Orange

Orange is the loneliest color that you'll ever shop
Orange is really bad dirt
Its the loneliest color since the beginning of this study

Poor service, is the saddest experience that you'll ever know
Cut shades in the wrong size is the saddest experience Amy knows
Cause orange is the loneliest color that Amy'll know
Orange is the loneliest color 
Even worse when you make three trips to the store to get something right and they still can not get it right
Yeah

Stores are just no good anymore
Since I went online
Now I spend my time just 
Making up some rhymes of where to dine

Orange is the loneliest color
Orange is the loneliest color
Orange is the loneliest color
Since you went to a store
Since you went to a store

I do have a few more thoughts on the availability of a Honda Odyssey for a test drive (see July 11 for initial comments).  From what I understand, there is some wild and weird stuff going on with regard to consumers purchasing this vehicle.  It is my perception that a significant number of Odyssey buyers are purchasing their vehicles without ever having taken an Odyssey out for a "test drive."  In addition, it is my perception that most Odyssey buyers are extremely delighted with their vehicles.

Thought numero uno:
Does this provide partial evidence for my notion that test drives, as typically defined and provided, deliver information of little value?  If the test drive was so critical, then how could a significant number of consumers go ahead and purchase this vehicle without a test drive?  Perhaps most of these folks have taken a friend's Odyssey out for a spin?  If true, then this might suggest that the test drive, as typically offered by automobile dealerships, is of little value.  My guess is that a significant number of people are purchasing the Honda Odyssey without ever having driven it prior to purchase, and are extremely satisfied with their purchase decision postpurchase, thereby suggesting that the historical test drive is not important -- a point that I made at the start of this study (see About Me).

Thought numero dos:
With the Odyssey perceived to be selling like hotcakes (e.g., waiting lists of several months long in some instances have been reported), what does a dealer have to gain by making available an Odyssey for a test drive?  It is possible that this information -- a test drive -- may result in some people realizing that the Odyssey is not "da bomb" and that it is not for them.  From a dealer's perspective, there may be little upside to offering a test drive of a "super hot" selling vehicle -- wow, associating the words "super hot" with a minivan is amusing (please forgive me soccer moms and dads of the world).  In fact, this could threaten the vehicle's status.  (Hey, one could argue that if the vehicle truly were not good, the market would know it.  True, however, I believe that there is also a "Beanie Baby" effect associated with the ownership of this vehicle, which, at the moment, is carrying significant weight.)  In spirit, it could be argued, that dealers are holding back information about a vehicle that, perhaps, helps some people make a good purchase decision.  From a consumer perspective, therefore, it could suggested that dealers are not being as consumer oriented as they could be with respect to offering test drives and selling the Odyssey.

By the way, I do not feel that I am speaking out of both sides of my mouth with regard to my thoughts uno y dos.  I believe that the current "test drive" system is of very little value to a large majority of auto buyers.  I also believe, however, that these very same people believe that they need to take a test drive in order to be sure which vehicle is best for them.