, what could be more important than dispelling the negative stereotype that plaques auto dealerships?   Paris Hilton’s dating dilemma?

I drove onto a car lot last week to see about a job and the salesman literally stood in the middle of the driveway and held up his hand to stop me.  After I explained my purpose was employment and not a new car I was ushered into the showroom to meet the Sales Manager.  The SM was a really nice guy. He was excited about my qualifications, and he told me he was new as well.  I asked if he liked the owner and he reluctantly answered- Well, the owner is an ex-Marine so I guess it’s good that he is very strict and aggressive.  He keeps things in line. 

by Amy Mattinat,  author of "How To Buy A Great Used Car"
“The machine of a dream, such a clean machine. With the pistons a pumpin’, and the hubcaps all gleam. When I’m holding your wheel, All I hear is your gear… I’m in love with my car, gotta feel for my automobile.” From: I’m In Love With My Car, by Queen.

When you think about your car, does it make you happy that you made such an excellent decision by purchasing it, or do you wish it would disappear and a better car would magically come your way?

The relationships people have with their automobiles can be very similar with the relationships we have with each other. There is the happily married vehicle that meets your needs and that you’re thankful for, the lemon that needs to be gotten rid of, and lots in between.

No matter what kind of connection you have with your car, winter driving conditions demand adjustments to your habits. One of the most over-looked winter safety hazard is our own personal temperament. Being late and rushing to “somewhere” in your car may make you really late if you are involved in an accident.

Just as it takes you a little while to warm up when you crawl out of bed on a cold winter’s day, your car needs a minute or two to warm up so it can be driven safely. If after starting the car, you put on the defroster, and then clean all the ice and snow off the car, the engine will be warmed up enough to drive it by the time you have good visibility all around. Computer-controlled, fuel-injected engines will warm up faster once you start driving. But, start off slowly down the road and avoid high speeds and rapid acceleration, because it takes a typical vehicle approx. 4 miles of driving to warm up the wheel bearings, steering, suspension, transmission and tires. Remember to clean the snow off your shoes so they won’t slip off the pedals.

Wear comfortable clothing that doesn’t restrict your movements while at the wheel. If you insists on not wearing winter boots, hat and gloves throw them in the back seat, just in case! 

While you’re at it, make sure you have an ice scraper, snow brum®, small shovel, sand or kitty litter for traction aide, tow rope, road flares, flashlight and batteries, a blanket and some energy food and water.