Pontiac bought an island to display and sell cars in the virtual world of Second Life. Fellow island-owner Scion recently held the first simultaneous real word / virtual world press conference to introduce two new models. While the Mark Templin with a pulse gave a speech in front of me, his avatar gave an identical speech in Second Life. To an audience composed of virtual Scion owners’ avatars. Now eMercedesBenz.com informs me that Mercedes-Benz has also set up a dealership in that expansive corner of cyberspace.

All of which leads me to the obvious question: since Second Life is so eager to emulate real life, do the cars there also break down? Does this Merecedes-Benz dealership have service bays? Do I need to start recruiting a virtual panel from among the three million residents of Second Life?

Perhaps. But not soon. I’m far too busy in my first life.