Did you know there is a Gender difference of about $1200 on buying a Car? How does Home purchasing differ?

Hi Endre:

I think it depends on each individual and how they approach things.  I have had buyers were the male is the decision maker and some where it is the female, same with sellers.  When you meet clients for the first time you usually learn pretty quickly who is driving the decisions and who is most informed.

Now as far cars, I learned a long time ago to go on-line and perform an RFP (request for proposal) sent to several dealers.  I pit them all against one another since I am shopping for the same make/model etc.  I rarely go to the dealer until I have anywhere from 5-6 bids.  I take them with me to the dealer when I go to look or test drive to show them who all has bid and most importantly I am always willing to walk away.  It takes a few weeks to go through the process but in the end, I let them know whoever comes in with the best deal wins.

Endre - I didn't realize there was such a gender difference for car buying.  I usually pick a car I like the look of, then I want to know how it holds value and what the repair costs are like.  I hate it when a car is in the shop.  If I like all of that, then I look at what's the best price I think I can get for the car, then I go to the dealership.

Maybe it's a difference in age too.  When I was in my early 20's, I wanted a Mustang.  I found the best deal I could, but I wasn't willing to look at any other car.

As to homes, I find that many times the wife is more opinonated on the house though that isn't always the case.

Endre: Interesting post. Thank you. It makes sense but I have to admit I hadn't given this subject too much thought. On the mortgage side, I would say women tend to go with someone they can trust. Men tend to shop around more for a deal. Thanks for the post!

Great post! I think though... that it's still an emotional decision for guys, even after we've done all the research. We just do the setup in a different order. I remember when I was looking for a car back in 2008. I must have researched 10 brands and 26 models. I was going to get a mid-size with great gas mileage yet with a little sporty frill... After I almost drove myself nuts for a month doing the research (too many choices?) I talked to my friend Dave, who said of my 15 minute diatribe mumblings about car research and making those decisions... "You like your Ford Explorer, right? Yes... "Well buy one of those." Duh... Found an Explorer in Kent, called, went down to see it and 30 minutes later I drove it off the lot.

My home buying experience is actually comparable... It just happened...

Cool car by the way... your wife has excellent taste! :O)

Glad to see the gold star on this and there is some interesting discussion.  I wonder if age plays into the gender role at all.

Endre - I was showing one beautiful condo unit 2 days in a row to two different couples. Both times women walk to the kitchen first, and their husbands went tothe living room. And then we were waiting for women to get out of this kitchen, and they kept researching the kitchen.

We are different

Endre, it's been about two years since I bought my last new car.  The process was ridiculous in my mind with all the running back and forth by the sales person even after I had already picked out the car I wanted to buy.  It occurred to me at that time, that it might be easier to buy a house than a new car. :-)

I hate the car buying process so tend to do a lot of shopping (research) on line first. Then I go out to the car dealer, fall in love with something completely different and buy that. :)

Houses are bought on much more emotional plane than cars (my opinion). And, the woman usually wins even if it's not logical or mathematical. Congrats on the feature!

Endre, very good post and congrats on the FEATURE.  When it comes to auto's I'm inclined to go with the numbers and for the reasons you gave.  However, the purchase of a home is different in my opinion for many of the reasons left in other comments.  I've had both men and women who were tough negotiators especially here in Huntsville where there are so many engineers...they definitely put things under a microscope.

Hi Endre

For me when I was in the car business it was age. If someone told me it would be their last car I sold it to them at dealer cost.

Endre I am smart enough to have my husband do the shopping and he goes about the research the way you do.  my criteria is usually safety, must handle well in winter weather, and a trunk for signs and stuff :)

Endre -- There is DEFINITELY a gender bias when buying a car. I bought a car in December 2012 and was really screwed by the dealer. I am very "Dealer wary."

My wife wants to buy a car now. She has been shopping for a couple of months. She is focused on the size of the payment. She has not yet eliminated any make or model and does not have a basis in reasoning on anything.