"Hairdresser's cars" defined

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GilesGuthrie

GilesGuthrie

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OK, here is a definition of a hairdresser's car, plus some examples...

A hairdresser's car is all about show. It's about looks, and being pretty. It's about being comfortable inside, and which colours it can be bought in. New fashion colours are ace, but in their absence go for plain red. Or something pastel. Something to set off the highlights. It's about whether it's the new thing on the block, or if it's socially-acceptable because a lot of peers have it. It's about getting a huge amount of visual flash for as little cash as possible.

A hairdresser's car is not about resale value. Nor is it about acceleration, top speed, fuel economy, braking (although ABS, "whatever that is" is good). It's not about whether you can get luggage/dogs/children in the back, or about whether it's reliable, economical and well engineered. Wheel size, style and material is not relevant. Unless the wheels are 'fun', with 'curvy' bits (note that the rim does not constitute a 'curvy bit) that is.

In short then, a hairdresser's car is about style. And more specifically, about style and lack of substance. Substance is actively not desired. This is why a Z3 1.9 is a hairdresser's car, and a Porsche Boxster is not.

Examples of hairdresser's cars:
Rover MGF (not the TF)
Mazda MX5 (although that car's reputation as being a fine handler is causing its popularity within the scissored-fraternity to wane)
Suzuki Vitara
Suzuki X90
Suzuki Jimny
VW Golf convertible
VW Beetle
Citroen Saxo (1.1 in Yellow only)
Land Rover Freelander (3dr petrol)
BMW Z3 (not M Roadster)
Mercedes SLK230
Renault Megane Convertible
VW Polo (in pastels only)
Peugeot 206CC

Does that answer the question?
 
Cars in which function follows form, for sure.
 
My Mom's a hairdresser and drives a silver 2001 Volvo S80 2.5.
 
i would think so. but if he bought it for the reason that it was very cheap, and considered it a very good deal, that kind of justifies his choice.

however, if he bought it because he thought it was pretty and had no top, he would be a flaming hair dresser.
 
Originally posted by KosmikFool
My Mom's a hairdresser and drives a silver 2001 Volvo S80 2.5.
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Well, you raise an interesting point there. I think that it really applies to male hairdressers.

I did forget two important cars in my list:
New Mini (except Cooper S)
Audi TT (180bhp)
 
Wait they made a Golf Convert????
 
Originally posted by streetracer780
Wait they made a Golf Convert????
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Yes. Here in the US, it's called the Cabrio, but somehow, they actually got Brits believing it was a convertible Golf! Gone this year, though, worldwide, and replaced with the New Beetle convertible.

2002-volkswagen-cabrio.jpg
 
Originally posted by GilesGuthrie

Suzuki X90
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Aah, this wonderful nothing of an SUV was forced upon the UK, too?
 
I think you could add the RAV4 along with the Suzuki Vitara, or any other soft roader
 
x90 :lol:
now theres a fugly car!!!

toyota celica in base FWD variant.
NX coupe
paseao (or however its spelt)

Mr Maloo, I doubt the new porsche softroader is a hairdressers car :p
 
I thought soft roaders were just smaller SUVs, the same class as CRVs, RAVs etc. where the Cayenne is in the larger SUV class
 
Originally posted by 12sec. Civic
My dad just got a Lotus Elan. Is that a hairdressers car?
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Which version of the Elan is it? Not that any of them are hairdressers cars I'm just curious and a big Lotus fan. Chances are you're talking about a 90's FWD Elan which is reputed to be one of, if not THE most balanced and communicative front-drive cars ever. Defenitely NOT a hairdresser's car.
 
I can see I wouldn't buy the Golf convert any ways
 
Originally posted by HRT_Maloo
I thought soft roaders were just smaller SUVs, the same class as CRVs, RAVs etc. where the Cayenne is in the larger SUV class
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guess it comes down to definition hey? :odd:

My definition of a softroader is any vehicle which is 4WD but is not designed for off road but whish is capable of a minimum amount ogf off road use (this excludes sedans for some reason).
 
People knock the MX-5 Miata as an "unmanly car" but around here, there's actually a lot more men (probably 10-1men/women ratio) that drive them nowadays. It's light, nimble, just enough power (well, maybe a few more ponies, please). It's like driving a big go-kart.

Of course, that may have to do with the fact the Miata has about 1 cubic foot of truck space...no room for mall shopping!

Lately, a lot of ignorant chicks think of an SUV as some sort of women's liberation response to getting minivans in the 80's and 90's...I don't understand it. It's absolutley foolish, no matter who you are, to drive a truck that seats 8 people when you're driving on paved roads virtually alone. I hear girls talk about cars at my work, and they all want SUVs, maybe a few want sports-cars. Yeah, they fell in love with the New Beetle in '98-'99...that's worn off around here. But they think the Mini, Miata, Civic, and other small cars are dangerous and thus, uncool.

Call me foolish, but I won't pretend to understand all the automotive choices made by those lacking a Y chromosome.
 
I see you're all getting the point of this! Excellent!

Anyone else notice how VW simply grafted the MkIV nose onto the MkIII convertible and called it a new car?! Ha ha!

