GIRL MOTORISTS BEING SOLD DOWN THE ROAD.

Hey girlfriend!...do you always feel like you're getting ripped off by men when it comes to all things motoring?

"Hhhmmmm..looks like it might be an expensive job darlin'" - sound familiar?

Well it should.

"No madam, I can assure you that sexism doesn't exist in the motor

industry today" Or translate as "La, la, la, la, la, la" etc. men eh?

Well, let me tell you girls, two words. Ostrich. Sand.

It exists as much as ever - totally alive and kicking.

Look no further than the results of a recent 'What car?' magazine survey.

Apparently some girl motorists are being charged up-to £500 quid more than their male counterparts when shopping for the very same motor.

See what I mean?

"Male chauvinism simply doesn't exist in the motor trade anymore" - Blah, de, blah, de, blah..

As it happens, the industry bible deployed some undercover 'shoppers' to 45 dealerships across the UK to shame retailers or, as they put it - 'to observe their conduct' around us girl motorists, just to see if it differed any in their approach to that of men.

Men remember? Those that know about motors yeah yeah?

Unsurprisingly, they discovered that the issue was widespread.

So I put this hold the front-page 'shock survey findings' to my girlfriends out there. And, to a laydee, they supported this claim.

70% in fact went as far as to say they didn't feel that they were being taken seriously when dealing with salesmen at all, and in particular didn't trust the guidance that they were being given.

No respect.

So I'll tell you this - do what us girls do best and 'shop' around when you're thinking of trading your motor; speak to someone you know has knowledge of cars beforehand, get your facts then head down to the showroom. Take your boyfriend, dad or brother if you like. If you cant, or don't have any of the above, I'm sorry; you do your research instead.

All major motoring websites have buying guides, ones such as girlmotor.com for example. Then at least you'll have bargaining power at your fingernails, and be able to spot the male patter a mile off.

Alternatively, wear a low cut top and the shortest skirt you can find, and then have them throwing all sorts of offers your way. Proper girl power. Go girls!

Date - 15/09/2006