The commercials never seem to show the spouse screaming, “You asshole! You just put us in debt for five years, cranked up our insurance rates, and ruined the front lawn! Without asking me! And how the hell much did that fully decorated 30-foot tall tree cost?”
I wonder why not.
Cars are great stocking-stuffers for the 50-foot man or woman on your list.
Still better than surprising them with a puppy or kitten, I say.
I noticed that car commercials are everywhere this year, what’s up with that? No one used to buy cars for Christmas, so is this a new trend or do the car manufacturers want us to think it is?
Some people actually save up money ahead of time before buying the car, and don’t take out a loan. (e.g. my brother.)
Yes, I believe that. No problem. So all these commercials are aimed at your brother and three other people?
One of the guys at work left to get an oil change on his four-year-old Scion Xa today, and returned with a new Scion Tc. Talk about impulse buys. OK, so he wasn’t giving it to a spouse, but still.
I do wonder that, too. It takes us about a year to make a decision on a car, complete with spreadsheets and multiple road tests - to just show up with one with a ribbon on it on Christmas Day with no previous discussion - not cool.
But these are tv commercials we’re talking about, though, where women are still trying to hide recipes from each other and shit like that. 
Are you in the South, by any chance? Perhaps he talks like Paula Deen and said, on his way to the car, that he was getting it “All changed”. 
Seriously, that’s a heck of an impulse buy (but it’s still better than a puppy or kitten.)
But what I want to know is, where do you buy a 20 foot red ribbon bow to affix to your loved one’s gift car? And is that street legal?
I’m going to buy my gf a tire for Christmas. That’s what I can afford on a student budget, if I could replace the money sink otherwise I would.
I like the ones where they have the giant box in the driveway and pull it open to reveal a car with a bow on top.
Then, I’m all, “Now what the hell are we going to do with this giant box?”
Thanks.
I also like when, say Oprah announces to a bunch of screaming women that they won a new car. Will she tell them that they have to pay taxes on their winnings? (now that I think about it maybe that’s a gift, in which case Oprahcorp pays) Usually, contests to win a car or a trip to Hawaii have a cash buyout option. It’s almost always the best choice, unless you were totally planning on buying that Hummer.
You could make the biggest, bestest fort in the whole neighborhood.
Or the lowest-rent, shitty-dive of a strip club this side of Des Moines…
Your comment is not supported by the facts. Historically December is a much better month for car sales than November, despite or perhaps because of the presence of Christmas.
one other thing to note is that the closing rate (ratio of sold cars to people walking onto the lot) is much higher in December than most other months.
Basically the people that walk onto a dealer’s lot in December are serious about getting a new car.
Oh and where to you get the big assed bow? The dealer will happily give you one.
I would guess the reason for the push this time of year is to get rid of last year’s models. Also probably a little to do with year end taxes on inventory or something like that.
In fact, this was a big gripe the last time Oprah gave out free cars (I think one guy may have even tried to sue the show because he had to pay $7000 in taxes). This time, all the VWs were given tax-free, care of Volkswagen and Oprah. Even if they weren’t, sell a few of those signed cookbooks and cashmere socks on eBay and you’ll have plenty of cash.
It’s not a new trend, I’ve been seeing those ads for years.
Fun Fact: those VW’s are the 2012 model, and won’t be delivered until some time next year.