Christmas gift shopping season (not to mention ugly sweater season) is upon us, and most of us are busy figuring out what to buy for our friends and loved ones. If your friend or family member is a car enthusiast, you might think buying a gift for them will be a fairly easy task; there is, after all, no shortage of automotive merchandise out there. However, finding something they will actually be happy to see under the Christmas tree might prove a little trickier.
There are some items which we at CarBuzz think do not make great Christmas gifts for gearheads, even though at first glance they might seem like a good choice. Here is a selection of 10 items that the car enthusiast in your life may be disappointed with on Christmas Day.
Items are listed in no particular order.
Steering Wheel Cover / Seat Covers
We start off our list with seat covers and steering wheel covers. These accessories are sometimes marketed as popular gifts for car enthusiasts simply due to the fact that they are related to cars, however you will find that most gearheads won’t be all that impressed when seeing them under the tree.
Most people who have a passion for cars take a great deal of care in selecting their preferred interior specs, including a steering wheel and upholstery option that fits their aesthetic preferences. Covering their pride and joy’s interior with cheap-looking fabric does nothing for the aesthetic value of the car; we suggest you stay away from both these items.
Car Socks/Hats/Clothing
Although you might be tempted to get the car enthusiast in your life a T-shirt, baseball cap or even socks bearing their preferred automaker’s logo, chances are this type of gift will get a fairly lukewarm welcome. First off, it just looks a bit nerdy – not that there’s anything wrong with that, but many people won’t be keen to walk around with a giant brand logo on them, even if they are fans of that particular brand.
Second of all, there’s the question of what brand to choose: if you go for the same brand as the vehicle actually driven by the person, it might make them look like they’re a little too obsessed with their own car. If you go for a supercar brand (think Ferrari hat, or Lamborghini T-shirt) when the person does NOT own one of the brand’s models, it might just look… a bit sad. A child decked head-to-toe in Ferrari gear is cute, an adult (who drives a Toyota Corolla) not so much.
Hot Wheels Cars
Although there is an overlap between the people who are into real cars and the people who are into Hot Wheels cars, that Venn diagram is not a circle by any means. Sure, some car enthusiasts like to decorate their living room with miniature examples of their favorite cars, but many won’t – and will simply find it to be one more item of dust-collecting clutter.
If you’re absolutely sure that the person is specifically into collecting Hot Wheels (and, crucially, does not already own the particular car you want to give them), go ahead. If not, you’re better off looking for something else.
Fuel Additives
Fuel additives are chemical products added to the gasoline or diesel you put in your car, with the aim of performing functions such as reducing deposits, preventing wax buildup, de-icing, and allowing the system to function more efficiently. Some fuel additives are already added to the fuel supply, making aftermarket ones slightly redundant.
They are also a source of controversy in the automotive world due to their effectiveness, or lack thereof. While some people swear up and down that they have seen an improvement in the performance of their vehicle after using them, the evidence for their effectiveness is somewhat shaky.
Generic Detailing Supplies
While some people might appreciate a detailing kit for their car as a Christmas gift, in many cases you will find that the gearhead in your life has a specific preference regarding brands and products.
If you are aware of what they prefer to use when cleaning their car, feel free to buy a bottle and wrap it up with a bow – but if you’re simply picking up a generic detailing product or kit, be aware that it may not quite match your person’s tastes. Car enthusiasts can be very particular about what products go on their vehicle, so keep this firmly in mind when shopping for gifts.
Air Freshener
Car air fresheners don’t make a great Christmas gift for several reasons, but there are two main ones. The first is that it’s simply, well, a bit lazy. Gifting an air freshener to someone who is into cars makes you look like you picked up a random object from a gas station at the last minute and stuffed it under the tree.
The second reason is that you might involuntarily come across as suggesting your friend or family member’s car interior is in need of a refresh due to a bad smell, which is not exactly the “Merry Christmas” message one wants to convey.
Car Eyelashes
Do we even need to explain why this is a bad idea? Well, if you insist. Car eyelashes are frequently cited as the ultimate example of a tacky, tasteless car accessory. Along with things like the infamous “Truck Nuts”, they are firmly in the Top 5 list of most cringe-inducing items you can stick on a car.
The only time you should ever consider buying them as a gift is if the person has specifically asked for them and you’re 100% sure they’re not joking (in which case, you might want to expand your social circle). If that is not the case, spend your money on something else.
Bumper Stickers
Bumper stickers are a tricky one. First, there’s the question of whether the person is into adding stickers and decals to their car. Some people only use magnetic bumper stickers, while others are okay with adhesive ones (although they’re much harder to remove), and others don’t stick anything on their car at all.
Then there’s the question of content: you have to know the person’s sense of humor extremely well to buy them a bumper sticker without making a faux pas. Overall, there are better car-related items out there you can buy, which will cause you less of a headache.
Coffee Table Books
Coffee table books: large, heavy, decorated with glossy pictures and an impressive dust jacket. One such book with an automotive theme might, at first glance, seem like the perfect gift for someone who likes cars; however, chances are it will end up being briefly flicked through on Christmas Day before sitting on a shelf, collecting dust, for years afterward.
Eventually, when the next big move or de-cluttering effort comes around, the book is likely to end up being sold or recycled, if not gifted on to someone else. Although they might look visually impressive, coffee table books might not be your best option.
Car-Branded Fragrances
Last of all, we have car-branded fragrances, such as perfumes or colognes. Fragrances are an extremely common choice of Christmas gift, to the point of being overdone and almost considered cliche. Even one with your loved one’s favorite carmaker’s branding might come across as a lazy or not particularly thoughtful gift.
Also, car companies and perfume companies are very different types of business. Just because a brand is good at making cars, it doesn’t mean they can make a perfume that genuinely smells good. Chances are the actual product will be a less-than-optimal quality fragrance, with a brand logo slapped on the bottle to inflate the price tag and give it a premium feel.
Sources: Amazon