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Car Commercials, the good, the bad, and the annoying!

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  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    I see Cadillac is running ads with hip, young, impossibly beautiful people dashing to their private jets whilst techno beat thrums in the background, etc. While I do admire their effort in no longer marketing to the Social Security Set, I think perhaps they have tilted too far to the other extreme.
  • robr2robr2 Member Posts: 8,805
    Mr_Shiftright said:

    I see Cadillac is running ads with hip, young, impossibly beautiful people dashing to their private jets whilst techno beat thrums in the background, etc. While I do admire their effort in no longer marketing to the Social Security Set, I think perhaps they have tilted too far to the other extreme.

    I have not seen that one yet. I do like the "Brand New Cadillac" ad as found here:

    http://www.ispot.tv/brands/d3C/cadillac
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    I'm not so sure depicting slaves pulling a chariot in ancient times, then cutting to Louis XVI (let them eat cake?) and then closing the ad with a black family was all that culturally or economically sensitive, but perhaps I'm being too sharp on this one. I don't think I'm the only one to comment on that. The one about the family that knows good design is pretty good, although the scene doesn't look at all like America---was that ad for overseas?
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    Maybe by the same brilliant mind who brought us the braggy-probably-inherited-daddy's-business dbag ELR guy.

    And we are closer to the time of Louis XIV than probably any time in the past 90 years,so there's that.


    Mr_Shiftright said:

    I'm not so sure depicting slaves pulling a chariot in ancient times, then cutting to Louis XVI (let them eat cake?)

  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Apparently, in those times if a French nobleman ran over a child, he would flip a coin to the parents through the carriage window. Probably in modern times that would be "not funny" in a commercial.

    You gotta be careful when peddling affluence. On the one hand, it IS the American dream, to strike it rich; but on the other, it can breed resentment in Hard Times.

    Tricky tricky form of advertising.
    fintail said:

    Maybe by the same brilliant mind who brought us the braggy-probably-inherited-daddy's-business dbag ELR guy.

    And we are closer to the time of Louis XIV than probably any time in the past 90 years,so there's that.




    Mr_Shiftright said:

    I'm not so sure depicting slaves pulling a chariot in ancient times, then cutting to Louis XVI (let them eat cake?)

  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    Goofy local ads - one for a blowout lease on an Optima LX (I assume that's base) is calling it a "sport sedan" or "sporty sedan". Another calls the Fiat 500L an "Italian luxury car". Optimism, maybe. I think it might even be the same dealer.
  • stickguystickguy Member Posts: 53,347
    It's 2 weeks before Thanksgiving. And already the flood of Xmas themed TV commercials for cars has started. Willing to bet that I will be wildly tired of them long before the year ends!

    at least there are a few new ones this year, including Caddy.

    2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.

  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    edited November 2014
    I bet you'll be sick of the Walmart commercials at about the second hearing. It's just one big happy family melting their credit cards.
  • robr2robr2 Member Posts: 8,805
    I saw this one at the end of halftime of the Manchester United vs Leicester City game today - surprised I have never seen it:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0gHnySJSsk

    For a car but no cars - just heart.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    edited January 2015
    A couple local Hyunkia dealers have been airing obnoxious ads to the idea that if you need(ed) Christmas money or ran up a bunch of Christmas debt, it's a good idea to buy/lease a leftover 14 for MSRP and use the 4K rebate to pay the debt. Yay.
  • stickguystickguy Member Posts: 53,347
    Interesting way to bury negative equity. And cheaper interest rate than on a CC!

    2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.

  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    I was thinking about that, it might be better than CC debt or getting into a payday loan/loan shark cycle. At least the car will be useful, even if you paid too much.
  • robr2robr2 Member Posts: 8,805
    Happy Valentine's Day from Ford:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Nyr1Ao7iZA
  • stickguystickguy Member Posts: 53,347
    That looked like fun. Just no good for the tires!

    2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.

  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,675
    robr2 said:

    Happy Valentine's Day from Ford:

    I liked the guy who told her to let him drive and he would show her what the
    car could do!


    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • stickguystickguy Member Posts: 53,347
    Pretty sure that was CSKI. :)

    2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.

