Home and Auto How would you feel if your significant other gave you a vehicle for Christmas?* - Page 3

**Rain Man** · 12-28-2018, 07:37 PM

* If you are from a non-western culture, you may substitute another gift-giving holiday at your discretion.

I'm watching these commercials, and people are getting up on Christmas morning to discover that their spouse has gifted them with a brand new vehicle. One company even upped that, and the husband bought both a pickup and an SUV for him and his wife.

Am I unreasonable that this would tick me off? A vehicle is really expensive, first of all. It's going to involve either payments or a very large check. But even more than that, I buy a car less than once per decade. It has to be the right car. It has to be a car that I bond with, a car that melds with me both on the road and in my personal brand. I would want a specific set of options that would serve me well over the next decade. I would want - nee, I would require - that I be in on the decision to purchase said car. I wouldn't want a car to just show up with the statement that it's now mine.

Or are these couples talking about it beforehand in the commercials? Do you think that TV commercial husband is saying to the wife that he wants X car with A, B, and C options in an apricot color? If that's the case, then is it really a gift? Is the buying spouse just weaseling out of buying a gift by taking delivery of a vehicle that they're destined to buy anyway?

I find the whole vehicular Christmas gift thing to be highly suspect. Am I alone in this, or do others feel the same way?

Reerun_KC · 12-28-2018, 08:05 PM

Neither of us would be overly happy about it. Especially taking on debt that has zero appreciation value.

**Rain Man** · 12-28-2018, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by displacedinMN

My wife says that maybe those spouses know them better than your wife does you.
This is payback for the other thing.

Maybe the car's not the gift. Maybe the wife has stationed her best friend in the back seat as the big surprise.

**Rain Man** · 12-28-2018, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FAX

Another problem is those giant, red, car-sized bows. Those damn things cost about $50 bucks a pop. Unless you drive super slow, by the time you get home, the bow part is half-flapped to hell and gone. Also, when you stop at a red light, people stare at you like you stole somebody's gifted car out of their driveway. And sometimes you can see them thinking, "That poor bastard can't afford his own car so somebody had to give him one and he forgot to remove the ribbon." It's humiliating.

FAX

I wonder if they drive them like that. Maybe they come in a big box via UPS, and the back yard is full of discarded cardboard and packing tape.

**TrebMaxx** · 12-28-2018, 08:09 PM

I was really hoping to receive a gift card for the Indian dealer so I could get me a Chieftain Classic but no joy.

**Rain Man** · 12-28-2018, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrebMaxx

I was really hoping to receive a gift card for the Indian dealer so I could get me a Chieftain Classic but no joy.

Did she give you a car instead?

**LoneWolf** · 12-28-2018, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoneWolf

I just bought the wife a new Lexus RX 350. It's sitting in my BIL garage with a big red bow on it waiting for Xmas morning. I test drove about a dozen SUVs before settling on this one. Besides the Lexus, the Acura MDX was a really nice SUV.

Well, this post is four years old and seems to have aged well.

FAX · 12-28-2018, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Superturtle

I was born into the wrong family.

Guess again.

I'm a self-made idiot.

FAX

displacedinMN · 12-28-2018, 08:25 PM

I do now that if I bought the truck for me and the SUV for her-there is no way in hell she is getting the truck. Marriage over.

**TrebMaxx** · 12-28-2018, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Did she give you a car instead?

Not even a car! She probably knows I would trade it in for a new motorcycle. I did get a Salute to Service Chiefs jacket though which I think is pretty cool.

**Rain Man** · 12-28-2018, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoneWolf

Well, this post is four years old and seems to have aged well.

Okay, we have a case study here.

Did you know that she wanted the Lexus? Did she expect that you might buy her a vehicle? Had she been talking to you about buying a car? How did you know the right color to buy? I have so many questions about this.

Frazod · 12-28-2018, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FAX

Another problem is those giant, red, car-sized bows. Those damn things cost about $50 bucks a pop. Unless you drive super slow, by the time you get home, the bow part is half-flapped to hell and gone. Also, when you stop at a red light, people stare at you like you stole somebody's gifted car out of their driveway. And sometimes you can see them thinking, "That poor bastard can't afford his own car so somebody had to give him one and he forgot to remove the ribbon." It's humiliating.

FAX

I like the one where the new vehicle is shown sitting in about six inches of snow, although there is no snow on the vehicle, no tire tracks behind the vehicle, and no footprints leading away from the vehicle.

Apparently the folks at Mercedes have mastered Star Trek transporter technology. I wonder why they're still selling cars?

**LoneWolf** · 12-28-2018, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Okay, we have a case study here.

Did you know that she wanted the Lexus? Did she expect that you might buy her a vehicle? Had she been talking to you about buying a car? How did you know the right color to buy? I have so many questions about this.

I knew she wanted a new vehicle and she had commented about several different makes/models she liked with the Lexus being one of them.

She had no clue I would buy her one, but we had discussed buying her a new vehicle after the first of the year.

She told me what colors she liked.

In retrospect, it was a mistake. She liked the Lexus, but she wasn’t attached to it since she didn’t pick it out. Two years later we ended up trading the Lexus in for a Hyundai Santa Fe Sport (I couldn’t believe it either).

