As the rippling abs and misogyny of Love Island reappears on our TVs I wonder if there are any comparables to new car hunting?
Stay with me….
Personally I detest the very fact that this show exists and feel saddened that our world has allowed not only its conception, but its proliferation via primetime TV.
For those that haven’t seen it, firstly I salute you and secondly I’ll explain, a load of vacuous 20 somethings clothed in the barest minimum to cover whatever dignity they have left arrive on a beach, drenched in hormones, glitter moisturiser and the sweat of a thousand hours in the gym.
The premise being based (no doubt) on a meeting of TV execs, who fresh from completing a third class degree in Media Studies muted the idea that Jeremy Kyle Live on a Beach would make awesome TV.
Given that 3.37 million people tuned in to the first episode they weren’t wrong, despite the fact that they should have been!
Its success I believe says more about humanity than it does about the morally void guinea pigs that have been marooned on the island; hot, horny and desperate for fame.
What it says is that we now judge everything by appeal, be it aesthetics or simple tick boxing.
Need a date, swipe right based on pure visual attraction, need a meal, pictures help and sod the nutritional values in the small print underneath.
Want to buy a car?
Well here’s the crux, leading sites ask you for make, model, price and location as a starter for 10, expand the search and it’s still a bit ‘Love Islandy’, Age, Fuel Consumption and Segment are added.
We are still at Age, Beauty, Proximity and ‘Performance’.
Buying a car as anything other than a luxury play thing is all about utilitarian desire, practicality, fitting into the purpose it is needed for. You then add the sparkly bits after this has been covered off and you still have budget left.
If we whittled down a search by utilitarian methods, we’d state something like we need a car to take the kids to school and to clubs and events, a mode of transport to occasionally go on holiday, easy to park and not too much of a drain on our finances; something basically, better than the bus.
This then is why dealers still exist, the personal touch the sales person who listens to your utilitarian desires, the ‘real’ reasons behind the purchase and then points you in the direction of what you might like.
Window shopping on the internet is fine as research, but it’s still basically Love Island for cars, you end up looking for hours at something beautiful that will never love you back and will end up costing you a fortune !
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Comments (4)
Haha! I just realized I'm addicted to Car Tinder... that's how I met James (my Mini). I swiped right.
Absolutley brilliant piece! Super analysis and observation wrapped in superb prose. Kudos!!!
Agree!
I have to agree with Royce as well, It's hard some times to determine... "Am I making the right choices right now..." as you stare out the window looking out into the distance...
Is the [insert possible car choice here] the right one for...
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