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What's a Real Gay Car? The New York Times Postulates

What's a Real Gay Car? The New York Times Postulates

By Marty Padgett's avatar Marty PadgettMarty Padgett April 12th, 2007

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What makes a gay car? Other than being parked in TheCarConnection.com's SE HQ driveway, a car becomes gay (unlike people, who're born that way) when it acquires a gaggle of fans in the rainbow community.

It's taken the grey lady, the New York Times, just 38 or so years to realize there are "gay cars" in the world. This morning, they've canvassed the world of gay car writers and engineers in a quest for the skinny on the prime players - MINI, Miata and Beetle, Wrangler--along with the stalwart lesbian vehicle of choice, the Subaru Outback.

In the process of outing cars, the Times invus two of our favorite homosexualists, who point out that even in the gay world, gay cars sometimes carry a stigma. Joe LaMuraglia, Gaywheels.com titan, told his partner he wanted to buy a MINI--and his partner reminded him that in gay ghettos around the country, a MINI is pretty much "a gay cliché.”

Markus, who tech-directs the newly sheeny Motor Trend, debunks the clichés of a guy in Jeep “to show off his hot body,” and offers instead that “If you could actually push a button and see what every gay person drives, it’s probably not too different from what the average person drives, but it might skew higher in price.” To that point, one of Gaywheels.com's most popular searches is not the fabulous New Beetle or the very, very gay Wrangler - it's the Toyota Yaris.

What's totally gay to you, in the best possible sense? Tell us. Maybe we'll buy one next when we trade in the exceedingly versatile Element. Keep your comments "nice," in the non-Imus sense.

Gay by Design, or a Lifestyle Choice? - New York Times

Listen to Joe LaMuraglia of Gaywheels.com talk about "gay" cars on XM:




 What makes a gay car? Other than being parked in TheCarConnection.com's SE HQ driveway, a car becomes gay (unlike people, who're born that way) when it acquires a gaggle of fans in the rainbow community. It's taken the grey lady, the New York Times, just 38 or so years to realize there are "gay cars" in the world. This morning, they've canvassed the world of gay car writers and engineers in a quest for the skinny on the prime players - MINI, Miata and Beetle, Wrangler--along with the stalwart lesbian vehicle of choice, the Subaru Outback. In the process of outing cars, the Times invus two of our favorite homosexualists, who point out that even in the gay world, gay cars sometimes carry a stigma. Joe LaMuraglia, Gaywheels.com titan, told his partner he wanted to buy a MINI--and his partner reminded him that in gay ghettos around the country, a MINI is pretty much "a gay cliché.” Markus, who tech-directs the newly sheeny Motor Trend, debunks the clichés of a guy in Jeep “to show off his hot body,” and offers instead that “If you could actually push a button and see what every gay person drives, it’s probably not too different from what the average person drives, but it might skew higher in price.” To that point, one of Gaywheels.com's most popular searches is not the fabulous New Beetle or the very, very gay Wrangler - it's the Toyota Yaris. What's totally gay to you, in the best possible sense? Tell us. Maybe we'll buy one next when we trade in the exceedingly versatile Element. Keep your comments "nice," in the non-Imus sense. Gay by Design, or a Lifestyle Choice? - New York Times Listen to Joe LaMuraglia of Gaywheels.com talk about "gay" cars on XM:

Tags: Fun

Posted in: 2007, 2008, Toyota, Yaris



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Responses (40 total)

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  1. By pam #1, Posted: 4/12/2007

    So when do we get to see the list of top "black" cars or "mexican" (i believe in Miami they're called "latins") cars. It won't be long before the NAACP stands up and demands their list be printed too!

  2. By Sharky #2, Posted: 4/12/2007

    Here in SF, BMWs are very popular with us gays -- particularly the 3- and 5-series. And yes the MINI, Prius, Miata and Jeep Wrangler are hot commodities too. Convertibles in general are pretty common, the better to drive around with your shirt off and crank up the techno.

  3. By  Marty Padgett #3, Posted: 4/12/2007

    There actually are sites that publish top cars for black people, Latino people, and of course lesbianomical people. It's the beauty of niche publishing.

  4. By Da truth #4, Posted: 4/12/2007

    Uh... Pam, In Miami latinos (latins) are majority Cubans but there are also Puerto Ricans, Dominicans, etc. Mexicans are from Mexico. Mexicans doesn't represent all latinos. Girl, take yo ass to school or visit Miami before you make assumptions.

