# Giving a car to your spouse for Christmas **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 21, 2010, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-a-car-to-your-spouse-for-christmas/564902 "2010-12-21T01:45:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-a-car-to-your-spouse-for-christmas/564902/21 "2010-12-21T04:43:45Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > 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. Apparently there are still a lot of couples out there (from polls on this board) where spouses still keep seperate checking accounts and have a “my money is mine, their’s is their’s” mentality. I’m not one of them and I still don’t quite get them. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-a-car-to-your-spouse-for-christmas/564902/22 "2010-12-21T04:56:18Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > \ > Oh and where to you get the big assed bow? The dealer will happily give you one. We’re thinking about buying a new car next year - now you’ve got me wanting to ask them for a big-assed bow for it. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-a-car-to-your-spouse-for-christmas/564902/23 "2010-12-21T05:22:04Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > We’re thinking about buying a new car next year - now you’ve got me wanting to ask them for a big-assed bow for it. 😃 Do it, do it! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-a-car-to-your-spouse-for-christmas/564902/24 "2010-12-21T05:34:29Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > Apparently there are still a lot of couples out there (from polls on this board) where spouses still keep seperate checking accounts and have a “my money is mine, their’s is their’s” mentality. I’m not one of them and I still don’t quite get them. If we had joint accounts, we’d be eating steak every night – by candlelight, because the electricity would be shut off. 🙂 We think the ads are silly too, but at least most of them focus on the deal. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-a-car-to-your-spouse-for-christmas/564902/25 "2010-12-21T05:35:56Z")
> [@USCDiver](#): > > 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. Probably more about inventory. Manufacturers rarely (if ever) time the introduction of a new model year with the calendar year – in fact, in the past, it was traditional for the Big Three to introduce their new models in the early fall. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-a-car-to-your-spouse-for-christmas/564902/26 "2010-12-21T05:51:01Z")
by December a well run dealership is all out of the previous years models. ---
**Author:** ![Av8trix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/90db22/32.png) [@Av8trix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Av8trix)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-a-car-to-your-spouse-for-christmas/564902/27 "2010-12-21T07:06:43Z")
A touching commercial for the season: [Merry Christmas..........bitch! | By Haluze na webe | Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1564682847724&oid=105801729461386&comments) =) ---
**Author:** ![USCDiver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uscdiver/32/354_2.png) [@USCDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USCDiver)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-a-car-to-your-spouse-for-christmas/564902/28 "2010-12-21T11:20:32Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Probably more about inventory. Manufacturers rarely (if ever) time the introduction of a new model year with the calendar year – in fact, in the past, it was traditional for the Big Three to introduce their new models in the early fall. Exactly. And so this time of year, they’re trying to off-load all the 2010 models they still have on the lot. I notice that most of the commercials just say ‘Come in for a December spectacular!’ They don’t mention that the deals are all only for the 2010 models. I could be wrong, I’ve never shopped for a vehicle at this time of year, but that’s my impression. ---
**Author:** ![Eureka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/74df32/32.png) [@Eureka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eureka)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-a-car-to-your-spouse-for-christmas/564902/29 "2010-12-21T11:40:56Z")
Thanks to poor visibility and slippery roads, my dad put his car in a ditch last week, stopping when he hit a telephone pole. Given the age (13 years) and milage (250K), our expectation is that it will be totalled rather than repaired. So my parents did some car shopping last week. Saleslady–“Wouldn’t this car make a nice Christmas Present?” My mother (probably not outloud)–“NO. The Christmas money has already been spent on a new refrigerator and a new radio.” ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-a-car-to-your-spouse-for-christmas/564902/30 "2010-12-21T11:50:45Z")
