Okay, How Would You Choose To Present A New Car To Your Wife At Christmas?

[mrmertz]

I've managed to squeeze our budget to the max and broke down to do my part to help the economy and got the wifey a new 2009 Mazda for Christmas. She has been driving around a beat up (thanks to two recent accidents) 1988Toyota with no air or heat. I fell she deserves it.

Now I'm stumped as to how to present it to her.

My original option was to just let her open the one very last gift from me on Christmas day which would be a blindfold and lead her outside and then take the blindfold off with her facing me, do my little "spiel" and then turn her around and let her see it.

The second option which I'm leaning a little towards is giving it to her a little before Christmas while the dealership is still open. Blindfold her at home, have some friends follow us to the dealership, do the little "Merry Christmas and I hope you like your 2009 Mazda" bit and present it to her with all of the Mazda team there too. They would give her the official briefing of the car as well and then take the sticker off of it.

I dunno. Either way she has absolutely no clue that this is in the works. She said someday she would be happy just getting a 1990's something or another, let alone new. I'll let you guys decide! Thanks in advance!

[blackcrystal22]

I never understood presents that were cars. Won't she have to contribute to paying for it in the bills? Thus I don't understand the present value, if she's basically paying for it.

But anyhow, it is a very nice thought, and I like the Christmas idea better.

[mrmertz]

Thus I don't understand the present value, if she's basically paying for it.

Wrong. We BOTH will be paying for it, but she'll have the luxury of driving it the vast majority of the time instead of me.

Taken that way ANY present I get her she is basically paying for along with me, and vice-versa since it comes out of a joint account.

To me it could be a $20.00 Timex watch or a $200,000. Mercedes - it's not the price tag that makes it a present, it's the thought behind the giver, hence the word "present".

To take it a step further, the newer car we have now I paid off with my own money before we got married and since then I titled it in both our names and consider it "our" car, not "mine".

To keep this all a secret I obviously had to get the car with my credit history only, not hers.

Thanks for the input!

[SecurityStacey]

I think its very sweet, I'm sure she will go crazy over it.

If I was you I'd go with giving it to her at home, just make sure to get a big bow to put on the hood!

I think going to the dealership and getting the car talk from the salespeople would take away from it a little - and it might be awkward for her with all those people around. Not to mention she will probably want to drive it right away - I know I would!

[chetman7]

cover it in snow. hand her a shovel and tell her to dig it out and wahlah surprise surprise

[blackcrystal22]

Thus I don't understand the present value, if she's basically paying for it.

Wrong. We BOTH will be paying for it, but she'll have the luxury of driving it the vast majority of the time instead of me.

Taken that way ANY present I get her she is basically paying for along with me, and vice-versa since it comes out of a joint account.

To me it could be a $20.00 Timex watch or a $200,000. Mercedes - it's not the price tag that makes it a present, it's the thought behind the giver, hence the word "present".

To take it a step further, the newer car we have now I paid off with my own money before we got married and since then I titled it in both our names and consider it "our" car, not "mine".

To keep this all a secret I obviously had to get the car with my credit history only, not hers.

Thanks for the input!

Relax, I wasn't saying it wasn't a good present, I just don't really understand as I would personally not enjoy having another monthly payment.
The thought makes the present, but to me, it would almost be a burden. That's all. If it's not going to burden your account, then I see no issue. I guess I'm just used to living simply and beating cars into the ground for 20 years.
It's a very sweet idea, and I never thought otherwise.

[grammie]

I think it's wonderful of you. I would want to get it at home, but you have to make sure you're up first and have full control of making sure the car is there and she doesn't see it.

[fattielumpkin]

Awesome gift!!!! I would definitely give it to her at home and just schedule a walk through on the car with the salesperson after the holiday. It will be hard, but it can be done. You are awesome!!!! As for hiding it...I am using the if you go near that specific place I will tackle your a$$ method. Works pretty good.

[FloridaHogs]

Being the receiver of such a gift last year----- AT HOME!!! Ya lose a lot of pleasure in the the beginning when there are a bunch of strangers around and you can't be 100% yourself. Also, coming from a woman that had to drive in a beat up no heat or air car..... she is going to LOVE you and think about you everytime she gets in that car!! Kudos man!! GREAT GIFT!!

[mrmertz]

BlackCrystal and Everyone -

Okay, I see where ya are comin' from BlackCrystal. No offense intended.

Actually it's kinda ironic what you said about the burden of having another payment! I'm the worrier about finances in our relationship since we decided long ago I'd be in charge of our budget. Don't think that I didn't second guess myself more than a few times on the decision to go through with it but when I found myself being able to sleep at night after negotiating with the dealership some more it all came together for me. She'll be okay with the payment thing since she'll probably decide that "If Jeff isn't loosing sleep over it at night, I know wer'e okay!" This is the second car I have purchased from the same dealership.

It looks like a landslide already on the choice! Even Robert (who handles the purchase contract side of the deal at the dealership) said he wouldn't give it to her at the dealership, he said he'd give it to her on Christmas day.

Yeah, she's been driving that thing around for some 4 years or so now. We live in the desert southwest and riding around with no a/c isn't fun during the summer. Getting the unit replaced didn't warrant it because the car doesn't even book for that now. Then the front end got plowed into twice (once by her and once by the teen daughter who by the way has had her license voluntarily revoked until she is 18 after our insurance tripled) and it leaks power steering fluid like crazy now. Like I said, I wanted to do something really super for her and I feel with all she has put up with over the years she deserves something decent too. She'll probably faint on the sidewalk. Yes, my plan is to park it around the corner out of sight and then slip out during the morning's festivities and bring it around front. Covering it in snow is out as I think we only have had one white Christmas in Tucson. On the other hand the bow thing is a great possibility.

If this thread conitinues I'll post a pic or two of what she's driving now for you guys.

Thanks for all the nice comments! I'll keep checking back here from time to time.

I don't think she'll notice the poll here as she doesn't go onto the forums at all (I think). BTW, we have a RTB, CB and a BP too. And yes, we'll be able to swing the payments for the car and still feed the critters rats too!

Jeff aka mrmertz