Hummer, Grand Cherokee, Chevrolet, Mercedes Benz G65, Range Rover and a whole lot of others are names of large-sized and expensive cars which make style and status statements for anyone driving them. Such cars used to be a thing for men, but these days women are fast-overtaking the opposite gender in that regard. Even when cars are bought based on affordability, women would take it to a different level. There seems to be a craze for posh, big and expensive automobiles. From female celebrities to ‘big girls,’ every woman in a flashy car grabs attention.
Joke Musa, a 30-year-old banker says: “My new ride would have to be a Cherokee Jeep. I don’t care about other cars. I must the one I want to fit into high society in Abuja. Here, women are usually on top gear with flashy cars, even intimidating some men who ride smaller cars. I want to be in on that.”
Bakse Lawrence, a student in his mid-20s says posh cars are structurally comforting and women love comfort. “But I think they just use it to show off. Large cars, like SUVs, are meant for men, sports cars for the youth and smaller cars for women as the society pictures it to be. But Nigerian women have rewritten the script to suit themselves and the craze seems to be catching up well with them.”
Some believe that large, flashy cars give an impression of wealth and success for whoever is driving them. Nonye Ewenzor, a lawyer, feels they are good in name but not in size because big cars are status symbols and social statements in the sense that they connote success. “Women like big cars because they are social declarations, and what better way to get noticed than to come with a flashy car?”
Fatima Buhari, 37, says: “Everyone has individual taste. I’ve always wanted one, as I reckon it would make me feel good. [Large cars] are stronger and more attractive. I think women that go for them have great taste.”
Traffic wardens are not left out of the debate as they give their reasons why women love big cars. Rufai Kalam says: “Most women that we see every day are so engrossed in the fact that they are driving a big car. When they come to the traffic light they feel too big to stop and ignore us when we try to stop them, and they beat the lights too.”
Nene Frank, a youth corps member noted that even if a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) isn’t expensive, it makes more sense than a small vehicle. “As a woman I would like to drive one because it is a joy to ride a car that is admired by all.”
But Ekon James, a businessman, argued that most expensive cars you see women ride in were not actually bought by them. “It’s either their husband, sugar daddy, or something. I think some women are so desperate about big cars that they don’t mind emptying their husband’s bank account. I can tell you that women can lure you into debt just because they want to update their status. Their dreams are no longer big houses, but big cars.”
Mueez Mahmood, a 40-year-old engineer, says: “Women drive big cars for prestige; they love fanciful things. I don’t know where they get the money for that, but when I see them in big rides I wonder what I am still doing, standing.”
Martha Samson, a 38-year-old teacher, says she prefers small cars because of the ease of finding parking spaces whenever she is out: “As it is now I can maneuver my car any still fit into any small space but a big car can’t do that. For me a car is a car as long as it takes me wherever I need to go. It has become so bad that some school kids get teased about the kind of cars their parents come to pick them up with.”
Other respondents also argued that women driving posh cars are trying to establish their independence and identity. Regardless of which direction the war of the sexes is heading when it comes to cars, the fact remains that women have a craze for cars. However, whether for prestige, pride, comfort or more, women always look beautiful in posh, expensive and large automobiles.