  • andres3andres3 Member Posts: 13,934
    My favorite car commercial of all-time is this Audi R8 commercial on You Tube (Word of Advice, Turn UP your Volume):

    http://youtu.be/lpB1yR9Sz9Y

    It's like Car Porn. :) So simple but effective.
    '18 Porsche Macan Turbo, '16 Audi TTS, Wife's '19 VW Tiguan SEL 4-Motion
  • odie6lodie6l Member Posts: 1,173
    I think my favorite so far for the 2015 season has to be the Nissan Rogue Winter Warrior add. This has the feel of a Calvin & Hobbes comic strip to it.

    http://youtu.be/FhUqPG4g1gU

    Odie
  • ab348ab348 Member Posts: 20,284
    Those Nissan horror movie ads are just terrible. They have a whole series running in Canada. Terrifying potential buyers is not a good sales strategy.

    2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6

  • robr2robr2 Member Posts: 8,805
    I don't know - the zombie snowmen really aren't terrifying.
  • ab348ab348 Member Posts: 20,284
    They are pretty nasty actually.

    2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6

  • robr2robr2 Member Posts: 8,805
    Latest from Cadillac -Dare Greatly with a sneak peek of the CT6:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGhaOV0BPmA

    I like it.
  • ab348ab348 Member Posts: 20,284
    edited February 2015
    I like the catchphrase but whatever that song is - in French no less - is just awful for where I think they need their image to be.

    2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6

  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    "The CT6 reveal was set to "Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien," which means "No, I Regret Nothing," by the French singer Edith Piaf."

    2016 Cadillac CT6 Steals the Spotlight on Oscar Night
  • robr2robr2 Member Posts: 8,805
    ab348 said:

    I like the catchphrase but whatever that song is - in French no less - is just awful for where I think they need their image to be.

    The name of the song is Non, je ne regrette rien (No, I Regret Nothing) by Edith Piaf is perfect. No Regrets goes well with Dare Greatly.

    It's so much better than the latest from Munich:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2m65RVM_gsk
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    I like how it is in French, when the insufferable dbag ELR commercial less than tacitly mocked the French.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    A bit self-serving, given that Cadillac was more like a homeless junkie given a sandwich and a bowl of soup and some clean clothes by the US Congress---BUT--I'm okay with the ad, even if it does probably leave a lot of viewers scratching their heads---TMI in that commercial. It's a nice car for heaven's sake, it's not Jonas Salk or Gandhi.
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,675
    Mr_Shiftright said:

    A bit self-serving,

    But look at the commercial's target audience--the most self-serving bunch of folks there are out in Hollywood preaching about how they care about the poor while taking home their millions and billions. And the rest of the target viewers many of whom are wannabees who feel that watching films and idols makes them better somehow. Sort of like folks who drive certain image cars and feel that makes them a better person somehow.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • ab348ab348 Member Posts: 20,284
    While the title/lyric may be in line with what they are promoting, if they are trying to appeal to Americans I don't think a French singer performing a song nobody understands from decades ago is the way to go. I find many people have an allergic reaction to that kind of music.

    2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6

  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    The SNL ISIS-themed parody of the awful transparent Camry military daughter ad is hilarious. It apparently has some of the so-called up right up in a tizzy.
  • tmarttmart Member Posts: 2,399
    I thought it sucked royally and was in extremely bad taste. SNL just isn't funy like it was in older times.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    ISIS is awful, and the Toyota spot using a dull bold commuter box in glorifying raising a child to be fodder for the praetorian money pit is awful too. Parodying them both isn't a crime in my book.

    But yeah, SNL was much better in the 20th century.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    That's the difference between talent and "trying real hard".
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    Talent seems harder to find these days.

    Tonight I saw a Toyota ad calling the Prius "stylish", and a Lexus ad calling the CT "sporty". That takes talent or maybe courage.
  • qbrozenqbrozen Member Posts: 33,736
    edited March 2015
    fin tail said:


    But yeah, SNL was much better in the 20th century.

    I couldn't stand it anymore after most of the late '80s crew eventually left (Carvey, Miller, Lovitz, Hooks, Myers, Nealon, and Hartman [that was a good crew when they were fresh]). It was downhill in the early '90s and I think I stopped watching around '91 or '92. Probably coincided with the Wayne's World movie.

    '11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S

  • roadburnerroadburner Member Posts: 18,325
    fintail said:

    Talent seems harder to find these days.

