# Christmas car ads - did they get the message? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 12, 2011, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-car-ads-did-they-get-the-message/605863 "2011-12-12T02:14:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Sam\_A.Robrin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sam_a.robrin/32/14497_2.png) [@Sam\_A.Robrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_A.Robrin)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-car-ads-did-they-get-the-message/605863/21 "2011-12-13T07:33:07Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > I can’t prove it, but I swear I heard a commercial on the radio recommending a car lease as a Christmas gift. Anything to cash in on the season. I recall a Durham, NC, clinic running an ad to tout giving mammogram appointments. But back to the topic: Check out the movie _Slaughterhouse 5_ for a bizarre car-given-as-gift scene. ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-car-ads-did-they-get-the-message/605863/22 "2011-12-13T08:08:30Z")
I intend to buy a new car within the next year or so. Had I been in a position to get a new one around this time of year, I absolutely would have told my husband to figure out the delivery date in secret with the dealership, and to surprise me with it with a big red bow on top. Because I wanna live like I’m in a commercial! 🙂 Naturally, the financing and everything would be something I’d be aware of, but I do think it’s possible to surprise someone with a new car, even if they know they are getting it. ---
**Author:** ![lawoot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/35a633/32.png) [@lawoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawoot)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-car-ads-did-they-get-the-message/605863/23 "2011-12-13T13:03:35Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > It’s not a “Buy your loved one a car for Christmas” ad, but the holiday car commercial that boils my blood is the one where the adult son comes home for Christmas in his Audi and his parents take off in it as soon as he walks in. There’s just something about the whole thing (the son, the dad, the mom, the house, the dad’s line “He’ll be fine.”) that just screams “Douchey white assholes!” Apparently it’s supposed to be a [“funny”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yL5pxsqs3kQ) commercial, though. Maybe if you’re a douchey white asshole it is. I think it _could_ have been funny - if they’d just cast it better - think how it would be if the son coming home was played by Macauley Culkin, and the mom was Catherine O’Hara… ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-car-ads-did-they-get-the-message/605863/24 "2011-12-13T15:40:33Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > It’s not a “Buy your loved one a car for Christmas” ad, but the holiday car commercial that boils my blood is the one where the adult son comes home for Christmas in his Audi and his parents take off in it as soon as he walks in. There’s just something about the whole thing (the son, the dad, the mom, the house, the dad’s line “He’ll be fine.”) that just screams “Douchey white assholes!” Apparently it’s supposed to be a [“funny”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yL5pxsqs3kQ) commercial, though. Maybe if you’re a douchey white asshole it is. “Richscumbag police dispatch, how may I direct your call?” Yes, I’d like to report a stolen car, an Audi \, license plate “rchscmbg”, stolen from my parents driveway… “Okay sir, we’ll send that info out to our patrol units immediately, will you be pressing charges?” Yes, most definitely ---
**Author:** ![hopesperson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e95f7d/32.png) [@hopesperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hopesperson)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-car-ads-did-they-get-the-message/605863/25 "2011-12-13T18:53:27Z")
You know, it’s not _entirely_ impossible to imagine that someone could save up enough money to make a significant cash purchase at some point in their lives. Perhaps even a non-evil-non-1%-non-white-douche type. Sure, not everyone could do it, but it isn’t unheard of. It’s as if anyone who doesn’t drive a 1986 Chevy Citation bought from and financed by JD Byrider has somehow become an enemy of the 99%. Insulting? Really? ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-car-ads-did-they-get-the-message/605863/26 "2011-12-13T18:58:41Z")
A gift of a car for my wife I can see (though it would have to be something we’d already agreed to do and I’d have to know exactly what she wanted so really the gift would be that I’d saved her the hassle of having to deal with the dealership with me). Never for anybody else, seems as bad an idea (even if the money isn’t an issue) as giving a dog or a grandmother in assisted living. Pretty sure the commercials though aren’t supposed to make you want to give the car as a gift but to tie it in your head as a luxury item that would be given as a gift by those who could do such things. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-car-ads-did-they-get-the-message/605863/27 "2011-12-13T20:41:29Z")
[Krystal Koons, knock off the cutesy commercials](http://www.google.com/search?q=koons+nissan+commercial&sourceid=ie7&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&ie=&oe=#hl=en&safe=active&rls=com.microsoft:en-us%3AIE-SearchBox&tbm=vid&sclient=psy-ab&q=koons+commercial+christmas&pbx=1&oq=koons+commercial+christmas&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_sm=s&gs_upl=0l0l1l287729l0l0l0l0l0l0l0l0ll0l0&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&fp=c8571c5c7552b0c1&biw=1284&bih=850). You’re getting people to dive for the mute button, not their buns into the showrooms. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-car-ads-did-they-get-the-message/605863/28 "2011-12-13T21:09:33Z")
> [@obfusciatrist](#): > > …Pretty sure the commercials though aren’t supposed to make you want to give the car as a gift but to tie it in your head as a luxury item that would be given as a gift by those who could do such things. Yup, the purpose of the ads was to establish Lexus as an aspirational, luxury brand, not to convince more people to give cars as a Xmas gift. ---
**Author:** ![pullin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2011, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-car-ads-did-they-get-the-message/605863/29 "2011-12-14T03:03:14Z")
Several years ago, I surprised my wife with a brand-new minivan. I don’t recommend this. Explaining how good a deal I got, due to the hail damage and icky-green paint color didn’t impress her as much as I thought. She didn’t react at all like the lady in the commercial. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2011, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-car-ads-did-they-get-the-message/605863/30 "2011-12-14T04:33:29Z")
> [@pullin](#): > > Several years ago, I surprised my wife with a brand-new minivan. > > I don’t recommend this. > > Explaining how good a deal I got, due to the hail damage and icky-green paint color didn’t impress her as much as I thought. She didn’t react at all like the lady in the commercial. But did you put a big red bow on it? ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2011, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-car-ads-did-they-get-the-message/605863/31 "2011-12-14T04:39:50Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > But did you put a big red bow on it? That would _really_ clash with the icky-green. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2011, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-car-ads-did-they-get-the-message/605863/32 "2011-12-14T04:40:32Z")
But it looks so Christmas-y! ---
**Author:** ![pullin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2011, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-car-ads-did-they-get-the-message/605863/33 "2011-12-14T12:03:41Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > But did you put a big red bow on it? No; I hid it in the garage so it would “surprise” her when she got home from work. After a while, I got used to driving it and became rather fond of it. 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-car-ads-did-they-get-the-message/605863.md?page=1)