I'm still married to the person I met through the NPR Car Talk personals back in '98, when it was borderline embarrassing to admit you met your partner online. But turns out that what vehicle you would describe yourself as is a pretty good filter! I had some good dates too before meeting him. Getting to know someone over email worked well for me, as the ability to write decently means more to me than looks.
My ad started with "Troy-Bilt rototiller, leans to the left, always ready to cultivate new ground. Once started, hard to turn around." I went hiking with some nice guys. Then responded to my now-husband who was a Honda Civic, which was the car I had. His ad included "Often underestimated. Never needs repairs. Compact but aerodynamic." So there were two Civics in the driveway until we had kids and dogs and one got replaced with a Subaru. Now there's a van (for the farm) and a Honda Fit.
I'll have to see if I can find the actual ad, but I did find this from 1999:
Felicitations from your friends here at Car Talk Plaza.
Valentine's Day is just around the corner... and we hope that the Car Talk Personals have landed you that (select one or both) [buffed out hunk/drop-dead babe] who will shower you with flowers and thoughtful, charming gifts.
Here at Car Talk, we thought we'd do a little "State Of The Union," on the Car Talk show that will air over Valentine's Day weekend. Specifically, we'd like to profile the personals area of cartalk.cars.com, tell a few stories, and share some of our stats with listeners.
So... that's where you come in. If you feel so inspired, we'd love to hear from you, with any or all of the following info:
1. How many e mails have you received?
2. How many friends result from that... and, how many dates? 3. Did you land the prized Significant Other from one of those dates? (And, are you divorced yet?)
and, of course,
4. Send along any good anecdotes you'd like to share... with 3 million Car Talk listeners?
Of course, we'd like you to include great stories about the guy/woman who *didn't* work out -- the wackiest, or most oddball response you got, etc.
We can promise a few things...
1. We'll keep your name and address anonymous, if you so request. Ditto with any replies you send us.
2. We'll line up Leonardo DiCaprio or Kate Winslett for a date. Or both.
Well, we can assure you the former point, anyway.
Now, here's the bad news.
We need your responses by the end of Tuesday, January 26. You can e mail them to me at dmayer@cartalk.com That's right -- just a few days from now. Remember: this is Car Talk. We need weeks to prepare... even to produce one, mediocre hour show each week.
Thanks! With any luck, we'll have thousands of potential dates reading your personal on Valentine's Day weekend.
In the future of peak media & social fracture, we will all be paired on the basis of our fave blogger. Get in on the ground floor before the kids decide it’s cringe
Maybe I’m too online brain but I can also see this working for a lowkey LinkedIn type of stuff - like connecting ppl looking for jobs and ppl wanting referral bonus lol
The boundary between LinkedIn and dating apps are somewhat blurry these days so lol
I never set out to use LinkedIn for dating, but one time this random hookup from years ago added me despite us having absolutely no professional overlap and I was like “alright, might as well…”
I actually don’t even have my wife on LinkedIn as our works are very different
Although I admit to my personal sin of looking up the date on LinkedIn that I matched on dating apps when I was on the app lol (I assume a lot of ppl do that…)
I'm still married to the person I met through the NPR Car Talk personals back in '98, when it was borderline embarrassing to admit you met your partner online. But turns out that what vehicle you would describe yourself as is a pretty good filter! I had some good dates too before meeting him. Getting to know someone over email worked well for me, as the ability to write decently means more to me than looks.
Okay so now you have to disclose what car you and your spouse described yourself as 😂
My ad started with "Troy-Bilt rototiller, leans to the left, always ready to cultivate new ground. Once started, hard to turn around." I went hiking with some nice guys. Then responded to my now-husband who was a Honda Civic, which was the car I had. His ad included "Often underestimated. Never needs repairs. Compact but aerodynamic." So there were two Civics in the driveway until we had kids and dogs and one got replaced with a Subaru. Now there's a van (for the farm) and a Honda Fit.
I'll have to see if I can find the actual ad, but I did find this from 1999:
Felicitations from your friends here at Car Talk Plaza.
Valentine's Day is just around the corner... and we hope that the Car Talk Personals have landed you that (select one or both) [buffed out hunk/drop-dead babe] who will shower you with flowers and thoughtful, charming gifts.
Here at Car Talk, we thought we'd do a little "State Of The Union," on the Car Talk show that will air over Valentine's Day weekend. Specifically, we'd like to profile the personals area of cartalk.cars.com, tell a few stories, and share some of our stats with listeners.
So... that's where you come in. If you feel so inspired, we'd love to hear from you, with any or all of the following info:
1. How many e mails have you received?
2. How many friends result from that... and, how many dates? 3. Did you land the prized Significant Other from one of those dates? (And, are you divorced yet?)
and, of course,
4. Send along any good anecdotes you'd like to share... with 3 million Car Talk listeners?
Of course, we'd like you to include great stories about the guy/woman who *didn't* work out -- the wackiest, or most oddball response you got, etc.
We can promise a few things...
1. We'll keep your name and address anonymous, if you so request. Ditto with any replies you send us.
2. We'll line up Leonardo DiCaprio or Kate Winslett for a date. Or both.
Well, we can assure you the former point, anyway.
Now, here's the bad news.
We need your responses by the end of Tuesday, January 26. You can e mail them to me at dmayer@cartalk.com That's right -- just a few days from now. Remember: this is Car Talk. We need weeks to prepare... even to produce one, mediocre hour show each week.
Thanks! With any luck, we'll have thousands of potential dates reading your personal on Valentine's Day weekend.
Best,
Doug Mayer
Car Talk
CHH, the “everything app.” When do we get a job board and payment services ?
In the future of peak media & social fracture, we will all be paired on the basis of our fave blogger. Get in on the ground floor before the kids decide it’s cringe
Oh trust me - it's whatever cringe is now. That doesn't mean it won't work.
Happily married but if you ever do this for minions and henchmen, I’d be all over it, as I am putting a crew together.
This is great news! I have crushes on so many CHH commenters!
I just got into a relationship 30 years ago, but if I were still single, I would totally use this.
I at first read "being featured in the personals column will not be an option for people on a free trial" as a threat.
Maybe I’m too online brain but I can also see this working for a lowkey LinkedIn type of stuff - like connecting ppl looking for jobs and ppl wanting referral bonus lol
The boundary between LinkedIn and dating apps are somewhat blurry these days so lol
I never set out to use LinkedIn for dating, but one time this random hookup from years ago added me despite us having absolutely no professional overlap and I was like “alright, might as well…”
(Spoiler: she got annoyed and blocked me)
lol, that’s hilarious!
I actually don’t even have my wife on LinkedIn as our works are very different
Although I admit to my personal sin of looking up the date on LinkedIn that I matched on dating apps when I was on the app lol (I assume a lot of ppl do that…)
Let’s give it a whirl. Anyone hiring in South Yorkshire?
I will be doing this. Got to work on my profile.
If this works, well you best be invited to the weddings I suppose.
IDK, maybe this is a good idea? I mean if both people are regular CHH readers, they're already a cut above the competition...
Truly doing the lord’s work by taking on match making! God bless you and happy easter :)
Do gay guys read CHH!?
Some do, admittedly it’s a minority of users
Anyone brave enough to do this is a fascinating and adventurous person, an engaging conversationalist who I'd bet is dynamite in the sack.
I’m NOT single but this is so fun!!
You should find some way of linking these personals to Aella's partner search so you can collect the $100K bounty!
Always amazed to hear fresh original ideas. Single ads are brilliant. That’s why I keep my subscription.