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Cars a Single Mom Should Never Accept a Date In
Aug 27 2008 by Kristin Varela
8/27/08
If You’re a Single Male Driving One of These Cars, Don’t Call Me
As a single mom, I wear entirely too many hats: Mom, dad, breadwinner, businesswoman, tutor, chauffeur, coach, cheerleader, stylist and on and on. I don’t have the time or emotional energy to date losers, and I must weed them out before the reach my front door. One way to do that is by looking at the car a potential suitor drives.
So, as I begin my foray into the scary world of dating, I’ve polled my snarkiest friends and colleagues to find out which cars are a no-go. And here you have it, the MotherProof.com list of cars a single mom should never accept a date in (and why). And, by the way, if you happen to be single and drive one of these, don’t bother calling.
VW Beetle: He’s way 2 N touch w/his inner teenage girl. OMG! Do U really want him texting you from across the dinner table? U R so hot!
Yugo: He’s dirt poor and will expect you to pay for dinner — and gas. And you might die when the car splits in two and then explodes after he backs into the parking meter.
Any Minivan: Either he already has a hefty brood of his own (you don’t really want to embody the 2008 version of the “Brady Bunch”) or he’s getting older, desperately wants kids and is only dating you for yours.
Anything Sporting Wood: I’m not touching this one.
Anything Costing More Than $100,000: He'll most definitely be more impressed with his car than with you.
Hummer: You know what they say ... he's compensating for "something.”
A Souped Up Camaro: Do you really want to date someone who’s young enough to date your daughter? Besides, you’ll always be singing, “Bitchin’ Camaro, bitchin’ Camaro, I ran over my neighbors..."
Jeep Wrangler: Only date a guy who drives one of these if you have a fondness for sunspots, beer and faded tribal tattoos leftover from college.
Corvette: If you like chest hair tangled in gold chains, he might be your guy. But beware; he might have a floral velour sofa covered with protective plastic.
Lowered or Lifted Trucks: Anyone who spends money to modify a truck with the express purpose of making it "more bad-ass" has just demonstrated to the world (and all would-be dates) that he’s still living in his high school days.
Too Many Accessory Racks: A guy with more than three sports attachments on his car shows an inability to commit (choose one hobby and stick to it). How would you like to spend a weekend of mountain biking followed by some kayaking followed by surfing and then a bit of snowboarding thrown in for good measure?
Volvo V70: A poll by Yes Insurance, a British car insurance company, found it to be the best car to have sex in — making it a little presumptuous to drive for a first date. But if you’ve been married for 10 years and need the inspiration, then buy one!
And conversely, MotherProof.com’s list of cars that you should accept a date in:
Volvo 240 (retro) sedan: He’s a hip artist, a spur-of-the-moment guy, who likes reading and music. And he takes trips to Italy — even with the killer exchange rates.
Volvo S60: He respects that you have kids and would like to return to them in one piece at the end of the evening.
Audi A4 or RS 4: This potential suitor is practical, sexy and intellectual. He’s edgy enough to be intriguing — without being weird.
Toyota 4Runner: This guy’s manly but not brutish.
Honda Accord: This car might be plain, but it’s nice looking, safe and reliable — just like the man who drives it. And it’s a perfect invitation to find more out about him.
Let us know which cars you would add to our lists and why…
Also, Cars.com tackled a similar issue last year in this video.
User Comments
Guess the Audi R8 is a no-go…
Pete -
I think the R8 is OK if its a weekend only car (only I might be more interested in the car than the man). But he’d have to drive something like a A4 the rest of the time to balance it out…
I notice very few domestics on this list, thats too bad. I figure alot of men and women will be forced back into domestics after they lose(repo) their import car. Among my friends a very secure man is one that has guts to drive a van rather than a suv.
And number one on my list of women NOT to date are ones that judge you by the type of car you drive.
so shallow
Also on my list of men not to date: those without a sense of humour. Guess I should have added a disclaimer to this one, *never judge a book by its cover. Thanks for the reminder Neil and Juan Carlos…
Agreed—R8 & A4 would make a nice couple in any garage…
Hey, we have a used Camaro for a third car and my wife would definitely call me practical. It was the only sports car we could find that had over 300hp, got 28mpgs on the highway, has a removal top, and is able to carry enough gear for us to take a weekend away camping. Its been a great car and lots of fun. BTW, I know a few other Camaro people and none of them wear gold chains tangled in chest hair.
I LOVE this post! You crack me up. I consider myself to be completely open-minded… but as a single mom who drives a Prius, I’ve snubbed my share of Land Rovers and SUVs driven by single men who wanted to date me. No thanks, dude.
The only reason the Brits named the V70 the best car to schtoop in is because they don’t have the El Camino over there.
How do you ladies feel about a car that originally sold for nearly $100,000, but was purchased used for only a fraction of that: a 2002 Lotus Esprit. I think it’s fun and unusual, unfortunately it does sort of look like something David Lee Roth would drive. There’s also a significant chance it will breakdown by the end of the night, but I would just consider that an opportunity for a long, romantic walk. It’s also way too small to schtoop in… um, that’s what I’ve been told.
Incidently, I only use the word schtoop to get through your spam filter.
http://www.bombajo.com/video/3/Kamion
Good stuff, that! But no Subies on the list? What’s up with that?
ALWAYS date a guy who buys you a car… especially if it’s the same manufacturer as his. He can repair yours just as well as his own. If you don’t like his pick, you can always sell it and then date someone else.
I think you’d better think twice about ruling out the guy who drives a car that costs more than $100,000. Even the guys I know who are “car rich, apartment poor” still can’t afford $100,000 cars (they drive $40,000 BMWs). Therefore, someone with a $100,000+ car is probably pretty well off, and can probably afford to support you and your kids.
What about a guy who’s garage houses an Audi 90 V6 Quattro and a Subaru Impreza STi rally car? Which one is better as a date car? I would say the Audi, but fun is important too, right?
Audi first date, Subie on the second!
Sounds like fairly sensible advice. 
My husband of 10 years drove a lifted nissan mini truck on our first date. The next time we went out, it was in my taurus station wagon, and my kid went with us. The first thing he did after we got married was trade the mini truck in for a suburban. Most men don’t buy a car for the family they don’t have yet, but a good man will quickly adjust, especially if you and your kids are important to him.
This is really funny, because I had a 2006 Toyota 4Runner until my girlfriend moved in—now she drives it and I drive her VW Beetle. I went from having a “desirable” car to a “very undesirable” car. I was on the Cars.com website because I’m actually looking for a replacement for my inherited Beetle.
Guy in a SUV is usually a no-go for me. But put him in a sports car and I feel like he can handle his innate maleness. LOL. Don’t ask… I have kids, and refuse to buy a minivan or SUV. Maybe that is where my bias stems from.
a classic Mercedes?
it makes me laugh how someone with such baggage has no hesitation about being so judgemental.
lol ill let you learn from time what being a single mum with 2 kids says about you to prospective free suitors. and its much harsher than your “judgements”.
but i shed no tears, if you are that picky you deserve to be lonely, and you certainly will
A Prius - he’s sensitive to environmental issues but is willing to have a family (the two LATCH in the back)