Yeah, this was mentioned on Sunday when the guys were here for NFL. Pretty much everyone agrees that this is odd. But I did know one man who bought his wife and himself a new car “for Christmas” every year. He prided himself in being possession rich and cash poor. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-a-car-to-your-spouse-for-christmas/564902/31 "2010-12-21T12:15:18Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > If we had joint accounts, we’d be eating steak every night – by candlelight, because the electricity would be shut off. 🙂 > > We think the ads are silly too, but at least most of them focus on the deal. We have joint accounts, because when we got married neither of us had a pot to piss in. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-a-car-to-your-spouse-for-christmas/564902/32 "2010-12-21T12:23:30Z")
My dad buys my mother’s cars. He used to not even talk to her about it. He’d think about it, research it, make a decision and not care at all about color, it was a matter of what he could get the best deal on and it would show up. Now he at least mentions “honey, you need a new car, I’m going to start looking.” Since he does it anyway, putting a bow on it for Christmas or her birthday would at least be a nice touch (he doesn’t, they just show up). He handles all the money, she doesn’t know what they can and can’t afford. He always pays cash. She did finally tell him that she’d like to - I don’t know - maybe pick the color or choose between a compact sedan and a full size SUV (she’s had both - you can’t tell with my Dad). He does not park it in the lawn or decorate the tree. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-a-car-to-your-spouse-for-christmas/564902/33 "2010-12-21T13:41:00Z")
I would guess that the percentage of buyers who actually give cars as surprise Christmas gifts (let alone with a giant red bow) is vanishingly small. But the ads are still effective at getting the brand into the heads of people and couples who are in the market for a new car anyway. They’re also good at making guys feel really inadequate about those fuzzy slippers under the tree. ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-a-car-to-your-spouse-for-christmas/564902/34 "2010-12-21T15:32:29Z")
Not everyone is in the same financial situation… a friend of mine bought her husband a Porsche 911 for Christmas. Didn’t need a loan… wasn’t a big deal. This was about 20 years ago, and yes it had the big red bow. I bought my current car without asking my wife. I took her to the lot and told her this was going to be my next car but she didn’t believe me. It wasn’t until I told her I needed a ride to the dealership to bring my old car home that she saw the new one in the garage. We are still married. ---
**Author:** ![tim-n-va](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim-n-va/32/3001_2.png) [@tim-n-va](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim-n-va)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-a-car-to-your-spouse-for-christmas/564902/35 "2010-12-21T15:52:07Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > Oh and where to you get the big assed bow? The dealer will happily give you one. A co-worker bought his daughter a car for Christmas. The dealer not only offered the big bow but offered to deliver it on Christmas morning. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2010, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-a-car-to-your-spouse-for-christmas/564902/36 "2010-12-23T17:47:17Z")
Now here’s one for the ladies. Baby, where is my [Mercedes](http://lyricsplayground.com/alpha/songs/s/sweettequilablues.shtml)? Girl, I’m waitin’ for the ribbons and the bows. Just keep me guessin’; oh baby, I’m confessin’. I know, you want two of them and three of those. Sweet Tequila Blues by Chip Taylor (brother to Jon Voigt) & Carrie Rodriguez ---
**Author:** ![Proudest\_Monkey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/proudest_monkey/32/13257_2.png) [@Proudest\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Proudest_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2010, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-a-car-to-your-spouse-for-christmas/564902/37 "2010-12-23T23:03:37Z")
Ever since I saw my first parked-in-the-driveway, bow-on-top Christmas commercial years ago, I’ve been hoping for such a gift. So romantic! Sigh . . . And no, I didn’t mean that snowblower, honey. Nor the bucket of Fast Melt. But I can use the lovely shovel to dig a biiiiig hole in the back yard, come spring. Are you getting a clue yet, my dearest? ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2010, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-a-car-to-your-spouse-for-christmas/564902/38 "2010-12-23T23:19:12Z")
I don’t know about your dearest but I got the message loud and clear. ---
**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2010, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-a-car-to-your-spouse-for-christmas/564902/39 "2010-12-24T04:04:25Z")
For those who want a bow for a used car or for some other large gift, there’s [an entire website](http://www.kingsizebows.com/) that specializes in big-ass bows. ---
**Author:** ![Death\_of\_Rats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2010, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-a-car-to-your-spouse-for-christmas/564902/40 "2010-12-24T04:11:40Z")
> [@Bearflag70](#): > > 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?” Live in it. I blew our savings on a Lexus. 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-a-car-to-your-spouse-for-christmas/564902.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-a-car-to-your-spouse-for-christmas/564902.md?page=3)