Interview Nine: 6/14/05
Yes
1999 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder
- Why did you choose your car? (Aesthetics, economics, practical use, etc.)
Price, reliability, styling
- What do you do in your car? (commute to work, business, recreation, pick up the kids, friends, etc.)
Recreation, meet up with friends, shopping
- Where do you live? Suburbs? City? What do you do for employment? What do you hope to do for employment in the future? Where do you work? Do you work in your car?
Suburbs. Student. Professor. Stanford. No.
- How much time do you spend in your car? (per day) Does this change on weekends?
Most days I don't drive. On those that I do, probably 30 minutes. I spend a total of 2 hours/week in my car.
- What kind of work do you do in your car?
I don't
Sometimes
- Have you added any extras to the car? Upgrades?
No
- What is your favorite car?
BMW
- Are you into vintage cars? What do you like about them?
Not really.
- 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.
N/A
- What did you do as a kid when you went for a ride in the car?
Read. Played games. Activity books. Talked to my parents.
- Other than the making-the-car-go actions, what kinds of things do you give your attention to while you drive?
Cell phone
- 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 enjoy music. Beyond that, entertainment isn't important. On long trips as a passenger, a video system would be cool.
- Do you use CDs? Do you have an MP3 player?
Yes. Yes.
- Are you interested in satellite radio?
Only when I'm in Montana (home)
- 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?)
Sounds quality is important. Volume isn't.
- Do you use the phone much in your car? If so how much?
Often. Maybe 25% of the time that I'm driving.
- Do you travel places where you require navigational aids? Do you like navigational aids?
Not usually. Would be nice if the price were right.
Yes
- What do you want your car to feel like?
Responsive. Tight. Fast. Agile.
- Do you care about what stuff is made of? (Materials: plastic, leather, wood, metal, etc.)
Yes. Leather, wood and brushed metal are preferred. Plastic isn't.
- Do you like screens in your car?
I don't know what screens are.
- Do you like dials, screens, electronic displays, 'old school' gauges etc.? Get into some specifics, but not too many?
Don't care.
- If you had to buy a car right now, what would you buy? Why?
Used Volvo S40 or similar. Reliable and practical. Right price.
- If you had to buy a car in ten years, when you had a better salary, what would you buy and why?
BMW 300 series. Sportier but still practical.
- What would be your priorities for spending money? House, kids, car, travel, electronic equipment, savings, computer equipment, media rooms, books, presents, charity, etc.?
Car isn't high on the list. Family first. Then housing, charity, travel, electronics.
- 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?
Media. I probably wouldn't upgrade anything else.
- 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?
Everything up front unless the dealer prices are way out of line with aftermarket upgrades (i.e. audio systems)
- 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?
MP3s and alphabetized CDs. Would be great to have full access from car via some kind of wireless network connection. Expand that to Tivo, too. Downloading in car isn't important.
- What was your first car? Did you like it? Why?
1984 Dodge Colt. It was a great first car.
- What cars did your parents drive? Which did you like the most? The least? Why?
Honda Accord and Nissan truck.
- What car do you love to hate, and why?
Aztec. Stupid concept.
- If you could borrow a car from a friend or family member for a date, what would you borrow? Why? For a road trip? For running errands?
For a road trip, I'd borrow a hybrid. For a date, I'd borrow a Toyota MR2 convertible.
- Would you consider sharing cars (one or two cars) with a wife/fiancee/girlfriend? Why or why not?
Sure. Why not?
- How do you feel about cars in general?
They're functional.
- What would you like to see in a standard car in 2015? A luxury car? A family car? An economy car? What do you imagine will be mitigating factors at that time, both in the world and in your personal lives?
Fuel economy. Safety. Smaller sizes. (I find SUVs ridiculous and hate sharing the road with them.) In a luxury car, more power and nicer trimmings. Mitigating factors will be traffic and income.