RAV4: Definitely.
Toyota Paseo, Civic Coupe, definitely.
 
The H2 is a "hairdresser's car." Men who own them must accept that.

I used to drive a white Cabriolet... I know :rolleyes:. In San Francisco it was more acceptable than here in Phoenix or especially in Chicago. I just loved riding up The Great Highway with the top down, heading to Pt. Reyes for the day.
 
Originally posted by milefile
The H2 is a "hairdresser's car." Men who own them must accept that.
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Not if they actually use it for off roading and stuff it was made to do on an annual basis its not. If they are just some rich ass prick and all they do is drive it on the road and add some ugly 20's or 22's then yeah it is a hairdressers car...
 
Heres all the stuff about my Elan, as I posted in another thread:

1st post:
Yesterday my dad bought a Lotus Elan from a guy down the street. I know its front wheel drive, but when we popped the hood the engine block says "ISUZU". My dad knows about this, but what the hell is going on. How can Lotus get away with that?

I consider this to be a hairdressers car. Just to stay on topic.

I havent driven it yet, but it needs a tranny overhaul, thats why my dad got it for an embarrassingly low price. Apparently it used to be the best handling FWD car on Earth. But I doubt this is still true.

2nd post:
I think Lotus went downhill from there as a company. I still love the Lotus Esprit, and I'm sure the Elan is going to turn the odd head. But I really dont like the idea of an Isuzu engine under the hood of anything I drive!


When it came out, it was the price of a 911. Lotus lost money on each of them!

It has a 1.6L 16V DOHC Turbo/Intercooled Inline-4 with 162hp and 158ft-lbs. It weighs 2,249lbs and does 0-60 in 6.6 seconds which doesnt seem unreasonable.

It handles 0.90Gs on the skidpad. The drag coefficient is 0.33.

The brakes are apparently very poor for a car this weight. The weight dist. is 62/48 F/R Which is pretty bad, although I'm sure it has good traction. Top speed is 137mph or 220km/h

I guess its not that bad of a car. I hope the tranny is also made by Isuzu so we can get that repaired for cheap. I doubt it though because the guy we bought it from is a Cardiac Surgeon!


BTW: Ours is white its a 1991 5 Spd. It looks to be in perfect condition.


Here is a picture of an Elan. Ours is white.
GT.jpg
 
It would be better if they had just put 'Lotus' badges on it instead :lol:. Guess they dont drive their own cars :p j/k...
 
Originally posted by Frustrated Palm
It would be better if they had just put 'Lotus' badges on it instead :lol:. Guess they dont drive their own cars :p j/k...
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Do you mean if they put Lotus badges on the engine?

Well, the engine block says "Isuzu-Lotus". Or did you think I meant the car has Isuzu badges on it?

Hmmm, I am confused.
 
No, just if the company took off the Izuzu badges and replaced them with Lotus badges. Like anyone would find out :lol: j/k...
 
Originally posted by Frustrated Palm
No, just if the company took off the Izuzu badges and replaced them with Lotus badges. Like anyone would find out :lol: j/k...
Click to expand...

Well, Lotus are mainly renowned for suspension and chassis tuning. The engine has pretty much always been secondary in Lotuses.
 
Hey, I've got good news. The tranny has been redone. I dont think its a new tranny, but the old one had to be rebuilt.

I have no idea how much it cost. I just came home from school and it was there.

Anyways, I took it out for a little spin. its the middle of winter here in Alberta so I couldnt really test the lateral G's! But on the bigger streets, its completely dry. Anyways, I am VERY surprised at the response and the torque. It feels very quick believe it or not. I hate to say it, but it might be our families new fastest car, second to a 1993 Jaguar XJ-S V12 Coupe.

I thought it would be a high revving engine, but the turbo is a very high quality and it comes on very seamlessly. I am not sure if Lotus or Isuzu designed the turbo but it is silent and all of a sudden you realize, "Holy ****, I'm movin'!".


I have basically fallen in love with this car over night! Even though its got 162hp, it honestly feels like 250hp. I have driven a 300ZX twin turbo, and this little Elan would stick with it, if not pull on it up until about 70km/h or roughly 50mph.


If anyone has any questions feel free to ask. I cant wait until the summer!
 
12sec. Civic it sounds like you got a great little car, my brother owns a 1991 Lotus Esprit Turbo SE and it goes very well, eats anything on the road. i once got to drive an FWD elan and it was great, there was so much grip there and it never seemed to run out. well hope you have fun with your new car ;)
 
This is a while ago but if I remember rightly Lotus sold all the tooling for the fwd Elan to the Kia car company and were made for a while with Kia badges I thought this was BS at the time but then I saw one on the road so it is true.
Anyway to the original thread I have a theory it seems to me that cars deemed 'blokes cars' just a few years back all are seen as 'girly' now like roadsters or coupes for instance. I agree with pupik some women brought them as a kind of statement and there image has been tarnished ever since.
By the way I have owned 2 MX5s mk1 and 2 both red and am gettin a new MINI (not a Cooper s) next week and I aint a hairdresser.:)
 
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