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September 20, 2005Whaddya mean it has no intrinsic value?
"There is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so." - William Shakespeare, "Hamlet"
As I was driving home from work today, I realized that the much-vaunted "new car smell" isn't really anything to write home about, objectively speaking. Truth be told, it smells a little off. If I were to be hit with it during the middle of a walk, I'd probably wrinkle my nose and speed up. And if I were to encounter it while driving the Ontario leg of the 60 freeway, I wouldn't be a bit surprised.
We only love it because it's exclusive to the experience of having (or driving in) a new car. In other words, if the only place in the world where one could find haggis was within the glove compartments of brand-new cars, we'd be haggis-lovers, all.
Posted by patrick at September 20, 2005 01:50 AM
CommentsHm. I think you've hit on a marketing scheme here to snare all the Harry Potter fans when they start driving. Bertie Botts's Car Smells. Sure, you can get Corinthian leather. Or you can get yak vomit, warlock smegma, witch tits, old poo, etc.
Imagine that. A little tie-in, some really hideous odors, and a generation of followers ready to pay extra for the privilege of having their senses assaulted...
Posted by: Jon Bastian at September 20, 2005 02:04 AM
Personally, I'm not too fond of the new car smell. But I do have to agree with you; we seem to value it because it's a "new car".
Posted by: Nastassia P. at September 23, 2005 01:12 PM
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