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.
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.
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…
“Richscumbag police dispatch, how may I direct your call?”
Yes, I’d like to report a stolen car, an Audi <model>, 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
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?
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.
Krystal Koons, knock off the cutesy commercials. You’re getting people to dive for the mute button, not their buns into the showrooms.
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.
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?
That would really clash with the icky-green.
But it looks so Christmas-y!
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. 