In 2008 I sent out this postcard:
You had to go to the website to find out the answer. The answer was….
A 2001 Toyota Avalon. Kinda funny considering somebody out there is gonna assume I’m driving a Bugatti.
Why would an “internet guru” be driving 7 year old car with 107,000 miles? I’ll tell you why….
- I wouldn’t even think of buying a car brand new off the lot. I’ll let somebody else soak up the depreciation, thank you very much
- An Avalon is pretty close to a Lexus, minus the snob appeal
- It’s quiet, very comfortable, better gas mileage than a SUV, super reliable
- Has a great JBL stereo system (that’s what sold me in the end)
I went on to explain that how I choose a car is exactly the same as how I teach you to buy clicks on Google: With basic old-fashioned common sense, a certain amount of thrift, and as little vanity as humanly possible.
What I didn’t explain was how many other cars I’ve driven nearly into the ground! I bet I’ve driven three or four of ’em past 200,000 miles, then sold them to some guy for six hundred bucks, rust and all.
Our previous minivan was a purple Honda Odyssey. It was 5 years old with 70K miles when I bought it for $13,000 cash. That was six months after I escaped from the Dilbert Cube. 2 years ago we sold it to a junkyard for $150. Bought MamaLaura a red Toyota Sienna.
And now I STILL have my 2001 Avalon. It’s 10 years old, it’s got 136,000 miles, and it’s got a few more dents and dings. Last week I was driving some clients to dinner during the 4-Man Intensive and one guy is sitting in the back seat. He says to me, “Perry, you live an austere lifestyle.”
Later that night we’re backing out of a parking garage. I scrape the front door against a cement post, busting the mirror and making a huge dent.
MamaLaura says to me, “Perry, you do NOT live an austere lifestyle . . . but my dear husband, it’s time for you to get a newer car.”
I had to agree. Yeah, I can’t keep driving cars into the ground. A guy like me ought to drive a respectable vehicle.
Yesterday I rented a new Avalon from a dealer. Cheap way to find out if I really like it without having a car salesman riding around with me. Verdict’s in: It’s SWEET. But it’s not the only car in the world and I’m not gonna buy a brand new 2011.
So…. I’m interested in your opinion. What kind of car do YOU think I should drive?
I’ll consider every one of your comments before I buy.
Oh yeah, and one other thing. I’m going to start naming my cars. Matt Gillogly has Klaus the Volvo and Betsy the Honda mini van. The winning suggestion gets to name my next car. Plus I promise to talk about it in emails and newsletters every now and then . . .
Perry
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About the Author
Perry Marshall has launched two revolutions in sales and marketing. In Pay-Per-Click advertising, he pioneered best practices and wrote the world's best selling book on Google advertising. And he's driven the 80/20 Principle deeper than any other author, creating a new movement in business.
He is referenced across the Internet and by Harvard Business Review, The New York Times, INC and Forbes Magazine.
81 Comments on “What kind of car does Perry drive?”
Given your penchant for understated heroism, I’d say you should name your car “Neo” (not only after the “Matrix” hero but also because it means “new”, as in new beginnings, new opportunities, etc).
That would fit in nicely with your newly expanded family and all the “newness” there … ;-)
What about a Natural Gas Vehicle like the Honda GX? Cheaper to fill up….
“Last week I bought a 2007 Avalon. Premium sound system, 42,000 miles.” -Perry
Perry,
If I had the money to buy any car I wanted Perry I don’t think I would buy a car that is 4 years old. And I definitely would NOT buy the same model car again. But maybe I should…
Perry,
You should buy a BMW M5. It’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing. The perfect executive car, very comfortable and understated. Your clients would thoroughly enjoy riding around with you and the the 500 HP V-10 would allow you to quicken the pace should you be running late for a flight or a meeting. Very practical indeed.
Greg
Perry
Consider a Tundra Crew Max Pick-up Truck…..386 hp, 4 wheel drive for Chicago winters……..plenty of room in the back seat for the clients….but most importantly, nothing but an 18 wheeler can threaten the godfather of google adwords! The name…..easy….”Keyword”!
Trevor
When I want a finer car, I rent. No upkeeping or draining my bank account.
I drive a 1999 Mazda 626 ES with over 130,000 miles. The bonus is I have my dad as my mechanic which is a blessing.
All of my life, my dad never bought a brand new car. Always, always, always used cars and it enable him to trade much as he like without breaking emptying his wallet. His knowledge is his wealth in how he detects a good vehicle and bargained a great deal.
You have very clearly communicated your value system; that is your guideline for your car purchase. I disagree with the notion that you should stretch yourself, meaning dismiss your values.
The only thing you might want to reconsider is a GM product. Your reason for excluding GM was based off one personal experience, which was a dud model. That is unless, the whole “Government Motors” things messes with your values. Otherwise, take a look at the Buick Lucerne.
Then there’s the Biblical choice: Acts 14:1 “These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication…” :-)
Hey Perry,
I’ve got a 2000 Avalon, and it fits what you want in terms of comfortable, nice, solid, but not flashy. Here’s some options for you:
1) Fix up your Avalon. New paint, new carpets, fix anything that needs tweaking. 136K miles is not running it into the ground for a Toyota if it is cared for. For under 5K you’d have a car that should last until 200K miles.
2) Newer used Avalon — suggest from a dealer so you get a warranty.
There are lots of other options, of course, but seems to me that this would work well.
-lee-
Hi Perry, My passionate hobby has been to drive and review cars. Readership is my only reward so you can expect a pretty honest take. If you find one story that pleases your senses and your sagacious sense alike (DriveMEonline.com is kinda new so you’ll find only a handful yet, but they might be of help.) I should be delighted. Let me know if you like the reviews!
Recommend a Mazda Mazda6.
Bought one last October with 77,000 on it. Now has 120,000. Smooth smooth ride, lots of power and style but not excessive, snobbish, or overly dramatic. My brother is a mechanic at a Mazda dealer. Says they have had zero problems with these cars. Mine is a 2006. And it was assembled in USA
Perry,
I nailed it….you need to buy Knight Rider’s KITT car!
This way you can crush land speed records, avoid Chicago’s traffic, jam radar detectors and flash KITT’s OS to perform PPC, SEO, LSEM, Copyrighting, Paigow functions and sync all your wifi devices simultaneously whilst jamming to the Hoff’s “jump in my car”.
Problem solved!
How about a bus, no one would expect it.
Howdy Perry,
A few years ago, I met a guy in Bevelly Hills. His Office was located in the same building with that of Oprah.
The guy drove a very nice Mercedes-Benz.
He told me he was a “Jeans” guy; and the only reason he drove that car was because it helped him get a lot of contracts.
Made sense to me since that was Beverly Hill.
Perry you are a VERY PRACTICAL GUY.
I don’t think you are the kind of guy who would buy a car so that you can get assignments . Hey, you are perry the “adwords god”!
I don’t think you WILL be moved a bit by ” buying based on emotion & justifying it with logic”. Heck this is what you teach anyway.
**I think you and your lovely wife should PRAY ABOUT IT and just go for whatever the SPIRIT lead you to buy
And that is my 2 cent!
Perry,
I have a deep respect for what you have said in your blog post and it shows how genuine you are in everything you do.
My work fleet are all Toyota’s and I’m yet to hear anybody say anything really bad about them. They are just plain reliable.