**Rain Man** · 12-28-2018, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoneWolf

I knew she wanted a new vehicle and she had commented about several different makes/models she liked with the Lexus being one of them.

She had no clue I would buy her one, but we had discussed buying her a new vehicle after the first of the year.

She told me what colors she liked.

In retrospect, it was a mistake. She liked the Lexus, but she wasn’t attached to it since she didn’t pick it out. Two years later we ended up trading the Lexus in for a Hyundai Santa Fe Sport (I couldn’t believe it either).

Aha! So this supports my theory that one has to meld with the car during the selection process, or the person-car bonding process never occurs.

It was a nice thought on your part, though. If she liked a Hyundai, it seems like a Lexus would be a safe choice.

**lewdog** · 12-28-2018, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoneWolf

I knew she wanted a new vehicle and she had commented about several different makes/models she liked with the Lexus being one of them.

She had no clue I would buy her one, but we had discussed buying her a new vehicle after the first of the year.

She told me what colors she liked.

In retrospect, it was a mistake. She liked the Lexus, but she wasn’t attached to it since she didn’t pick it out. Two years later we ended up trading the Lexus in for a Hyundai Santa Fe Sport (I couldn’t believe it either).

Jesus, what a step down!!!

ChiliConCarnage · 12-28-2018, 10:19 PM

These have been on for years. The luxury brands seem to run them quite a bit and it's always struck me as preposterous.

I feel like trying to pick out clothes for people is nearly a lost cause. Let alone picking one shirt that needs to be worn everyday for years, isn't really returnable or swappable, and possibly costs a good chunk of a person's annual after tax salary.

View Poll Results: What is your reaction to receiving a new car with a bow on Christmas Day?
I would be overjoyed. Best gift ever.	8	8.79%
I would be happy about it, but a little worried that it would be what I really wanted.	6	6.59%
I'd graciously accept it, but I'd wish that I had a little more input.	2	2.20%
I'd be a little bit unhappy that my spouse made that big decision in secret, though I'd like the thought.	10	10.99%
What the heck? You should NEVER spend that much money and buy a car that you don't even know is the right fit for your spouse.	27	29.67%
I give people cars all the time. I never even think about potential issues.	2	2.20%
I don't think these commercials are depicting situations that happen in real life.	35	38.46%
Cars are an artifact of the 20th century. I'd prefer an Uber gift certificate.	1	1.10%
Voters: 91. You may not vote on this poll

12-28-2018, 07:37 PM
Rain Man NFL's #1 Ermines Fan Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $3348491 VARSITY	How would you feel if your significant other gave you a vehicle for Christmas?* * If you are from a non-western culture, you may substitute another gift-giving holiday at your discretion. I'm watching these commercials, and people are getting up on Christmas morning to discover that their spouse has gifted them with a brand new vehicle. One company even upped that, and the husband bought both a pickup and an SUV for him and his wife. Am I unreasonable that this would tick me off? A vehicle is really expensive, first of all. It's going to involve either payments or a very large check. But even more than that, I buy a car less than once per decade. It has to be the right car. It has to be a car that I bond with, a car that melds with me both on the road and in my personal brand. I would want a specific set of options that would serve me well over the next decade. I would want - nee, I would require - that I be in on the decision to purchase said car. I wouldn't want a car to just show up with the statement that it's now mine. Or are these couples talking about it beforehand in the commercials? Do you think that TV commercial husband is saying to the wife that he wants X car with A, B, and C options in an apricot color? If that's the case, then is it really a gift? Is the buying spouse just weaseling out of buying a gift by taking delivery of a vehicle that they're destined to buy anyway? I find the whole vehicular Christmas gift thing to be highly suspect. Am I alone in this, or do others feel the same way?
Posts: 141,251

12-28-2018, 08:05 PM	#31
Reerun_KC Rock Chalk Jayhawks! KU!!! Join Date: Aug 2005 Casino cash: $8301160	Neither of us would be overly happy about it. Especially taking on debt that has zero appreciation value.
Posts: 934

12-28-2018, 08:09 PM	#34
TrebMaxx Supporter Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Peoples Republic of CoMo Casino cash: $1507252	I was really hoping to receive a gift card for the Indian dealer so I could get me a Chieftain Classic but no joy. __________________
Posts: 4,321

12-28-2018, 08:25 PM	#38
displacedinMN It was not a fair catch Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Correcting papers Casino cash: $2972630	I do now that if I bought the truck for me and the SUV for her-there is no way in hell she is getting the truck. Marriage over. __________________ #investigatecarlcheffers
Posts: 36,242

12-28-2018, 10:19 PM	#45
ChiliConCarnage TACO SALAD Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: yes Casino cash: $1828468	These have been on for years. The luxury brands seem to run them quite a bit and it's always struck me as preposterous. I feel like trying to pick out clothes for people is nearly a lost cause. Let alone picking one shirt that needs to be worn everyday for years, isn't really returnable or swappable, and possibly costs a good chunk of a person's annual after tax salary.
Posts: 5,851