When 21-year-old Jacob Mattoni told his mother he’d won on The Price Is Right, she didn’t believe him.
When he sent her a photo of his new car’s Price is Right license plate frame as proof, she accused him of pranking her with a gift-shop replica.
Only when he sent a complete list of his spoils was she convinced.
“That did it right there,” Renee Mattoni said. “It was pretty cool.”
Even Mr. Mattoni said the experience didn’t seem real until he walked through the dealership doors at Brown Honda Monday evening and heard the TV show’s theme song playing on the speaker system.
He got hard proof of his victor there: a brand-new 2017 Honda Civic hatchback.
Originally, the Waterville resident was set to receive a 2017 Honda Fit 5-door hatchback after his performance on the popular game show, which was filmed in early March and aired in late May.
But the Honda Fit wasn’t the right fit, Mr. Mattoni said. Three test drives later, he’d settled on the Civic, and the dealership was happy to make the swap.
“It’s a nice car and stuff, [but] it’s just not really for me,” he said of the Fit. “It’s more of like a grown-up-who-has-kids kind of car, and I’m 21 years old, so I’ve got to have a car that makes me look like I’m not 35.”
An avid golfer, he also needs a car that can accommodate his clubs, hence the hatchback.
Mr. Mattoni studies electrical engineering at the University of Toledo and serves as a senior airman in the Air National Guard. He is stationed with the 180th Fighter Wing in Swanton.
In addition to the car, Mr. Mattoni won a 2016 KYMCO Mongoose ATV, a Schwinn exercise bike, two Fitbits, and a roundtrip to Yosemite National Park. The trip includes airfare for two, a rental car, cabin lodging for up to eight people, and a half-day guided rock climbing trip for two.
He received the Fitbits last week and is still waiting on the ATV, exercise bike, and Yosemite trip.
Like Mrs. Mattoni, Brown Honda salesman Adam Mroz suspected a prank when the Internet sales department sent word of an online purchase made from Los Angeles — from a Price is Right email address no less.
But a colleague informed him a Waterville man had recently won the game show. A bit of online research provided confirmation. For Mr. Mroz, the sale was one of the easiest he could remember.
“It’s probably up there,” he said with a laugh. “For sure, top three.”
Contact Jacob Stern at: jstern@theblade.com or 419-724-6050.
First Published June 20, 2017, 4:00 a.m.
