Women With Wheels, The Newsletter on Automobiles for Women started life as a 12-page newsletter. In 1989, Susan Frissell and a friend designed the concept of an automotive “magazine” written especially for women, on a napkin over dinner; which soon became a reality. At the time, there wasn’t any car “rag” available aimed at women readers and car buyers. Sure, there were the old standbys-and we read them all-Motor Trend, Car and Driver, Automobile Magazine; all predominantly male mags. So began, Women With Wheels, which in its newsletter format, enjoyed a 10-year reign, with subscribers throughout the U.S., and including a few countries.
Frissell now edits and publishes Womenwithwheels.com regularly, covering all the automotive news, with test drive reviews, auto recalls and editorial. Frissell has been an automotive journalist for over 20 years and has written for such publications as The Daily Herald (Women With Wheels column), The Windy City Times, Chicago Woman South Suburban and The Motor News Media Syndicate (Car Concerns column). She also wrote for Cars.com, TheCarConnection.com, and the Car Care Council newsletter, as well as guest pieces for several other webzines.
A long-time member of the Midwest Automotive Media Association (M.A.M.A.), Frissell is active in the Chicago-based group, having served as V.P. Membership Chair for two years. She also served on the Car Care Council Women’s Board for several years, and was an original board member of the Women’s Automotive Association International(WAAI)’s Chicago Chapter, as well as acting as consultant to the board.
Frissell is a member of the Cougar Club of America, has served as media judge for three years for the Automotion Awards in the Wisconsin Dells and particpates every August in the Wisconsin OpenAir Convertible Classic.
For several years, Frissell taught a class for women called AutoSmarts for Women, helping women learn how to negotiate a car purchase, choose a mechanic and navigate the world of automotive maintenance. Teaching at Oakton Community College and high school evening adult classes, Frissell often filled her classes with women from ages 17 to 75 years. Those participating in her fun and informative classes gave her a five-star rating!
Frissell remains an avid car watcher and collector and enjoys teaching women about their cars so they too, can be smart auto consumers.
