Does Anyone Actually Receive A New Car For Christmas?
Now that the holiday season is upon us, if you happen to watch any television at all you will see ads from many auto companies telling you that you should give someone a car as a gift. Lexus thinks it’s the only way to get to a woman’s heart - didn’t you know that? People unwrapping boxes with keys in them to a new Mercedes, a guy looking out the window to see a new sports car with a bow on top of it - it is all quite silly. In fact, there is even an article over at Motor Trend with advice on buying a car for someone for Christmas! Do people really buy friends and family brand new cars for Christmas? If so, I have the wrong friends and family. (kidding…)
The whole idea of receiving a $25,000 car (or more!) for a holiday present must be an American thing, as I cannot imagine other countries thinking that this would be appropriate. America’s motto seems to be “more, more and more” which probably is tied to our inordinately high levels of depression and criminal activity. We should all be so lucky to get anything for Christmas, never mind a new car…
I think these auto companies are feeding into our consumerist ways and making some people (not me, mind you, and probably not you) feel inadequate in what they can give as a gift. Just like the ads we see on television all year for expensive things that the general public probably cannot afford, these ads are no different - it just happens to be Christmas time and we feel pressure to buy gifts.
The important thing to remember is that you don’t need to give or receive a gift of any value whatsoever just to make someone feel important or make yourself feel important. Something as simple as a hand-picked CD mix is way more valuable to me than some store-bought gift bought only for the reason of impressing me. Simple=better in my book for the holidays, which is the antithesis of these car commercials. Just don’t fall for it - whatever you can afford or create will be appreciated by the receiver if that person truly values you as a friend or a fellow family member. And just because people on TV get new Lexus SUV’s for Christmas doesn’t mean it actually happens in real life - I mean, I could never let someone else pick out a car for me! 
About the only time I could imagine this being OK is if a parent decided to hand down their old car to their 17 year old as a gift, as I would have loved for that to happen. But dropping $25K + on a Christmas present just is not realistic!
Ever though about manufactured homes? They can be an excellent housing option if you are in the right market. You can also get great mobile home loans if you hold out for the best deal. So look into mobile home options today!
StumbleUpon |
Reddit
|
Digg |
PFBuzz |
Del.icio.us
If you like this post then please consider subscribing to my full feed RSS. You can also subscribe by Email and have new posts sent directly to your inbox.
You might also like:
Leave a Comment
If you would like to make a comment, please fill out the form below.
11 Comments so far
I actually did! I got a 2007 4Runner for Christmas from my parents last year, and it had the big red bow on top! I unwrapped the keys…and my dad told me to look in our garage. I don’t think I’ll have another Christmas that would top that
I have giggled at these commercials for many years now. It seems crazy to me, but I guess they are advertising to a different audience. However, if someone wants to just give me a Lexus I imagine I would happily accept it.
Wow, that’s quite a gift for Christmas!
Me too Finance - they are silly in that they are marketing to a TINY fraction of society that can afford cars for Christmas gifts. But I would not turn one down either…
I’ve received the gift of cars many times on Christmas…Matchbox ones! I loved those things as a kid.
well, it’s not a bad time actually if you are in the market for a new car, since you can get great deals on 2007 left overs since the lots are full of 2008 cars and dealers wanting to unload the 2007’s before the end of the year.
i know plenty of people who get cars as gifts, not just xmas gift. our friend just got a porsche cayenne for a baby gift, because her 3-yr old MB CLK just wasn’t going to cut it for the baby.
as for us, we let the holiday’s pass without doing anything.
she also just emailed us that it cost her $81 to fill up the new car.
No doubt it’s a good time to buy a car - but to give one as a gift is amazing. $81 to fill up a tank that will probably get around 18 MPG - ouch.
I wish. That’s quite a gift. I am with KJS, a Matchbox one I have gotten.
I couldn’t imagine getting a car (new or used) from my folks as a gift.
I always imagine the conversations that go with those ads, “Look honey, I bought you a new car payment for Christmas. It’s the gift that keeps on giving.”
[...] Does Anyone Actually Receive A New Car For Christmas? [...]