PostsArchive - Archive for the year 2007
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MINI: the pleasure of accessible luxury
Monday, 17 December, 2007
Next to the Hummer, the juggernaut I mentioned in several October and November 2007 columns, the MINI is Lilliputian. How can one not love its friendly face; according to surveys conducted by MINI Canada in 2007, its appearance is the most important factor in the purchase decision. Its remarkable sobriety, thanks to its 1.6 litre […]
Read the rest of this postBoxing Day
Thursday, 13 December, 2007In anticipation of my presence on RDI en direct Wednesday, December 26, I perform a mini-quiz on Boxing Day; you may answer up to 6 PM Monday, December 24. I hope many of you will participate. It will be my pleasure to comment on the results with host Louis Lemieux. If you have any comments […]
Read the rest of this postA question of self-image
Tuesday, 27 November, 2007The existence of a link between a person’s self-image and the image of the vehicle she buys, analyzed in a previous column, shows that the Hummer’s militaristic and aggressive personality fits the image the buyer of this vehicle wants to project. In fact, research conducted by Keith Bradsher at Honda demonstrates that SUV buyers are […]
Read the rest of this postIrresponsible Consumption
Monday, 26 November, 2007On Thursday, November 29, I am pleased to be the guest speaker of the « Groupe de recherche en droit international et comparé de la consommation (Gredicc) » (Research Group on International and Comparative Law of consumption). The theme of my conference is « Modes de consommation irresponsables: Comment en est-on arrivé là? » (Irresponsible […]
Read the rest of this postInterview on RDI live
Sunday, 25 November, 2007This morning I had the pleasure of being Louis Lemieux’s guest on « RDI en direct (weekend) » (RDI live week-end edition); it can be viewed on the programme’s website. We have chatted about my recent book « Consommation et luxe – La voie de l’excès et de l’illusion » (Consumption and luxury – The […]
Read the rest of this postPublication of Consumption and luxury
Wednesday, 7 November, 2007Monopolized by the publication of my book, « Consommation et luxe – La voie de l’excès et de l’illusion » (Consumption and luxury – The path of excess and illusion), planned in the coming days, I will not publish chronicles in the next few weeks; I shall resume in December. To receive word of my […]
Read the rest of this postWhy do some people detest the Hummer?
Tuesday, 30 October, 2007The Hummer’s high fuel consumption and concerns for global warming are the main reasons mentioned by critics of this vehicle. Although these factors are not totally unrelated to this negative sentiment, they are not the real reasons; the truth lies elsewhere. What people detest is not its gluttony for fuel, nor really its size, since […]
Read the rest of this postThe Hummer’s identity
Tuesday, 23 October, 2007Last February I received an email from an owner of a Cadillac CTS, saying that to buy a vehicle he must “first fall in love” with it. In a PBS interview, Clotaire Rapaille concurs: “The PT Cruiser is a car [that] when people see it, they say, “Wow, I want it.” Some people hate it; […]
Read the rest of this postSUV buyers
Tuesday, 16 October, 2007Who are SUV buyers? Based on large scale market surveys performed yearly for the automobile industry, Keith Bradsher describes them as having little self-confidence and being conceited. They are often insecure about their marriage and uncomfortable with parenthood. They often lack assurance in their driving abilities. They are above all “self-centered” and “self-absorbed”, with little […]
Read the rest of this postHummer VS MINI
Tuesday, 9 October, 2007In the following weeks, I invite you to a series of seven chronicles on the theme: Why do we love… or hate a vehicle? To shed light on this question, I will use two vehicles whose philosophies are a world apart: the Hummer and the MINI. Let us begin with the largest one. The Hummer […]
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