Saw a Mercedes commercial last night for one of their cars in mustard yellow color and a bunch of wires connected. As the commercial progressed, the wires came off and the mustard yellow skin came off to reveal another color. Cannot believe that these types of commercials are running for what is considered a world class car manufacturer. Would the excellent CEO Alan Mullally of Ford allow this type of commercial? He or one of his staff did foul up once by making a commercial of a Taurus stupidly sliding around. But, just one. Not a cavalcade of sillyness.
I saw that same commercial. Obviously done by the same agency that did the one with the chains that ripped off the back doors of a sedan to make it into a coupe. Just awful concepts. This is the downside of commonplace and cheap CGI technology - agencies can do all kinds of stuff in commercials now that should never be done. It is like every Nissan ad ever made over the last few years, all of which are dumb CGI-fests. The Mercedes ads are really terrible these days and they need to fire their agency or their marketing execs who approve this stuff.
Imho this is a good commercial. It's corny, yes, but it works. It practically reduced my wife to tears and made her hug me and the dog.
I think you can see why it's good by comparing and contrasting it with an ad for the new Nissan Altima that I've seen a lot. The Altima ad is good enough. It shows the car in a blank white room being digitally exploded and re-imagined and rebuilt as a better car. Fine. But what does that say about how we actually live with and use a car in daily life? Not much.
The Honda Accord ad shows how cars are part of the fabric of our daily lives. Life is good but at the same time sometimes complicated and messy. The wet dog may shake off on the back seat. You might use the car for a nap at some point when you're really tired. You want the car to protect you and your loved ones, etc. But it's much more about real life than most car ads. Life isn't perfect, but in the middle of that you can rely on your Accord like a rock. I think it's one of the best car ads I've seen in a while. Is there a chance it's a little too corny and emotional, esp. for men? Yeah, maybe. But I think it breaks through the clutter and actually makes you pay attention. The length—at 1.5 minutes—is also daring. But interestingly Honda has also made 30 second and even 15 second ads with the same cast of characters that also work well.
Clearly Honda's ad company worked to bring their A game to this ad....At least imho. Your results will vary.
Not a bad ad, really, although clearly aimed at the fairer set.
People in that world sure keep their cars clean, and will that key fob die if exposed to a wet dog? Where are the LLCers and blind turners though? Also nice to see the Accord has sprouted LEDs, and the more I look at this new one, I get a slight nuance of BMW.
Now watch it through the eyes of a somewhat emotional 40 year old woman, and it might have appeal.
Don't know how many women are commenting on this thread, but here is some input from my very rational and fair wife.
Yesterday, while watching Michigan at Notre Dame, my wife came over to the L.R. to watch (for one hour) and talk. So, up comes the Mercedes commercial where a black station wagon crashes into a wall and comes out as a white color.
I say, what did you think of that? She - back it up and let me see again.
Me - So, what do you think? Her - It was OK. Me - OK? Her - Just OK.
Me - What about the car crashing through the wall? She - Well, they did say there was a "breakthrough".
but they were really the only game in town... we loved them (what, you lusted after a Mustang II?).
My apologies to "The Empire Strikes Back", but no, there was another. the Dart Sport/Duster 360. While they suffered some in status because they looked like a million other strippers with choked-down slant sixes, but the 360 models would actually embarrass a Corvette!
1974 was the year that BMW actually got a foothold in the US, and got noticed by the Big Three, thanks mainly to the oil embargo. That year, they sold about 40,000, compared to maybe 160,000 Cadillacs. But, nobody considered them to be a luxury car
Now, the Bavaria hardtop coupe was pretty sweet, and the "big" (and I use the term loosely, it was probably about the size of a Maverick) sedan they had were very nice. But most of them were just those 2002 models. And let's face it, while those cars were nice little handlers, they were still spartan little toasters that made a Mustang II look downright hedonistic.
Outback is crushing the Venza and Crosstour in sales, though.
I'll take the Venza or the Outback over the Honda any day. Not only does the Crosstour look like a pregnant frog, but also the cargo area is only 31" wide, about a foot less than the Outback.
I'll take an MDX or an X5 and the $10 grand credit in order to give up the "styling" I think they try to call it.
Take a tall, heavy utility, and then remove the utility. They're totally pointless. Sure, with $70 grand worth of performance they can actually drive well, but why not start with a 6 series coupe?
Well if the only two cars in the world were a ZDX and Crosstour...might as well take the whole ugly tree instead of a simple ugly stick. Is a ZDX 10K more than an MDX? I am not enough of a [non-permissible content removed] to drive an X6 :shades:
Why not just buy the Gran Coupe? Oh yeah, some like the faux ruggedness of a slightly higher riding vehicle.
