Interview Six: 6/13/05

• Male, 28
• Raleigh, North Carolina
• Single, but hoping to have a family one day
• College graduate
• Past experience in journalism (Washington Post) and the music industry (record store employee; Virgin Records intern; amateur musician; tour manager for a band)
• Works in media relations for a professional sports team
• Estimated annual income: $25,000-$30,000
• Renter

• Do you have a car?

yes

• What kind?

2004 Saturn ION -- purchased it new

• Why did you choose your car? (Aesthetics, economics, practical use,

etc.)

economics - practical use

• What do you do in your car? (commute to work, business, recreation, pick up the kids, friends, etc.)

commute to work, go on out-of-town trips - use it whenever i need to get from point a to point b

• Where do you live? Suburbs? City? What do you do for employment? Where do you work? Do you work in your car?

i live in a small city that's kind of a cluster of suburbs... i work in media relations for a professional sports team... i do not work in my car

• How much time do you spend in your car? (per day) Does this change on weekends?

i spend about 20-30 minutes per day in my car on average... sometimes it changes on weekends if i go out of town or have a lot of errands

• What kind of work do you do in your car?

none, really.

• Do you eat in your car?

sometimes

• Have you added any extras to the car? Upgrades?

not really...

• What is your favorite car?

one that gets good gas milage and has a low monthly payment

• Are you into vintage cars? What do you like about them?

i think they look cool enough, but they're really not my thing

• Tell me about the things you did in driving to work today, from the time you got in the car at home, to the time you got out of the car at work. I'm interested in everything, not just the making-the-car-go actions.

got in my car, i might've had a cup of coffee so i set that in the cup holder, i backed out of my parking space, i shifted into first, then to second, then third then fourth (never have to leave fourth just to go to work), listened to the radio (ususally some morning talk crap), turned into my office/the arena, parked, got out of my car with my bag and my coffee

• What did you do as a kid when you went for a ride in the car?

i usually fiddled with the radio/tape deck and looked out the window while singing

• Other than the making-the-car-go actions, what kinds of things do you give your attention to while you drive?

talk on the phone sometimes, drink a soda or water or coffee, fiddle with my iPod

• Do you like being entertained while you are in your car? Do you need to entertain someone else while you are driving? How much control over entertainment do you want? As driver? As passenger in the front or back seat?

i like to be "distracted" whether its from music, or talk radio, or conversation... i want "control" over the entertainment to be as effortless as possible and mostly in my (the driver's) hands

• Do you use CDs? Do you have an MP3 player?

I occassionally use CDs, but mostly my iPod

• Is the quality of the sound an issue? More bass, greater amps? Do you like listening to your music loud? (Do you like being the center of attention in your car?)

I appreciate being able to open up my car stereo's sound, especially when i'm on long trips, but i'm fine with my decent factory system...

• Do you use the phone much in your car? If so how much?

I use it about 30-50% of the time i'm in the car

• Do you travel places where you require navigational aids? Do you like navigational aids?

I think writing down/printing out directions will get me there, but i've never had a navigation system, so i might like that

• Is design an issue?

not as much as price and fuel efficiency

• What do you want your car to feel like?

i want my car to feel safe

• Do you care about what stuff is made of? (Materials: plastic, leather, wood, metal, etc.)

not really

• Do you like screens in your car?

don't have any... might be cool

• Do you like dials, screens, electronic displays, 'old school' gauges, etc.? Get into some specifics, but not too many?

each has their own appeal... 'old school' guages and stuff are probably more accurate/useful... too many digital displays can be distractiing

• If you had to buy a car right now, what would you buy? Why?

i'd probably buy a car that a) fit my budget, and b) was easy on the environment... probably a Honda Accord hybrid, if I could afford it.

• If you had to buy a car in ten years, when you had a better salary, what would you buy and why?

If they could make something as large as an SUV fuel efficient, I'd love to have that kind of space/comfort... but, realistically, i'd probably just own a nicer/more "pimped out" sedan

• What would be your priorities for spending money? House, kids, car, travel, electronic equipment, savings, computer equipment, media rooms, books, presents, charity, etc.?

hmm... rent, car, food, entertainment, electronics (probably in that order)

• If you bought a car with basic features and then wanted to add or upgrade, in what order would you add or upgrade? Media, interior, engine, wheels, etc?

I would upgrade the speakers, then maybe the stereo's head unit

• Would you rather buy a car with everything you want in it up front, or would you rather buy a basic car and upgrade as you go?

I'd rather buy one that already had everything I wanted...

• How is your music collection organized at home? Would you like to access it from the car? Would you like to download music in the car?

I don't think I need to download music in my car... I do have an iPod and would love to have a car that made using it easier...

• What was your first car? Did you like it? Why?

1985 Chevy Blazer... I was 16. The damn thing ran and got me where I was going - that was all I cared about, so, yeah - I liked it.

• What cars did your parents drive? Which did you like the most? The least? Why?

My mom drives a Volvo sedan... it's OK. My dad drives a Dodge Durango... I wish it got better gas milage, but it is comfortable.

• What car do you love to hate, and why?

I HATE Hummers... there's just no need for anything that excessive on the road, and they are TERRIBLE on fuel

• How do you feel about cars in general?

I think people need to realize that cars are machines that help us get from place to place... I wish they weren't seen as status symbols, but hey - what can I do about that? Cars really don't do much for me other than make me glad I can get around town and get out of town when I want to...