    Tonight I saw a Toyota ad calling the Prius "stylish", and a Lexus ad calling the CT "sporty". That takes talent or maybe courage.

    Still, the "Bold New Camry" theme takes the win. I can see all these customers shopping four-wheeled appliances thinking " Wow, I can actually be BOLD- a real individual; just like every other Camry owner."

    Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
    Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
    Son's: 2018 330i xDrive

  • slorenzenslorenzen Member Posts: 694
    fintail said:

    Talent seems harder to find these days.

    Tonight I saw a Toyota ad calling the Prius "stylish", and a Lexus ad calling the CT "sporty". That takes talent or maybe courage.

    And VERY poor eyesight.

    And maybe a vivid imagination...

    B)
  • roadburnerroadburner Member Posts: 18,325
    edited March 2015
    slorenzen said:

    fintail said:

    Talent seems harder to find these days.

    Tonight I saw a Toyota ad calling the Prius "stylish", and a Lexus ad calling the CT "sporty". That takes talent or maybe courage.

    And VERY poor eyesight.

    And maybe a vivid imagination...

    B)
    I remember a Ford ad from several years ago where a woman described her new Focus 2 door coupe as: "sleek and sporty."

    I'm thinking, compared to what? A Trabant?

    Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
    Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
    Son's: 2018 330i xDrive

  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    I am sure many here remember the movie "Used Cars", where the proprietor was targeted with trumped up false advertising charges by claiming to have so many feet of cars on the lot. I wonder if something similar could be done by claiming nice enough and practical but non-stylish, non-sporty, or non-bold cars are what the maker claims they are?

    On the SNL good old days theme, here's a classic commercial parody:

    https://screen.yahoo.com/adobe-000000741.html

    I remember just rolling on the floor from this when I was a kid. Still makes me laugh.
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    That would match about 80% of the houses here. :)
  • stickguystickguy Member Posts: 53,347
    Well, a Renault LE car was worth about $179, so seems legit.

    2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.

  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,675
    fintail said:

    I remember just rolling on the floor from this when I was a kid. Still makes me laugh.

    Now that's a really good skit for SNL. No politics. It is still funny. What really makes it work is that the name "Adobe" sounds like a typical name for a car.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    German and engineering and Mexican know-how team up for a special car - oh, that's VW,

    Phil Hartman is missed.
  • andres3andres3 Member Posts: 13,934
    what about commercials that touted QUALITY as Job #1, or something to that effect while selling vast amounts of lemons to the public?

    I think everyone knows that Toyota and Sporty haven't gone together since the days of the Supra ended.
    '18 Porsche Macan Turbo, '16 Audi TTS, Wife's '19 VW Tiguan SEL 4-Motion
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    The MR2 roadster was kinda sporty. Not pretty, but sporty.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    I see Toyota is back with the "hashtag" ads, just terrible. Nissan ads remain pretty loathsome, too.
  • ab348ab348 Member Posts: 20,284
    fintail said:

    I see Toyota is back with the "hashtag" ads, just terrible. Nissan ads remain pretty loathsome, too.

    I don't think Nissan has had a decent ad since the 1980s.

    The Cadillac "Dare Greatly" ad with the Edith Piaf song is on heavy rotation it seems. It is driving me crazy, mostly because of the music, although a few of the images are pretty weird too.

    2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6

  • qbrozenqbrozen Member Posts: 33,736
    fintail said:

    I see Toyota is back with the "hashtag" ads, just terrible. Nissan ads remain pretty loathsome, too.

    Just searched the net to see what y'all were talking about and a Honda ad from 2013 popped up where they are using that, too. What really sucks is that the whole "hashtag" business is a huge grammar pet peeve of mine. Everyone should be saying "hash blah blah" not "hashtag blah blah." Meh.

    '11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S

  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    Today I learned via a commercial that the RAV4 is "adventurous" - it probably is to the demographic who thinks the "hashtag" thing is hip and maybe a little edgy. Toyota knows their audience.
  • roadburnerroadburner Member Posts: 18,325
    fintail said:

    Today I learned via a commercial that the RAV4 is "adventurous" - it probably is to the demographic who thinks the "hashtag" thing is hip and maybe a little edgy. Toyota knows their audience.

    Deadly dull nerds who think that they are cool?

    Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
    Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
    Son's: 2018 330i xDrive

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