To be honest I don't care enough to look at their prices. I think they should all be recalled, owners forced to watch them all be crushed in to recyclables. No refunds so they learn their lesson.
some like the faux ruggedness of a slightly higher riding vehicle.
True, but when you get utility at least there is a REASON for wanting that.
True, but when you get utility at least there is a REASON for wanting that.
We've owned 5 SUV's / crossovers over the years, specifically for their utility.
'98 Ford Expedition '02 Ford Explorer '05 Saturn VUE '08 Saturn VUE '10 Mazda CX-7
Note the progression from pure boxes to something a bit more stylish. However, we didn't lose any functionality when we went from the VUE to the CX-7, since the Mazda is slightly bigger in all dimensions.
The ZDX and X6, IMHO, are trying to marry the utility of a crossover with the sporting DNA of the brands.
It's made for the internet...I've never seen an actual AMG-only spot on TV.
The original is slowly but surely creeping up on 7 figures now. The newbie version is a mild supercar bargain at just over 200K. But yeah, the original is an amazing design, the new one just wants to be something it won't be.
I suppose if you are hauling grandfather clocks, standing them up. Potential is there, but not many real world applications. Maybe people just like the idea of potential, like how some drive cars with performance that will rarely be used. And of course, some find an emotional issue about sitting high.
the "big" (and I use the term loosely, it was probably about the size of a Maverick) sedan they had were very nice.
That would be the E3 2500, 2880, 3.0S or the Bavaria.
But most of them were just those 2002 models. And let's face it, while those cars were nice little handlers, they were still spartan little toasters that made a Mustang II look downright hedonistic.
The 2002 wasn't a glitzy chrome-laden boat with a marshmallow ride, true- but its only real weakness was the lack of a decent fresh air ventilation/air conditioning system(the heater will pump out hot air down to @-15F). Aside from that I can't see how any American iron was superior in any way save raw horsepower. The '02 had comfortable reclining seats, a carpeted trunk, and a SOHC engine- and no domestic possessed a better balance of ride and handling. Even today I would just as soon drive my '02 as anything else in my garage- as long as the temperature is below 80F. The only '70s vintage US car I'd seriously consider owning is a 1970-1974 Z28 RS. Period
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
The Forester can (has) fit large appliances, including oversized clothes washers. That's $50 off the delivery charge each time, plus no waiting.
My Golf bag carrier fits inside without having to dismantle it each time.
Bikes will fit in there, though I prefer to use a rack since the mountain bikes get messy (that's the whole point). :shades:
Picked up the family at the airport and the van carried 8 people, so the Forester hauled most of the luggage. We couldn't get 3 suitcases in our previous midsize sedan (which was longer).
What do you get at big box stores? Big boxes. Check.
Add all those instances up and it's fairly often that we use that capacity.
The best part is the overall length is shorter than a Chevy Cobalt coupe. So no big size penalty.
Pick the right crossover (some are *not* practical) and they are right-sized. Small outside, capacious inside.
New Forester pics are leaking and the new one is still under 181" inches long and will have another 10% cargo capacity. They know what their customers want!
The guy (Martin Francis) who did the super bowl commercial for Kia, "One Epic Ride", has now been hired by M-B design to work on a yacht, of all things.
She needs to stick to a Lexus RX or ML or X3 or whatever she usually dawdles around in between the gallery mall and aesthetic maintenance center :shades:
The old MB is a W108/109, which replaced the fintail. If I came into a huge amount of money, I'd have my car restored and drive it around the Ring. Here's a race prepped one being driven there:
The boss wife actually finds the van too big to drive. It is nearly 2 feet longer and about half a ton heavier.
When we're all together we actually use the minivan most of the time. No keeping-up-with-the-Joneses attitude at our house.
We considered the Mazda5 but no AWD and no bench seat in the middle row at the time. Forester is just-right sized and the entire top half seems to be made of glass (huge windows and panoramic moonroof).
The JX is too big for her, I'm guessing. She felt the Highlander was too big, the previous one.
I don't mind big cars so long as I don't have to drive it in the city. Long wheelbase is actually good for long highway drives, smooths out the ride. In the city, though, the smaller the better, for me at least.
I'd hate to go back to one car again. I'd have to compromise on both - space for my trip car, weight for my city car. I'm not sure what I'd get to be honest.
I'd like to add a city car to my fleet (3 cars just for me LOL) and turn the Miata in to a track/project car, but I have two kids to put through college.
Fintails can be turned into legit racers, they were very successful in competition when new. MB sedans were often seen on tracks until the early 70s.
