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A car isn't just a mode of transportation — it's an investment, an accessory, if you will. It makes a statement about who you are and can bring you a lot of attention. If you buy the right one, it will definitely pay off in the long run.

In the modern history of mating rituals, hot cars have been a traditional male device for sending signal to the opposite sex about their style, money or power.

In Thursday's Globe Auto , Petrina Gentile turned the tables and selected 10 cars that are guaranteed attention-getters for the women who drive them.

Now, in our online discussion, we invite male and female readers to add their two cents or ask Petrina for advice on what kind of wheels will torque your sex appeal.

Petrina Gentile is an award-winning automotive journalist who writes for The Globe and Mail and produces a weekly television show called Car/Business with Jeremy Cato and Michael Vaughan on CTV and Business News Network. She also has regular appearances on Canada AM and is a member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada.

Ms. Gentile was online earlier to take your questions on buying a car to attract the one that catches your eye.

Editor's Note: globeandmail.com editors will read and allow or reject each question/comment. Comments/questions may be edited for length or clarity. HTML is not allowed. We will not publish questions/comments that include personal attacks on participants in these discussions, that make false or unsubstantiated allegations, that purport to quote people or reports where the purported quote or fact cannot be easily verified, or questions/comments that include vulgar language or libellous statements. Preference will be given to readers who submit questions/comments using their full name and home town, rather than a pseudonym.

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Danielle Boudreau, globeandmail.com writes: Hello Petrina, thanks for taking the time to talk to us today about "Guy magnet" cars. Some men have always been attracted to hot cars for their flashy looks and appeal. Do you think that women have different priorities for car purchases, and are they changing the way they shop for vehicles?

Petrina Gentile: Thanks for inviting me to participate. Traditionally, women tend to look at safety, fuel economy, and price when car shopping. But there are so many options out there nowadays - there's no need to sacrifice style or flashy looks, either -- as you can tell from my top 10 list of guy magnets.

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Northern Dancer from outside of toronto Canada writes: what is the perfect babe machine under $30,000 and gets good mileage?

Petrina Gentile: Hi Northern Dancer, Personally, I love the Pontiac Solstice convertible - it's the cheaper version of the Saturn Sky. The Solstice starts at $27,670. It's a sexy little two seater. It takes regular gas and its fuel economy is 10.8L/100 km (city) and 8.3L/100 km (highway) according to Natural Resources Fuel Consumption Guide. I have the brochure next to me -- I figured I'd have a lot of questions about mileage.

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Paul Alfonsi from Hamilton Canada writes: Hi Petrina. Great list of cars, unfortunately a few of those are outside my price range. I like the Sky and Boxster. How does the Audi TT convertible compare? Thanks for your comments, Paul.

Petrina Gentile: Hi Paul, The Audi TT convertible is a great little car, too. It's all new for 2008; it's larger and wider than the last version, which means more space inside. Cargo space is respectable for a roadster, too. You'll have enough room to pack a few suitcases for a weekend getaway. I'd go for the base 2.0TFSI trim and skip the options. The optional packages tend to be pricey and push the price up fast. It starts just under 50 grand.

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J. Smith from Smithville, ON writes: What do you think of guys who drive cars that might be seen as "chick" cars, such as a VW Beetle, Mini, or Mazda Miata? Do you think less of them, or maybe they're secure enough to drive a car they like the look of, regardless of what others think. And I wonder if colour makes a difference in making these cars less girly?

Petrina Gentile: Hi J, Great question. Honestly, I do associate certain cars, like the Mazda Miata, VW Beetle, and Mini, as "chick cars." But the label really doesn't seem to bother me. I think guys who drive them are actually more secure and comfortable in their own skin. At least that's what I find when I interview Canadians, like Jian Ghomeshi (he drives a Mini) and Elliotte Friedman (he drives a Solara convertible) for "My Car" columns. If it's a chick car, I'll always ask them about it. They're aware of the stereotype but don't seem to care. More power to them, I say.

And yes colour makes a difference in making a car less "girly" - skip yellow and go for basic black or silver.

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Don Johnson from Vancouver, Canada writes: What is the sex appeal of cars anyway? Is it just like wearing provocative clothing or dressing up for the opposite sex, or wearing makeup or perfume, but a lot more expensive? Do you really need to spend so much money to pickup dates, and what kind of person would that really work for anyway?

Petrina Gentile: Hi Don, Many people think of cars as a sexy accessory. Don't you feel great when you're dressed up in your best suit for a night at the opera, theatre, or fundraising gala event? Your clothes, shoes, hairstyle etc. can make you feel like a million bucks. And when you get behind the wheel of a stylish car, it does the same -- although I hate to admit it, but when I test drive, for example, a new Mercedes-Benz C-Class I feel totally different than when I'm driving my personal vehicle, a Honda Accord sedan. Sure it shouldn't be that way -- but it is. And you don't need to spend a fortune on your wheels, either - the base Saturn Sky won't break the bank.

