BERLIN — Women like men and men like cars.
"Hmm, it says here that women think George Clooney has more sex appeal than a Ferrari. Maybe that's because women don't know how to drive a Ferrari," said Torsten Kadletz, a used-car dealer unafraid of feminists. He was studying a recent German magazine survey that asked men and women how they'd rather spend a weekend: with a fuel-injected sports car or an air-brushed celebrity.
"The Lamborghini versus Britney Spears," Kadletz said. "The Lamborghini is an interesting car and Britney is way too young. What's a 50-year-old man going to do with Britney Spears for two days? Pamela Anderson against the Ferrari? The Ferrari wins. Anderson's past her prime."
Few things are more invigorating to the German man than a clear windshield, a palm on the gearshift and miles of open autobahn. In 12 pages of statistics leavened with pictures of half-dressed women draped over expensive upholstery, Men's Car magazine sought to find out where cars and lust intersect. The survey of 2,253 German men and women ages 20 to 50 gauged preference and performance, both on the road and in the bedroom.
Such a study is more than a bit of marketing whimsy in a land where cars are an enduring national pride. The sleek designs and meticulous mechanics of the German-made Mercedes, BMW and Audi have for generations been among the country's finer exports. Cars are studied and shined, engine pings and fan belt squeaks are not tolerated, and Sunday afternoon in the fast lane -- where speeds can reach 140 mph -- is no place for the meek. "Germans buy cars with passion and love," Kadletz said.
And, perhaps, with a bit of hanky-panky in mind. Men who drive BMWs have more sex per week -- 2.2 times -- than anyone polled. (But are they happy? Apparently, yes.) Guys driving Porsches may have more money, but their cars get more action than their libidos. Porsche drivers have sex 1.4 times a week -- lower than everyone else polled, including guys who drive Fords, Opels and Minis.
"At first I was surprised that Porsche came in last place," said Frank Hofmann, editor of Men's Car. "I'm driving a Porsche myself, and damn, I didn't want the worst sex life in Germany. But then I discovered that the average Porsche owner is 55 years old. So, 1.4 times of sex a week is OK."