    There are such things as gay cars but they left off VW Jetta, Passatt, Golf and the infamous Cabrio which is totally gay.

    Others:

    Chrysler Lebaron convertible


    Not gay:

    BMW 5 series
    Not all convertibles.

  5. By Doug #5, Posted: 4/12/2007

    I've never understood why the idea of "gay cars" persists.....maybe gay guys in Miami, San Francisco or L.A. have identifiable preferences, but here in the heartland it's hard to find any patterns. While I know gay guys who own rugged Jeeps and stylish BMWs, most of my gay male friends own boring Saturns and Toyotas. And while most of the lesbians I've known own minivans and small SUVs, it's because they're raising kids and need the versatility, just like any straight parent would.

    That said, I owned a Miata (a so-called gay car) at one time, one that I modded to improve horsepower and handling. That's because I like style *and* performance. Maybe my love of style in a car is a gay thing, but again, not every gay guy here in the midwest seems to care about style. Otherwise, I'd see a lot more Minis and a lot fewer Ions among my gay friends.

    My current car? An Audi TT 3.2 coupe. The guys in the online TT forum (http://forums.audiworld.com/tt/) have occasionally groused that they don't like gay guys owning "their" car, but the combination of incredible style (that apparently even a straight guy can love), grin-inducing performance and AWD practicality is hard to beat. And if I didn't have a TT, I'd own a GTI. So the "gay car" concept doesn't have much to it, as far as I'm concerned.

  6. By Eric #6, Posted: 4/12/2007

    The article lists the G6 and Grand Am as "siblings", which would imply that both cars are sold side by side at Pontiac dealerships. Not so - the Grand Am was replaced by the G6. It would be more accurate to say that the Grand Am is the "father" of the G6, which is clearly indicated by the excess lines and wrinkles seen on most Grand Ams.

  7. By Jeff #7, Posted: 4/12/2007

    I always thought the gay cars were the ones with the rainbow sticker on the bumpers.

  8. By Michael T. #8, Posted: 4/13/2007

    Im a young gay male in LA, California and I would say at least in this city or on this coast there are definetly trends in what gay guys tend to buy. Some are expected and others very much so unexpected. Im a true car enthusiast at heart, I believe it runs in your blood (my father had a short career in racing) and Ive personally owned some "gay" cars and some that are not so gay. Here is a list of em all (keep in mind I work for a large Cadillac, Saab, Hummer, Subaru dealer here so its easy to flip in and out of cars):
    GAY:
    3 Volkswagen Jettas (04.5 GLI 6 speed was the most recent)
    2005 Mercedes Benz C230 sport sedan 6 speed (Mars Red exterior made it gay...haha)
    2007 VW GTI 2.0 DSG
    2007 Audi A4 Avant 2.0 Quattro 6 speed

    NOT GAY:
    2006 Cadillac STS V8
    1995 Infiniti G20
    1996 Chevrolet S10

    I would have to say after my years in the car biz, that certain vehicles always seem gay, most VW's, BMW's, Audis, Mini's, Land Rovers, Jeep Wrangler, Mazda Miata and Mazda 3, Volvo S40/V50....basically anything that is classified as a "premium" brand. At our Cadillac dealership the CTS seems to be a hot seller to gay guys and our Saab's fly out the door like jets off an aircraft carrier to gays and lesbians (especially the 9-3 convertible).
    An unexpected Gay car is the new HUMMER H3 (I had a few months in a row that I could say that 40% of my customers were gay or lesbian) My dealership even advertises and supports our local Gay Pride. The last few months with our new Subaru franchise had led to some interesting conclusions about Lesbians and Outbacks or Foresters..... I havent seen ANY or assisted any since we've been open so that must be a midwest/eastcoast trend.

  9. By chris #9, Posted: 4/13/2007

    the real gay car is the saturn any model

  10. By Andy #10, Posted: 4/13/2007

    Why can't I enjoy a car for what it is (Miata: two-seats, roadster and excellent handling) or the Mini (small, maneuverable,again with the handling) without possibly having to prove my "manhood" to the world?

    I'm too young to remember, were the British roadsters and their owners considered gay?

    Beetle and Cabrio, especially Beetle Cabrio, those are "gay" cars. Or the straight mans wifes car.

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