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Carmen Mattioli from Pera Portugal writes: In an age when cars are contributing to many of the worlds problems, climate change, excessive oil demand, pollution, inflation, etc. shouldn't you get a grip and stop talking about cars as 'accessories' or a method for men to attract women and get on with the business of helping people get off the large engine fever and into cars that minimize the problems they are now creating. Don't you think that any car with an engine larger than 1.5 is a big problem that should be avoided, no matter how sexy or glamorous it looks? Don't you think we should place common sense ahead of immaturity based on auto looks?

Petrina Gentile: Hi Carmen, I agree cars do contribute to some world problems, as mentioned in your question. But auto makers are rolling out new products to combat those issues - greener, cleaner cars like the Chevy Equinox Fuel Cell SUV and Honda FCX Clarity, which I think is especially striking as well as environmentally-friendly.

Both vehicles run on hydrogen fuel cells; the only thing that comes out of the tailpipe is water vapour. Both of these zero-emissions vehicles are already on the road, in test pilots in the U.S. Honda hopes to have them mass-produced by 2018; GM by 2015. It may be a bit optimistic given the lack of hydrogen-fuelling stations in the world. But I think auto makers are taking a step in the right direction by making cleaner, greener sexy cars that'll reduce our dependency on petroleum and improve the air we breathe. These cars are even a status symbol - they make a strong statement that's why high-profile people like actress Jamie-Lee Curtis just leased an FCX clarity.

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Krista Swanson from Toronto Canada writes: Hey what a fun article to read about! I have a Honda Accord - do you think this is a guy magnet? Just kidding! I know it's not - but how do I make my Accord a sexier drive?

Petrina Gentile: Hi Krista, I drive an Accord as well! And I agree it isn't a guy magnet - although the new coupe is quite attractive. Guys are big on wheels, tires, rims, especially when they're shiny and clean. It's like a piece of jewellery or perfect pair of heels to complement that little classic black dress. So I'd consider getting some larger wheels on your Accord to add some bling, bling to the exterior. Don't forget to wax your car, too. A nice wax job usually attracts some looks as well.

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Darcy McGee from United States writes: What about a Schwinn? In this day and age pitching a Porsche to women because it 'turns men's heads' seems wildly irresponsible, and stupid. Women on bikes are hot.

Petrina Gentile: Hi Darcy, Well it works both ways. Men have been buying cars to impress women or turn heads for decades - why can't women? And a Porsche doesn't just turn heads; it's also safe, reliable, and some models are well-priced compared to the competition. So I don't think its "wildly irresponsible, and stupid." Schwinns are nice bikes -- I'll give you that.

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Brenda Johnson from Bright's Grove Canada writes: Hello Petrina, Great article and so much fun to read! All of those cars will turn heads but which 'Guy Magnet' is the best on gas mileage?

Petrina Gentile: Hi Brenda, Good question -- in both city and highway driving, the Porsche Boxster is the best of the bunch on the fuel economy front. Officials numbers are 10.1L/100 in the city and 6.8L/100 km on the highway. It's no surprise, the Lamborghini Gallardo is the loser on gas mileage; it averages 20.7L/100 km in the city and 9.6L/100 km on the highway.

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George from Toronto Canada writes: I've always wanted a Porsche, but could never afford one when I was in my 20s and 30s. Now that I'm close to 50, I could probably swing it (My wife even says it's OK, haha), but don't want to look like a mid-life crisis stereotype. Is it possible to drive a car like this without people making assumptions? Should I care, they are probably just jealous.

Petrina Gentile: Hi George, Go for it! Unfortunately you won't escape the mid-life crisis label/stereotype. But who cares? You're secure enough to deal with it. At the end of the day, you'll be smiling every time you see and drive your brand-new, sexy Porsche. Life is short - enjoy it!

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Danielle Boudreau, globeandmail.com writes: Thanks for taking the time to chat today Petrina, you've given us a lot to think about. We've got time for one more question. Being an automotive journalist, you have the opportunity to drive cars that most people only dream about. Has anyone ever done anything crazy when they've seen you tooling around town in a particularly attention-getting set of wheels?

Petrina Gentile: Thanks Danielle. It was a lot of fun. Thanks to the readers, too, for their great questions.

Well I did get a marriage proposal from a stranger at a gas station when I was driving the Mustang GT500 in Hamilton, ON. And when he spotted the manual shifter inside, his mouth literally dropped. It was funny.

But what sticks out in my mind is driving Lamborghinis along California's beautiful Highway 1 last August for Lamborghini's annual Giro event (It means tour in Italian). It's for owners, but I was one of five journalists (and the only female) in the world invited to attend. Along the route, I was driving a Gallardo Spyder with Lambo's female public relations person in the passenger seat. And the guys went nuts -- I've never had so many compliments thrown my way -- it averaged about once a minute. It was an unusual site. Of the 50+ Lambos, I never spotted one woman driving; they always took the passenger seat next their boyfriends and husbands. One woman in her mid-20s wanted to, but her boyfriend convinced her she was "too short" to drive. Incidentally, she was my height, 5'5.