I remember that Patrese video, fun to see the reactions of those who otherwise never feel anything close to minimal g forces. I've pulled tricks on my mother if she's riding in my car, as it corners well for something of its mass, A sharp unannounced turn will have her yelling at me. Would never try it in her Camry ,it would probably roll :shades:
Maybe you should teach her how to drive a big car. With cameras and parking aids everywhere now, it can't be too hard. I don't have many problems with my cars in the city...if Seattle or Vancouver count as such. I do consider myself to be a good parker, too.
Well, she needs her own car anyway. With 2 kids you end up going in all sorts of directions.
Her car has very low mileage, put it that way. So does the Miata. The van does all the trips so even though it's not my daily it gets the most miles by far.
My kids are far from spoiled - she's got an apprenticeship and will be working soon, and she's still 3 years away from driving. Mandatory volunteer (*) hours and will be 3 years or so ahead of schedule. :shades:
My boys' a slacker so I gotta work on him next. At least he helps around the yard.
* if SSL hours are mandatory can you really call it volunteering? How about forced unpaid child labor. LOL
Oh, I have no problem with the Outback. It doesn't usually pretend to be anything - it is form follows function. They also don't block the line of sight and suffer from other taller crossover/SUV maladies.
SSL - some kind of social service thing? It's volunteering like a forced donation to religion is charitable :shades: As long as they don't end up being the next freshly minted cookie cutter MBA crop of crap with mysteriously acquired junior exec positions while still living on a parental allowance, you've done something right.
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Imho this is a good commercial. It's corny, yes, but it works. It practically reduced my wife to tears and made her hug me and the dog.
I think you can see why it's good by comparing and contrasting it with an ad for the new Nissan Altima that I've seen a lot. The Altima ad is good enough. It shows the car in a blank white room being digitally exploded and re-imagined and rebuilt as a better car. Fine. But what does that say about how we actually live with and use a car in daily life? Not much.
The Honda Accord ad shows how cars are part of the fabric of our daily lives. Life is good but at the same time sometimes complicated and messy. The wet dog may shake off on the back seat. You might use the car for a nap at some point when you're really tired. You want the car to protect you and your loved ones, etc. But it's much more about real life than most car ads. Life isn't perfect, but in the middle of that you can rely on your Accord like a rock. I think it's one of the best car ads I've seen in a while. Is there a chance it's a little too corny and emotional, esp. for men? Yeah, maybe. But I think it breaks through the clutter and actually makes you pay attention. The length—at 1.5 minutes—is also daring. But interestingly Honda has also made 30 second and even 15 second ads with the same cast of characters that also work well.
Clearly Honda's ad company worked to bring their A game to this ad....At least imho. Your results will vary.
People in that world sure keep their cars clean, and will that key fob die if exposed to a wet dog? Where are the LLCers and blind turners though? Also nice to see the Accord has sprouted LEDs, and the more I look at this new one, I get a slight nuance of BMW.
I like tis VW ad, too. Even uses Johnny Cash's Dirty Old Egg Sucking Dog -Jetta ad.
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
The VW ugly dog commercial is pretty amusing.
There's a new commercial airing here pitting Venza vs Outback, and mentions the Venza has "style". OK
Well compared to the Outback...
I got me a car, it's as big as a whale and we're headin' on down
To the Love Shack
I got me a Chrysler, it seats about 20
and later:
Hop in my Chrysler, it's as big as a whale and it's about to set sail!
I got me a car, it seats about 20
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
Don't know how many women are commenting on this thread, but here is some input from my very rational and fair wife.
Yesterday, while watching Michigan at Notre Dame, my wife came over to the L.R. to watch (for one hour) and talk. So, up comes the Mercedes commercial where a black station wagon crashes into a wall and comes out as a white color.
I say, what did you think of that? She - back it up and let me see again.
Me - So, what do you think? Her - It was OK. Me - OK? Her - Just OK.
Me - What about the car crashing through the wall? She - Well, they did say there was a "breakthrough".
My apologies to "The Empire Strikes Back", but no, there was another. the Dart Sport/Duster 360. While they suffered some in status because they looked like a million other strippers with choked-down slant sixes, but the 360 models would actually embarrass a Corvette!
1974 was the year that BMW actually got a foothold in the US, and got noticed by the Big Three, thanks mainly to the oil embargo. That year, they sold about 40,000, compared to maybe 160,000 Cadillacs. But, nobody considered them to be a luxury car
Now, the Bavaria hardtop coupe was pretty sweet, and the "big" (and I use the term loosely, it was probably about the size of a Maverick) sedan they had were very nice. But most of them were just those 2002 models. And let's face it, while those cars were nice little handlers, they were still spartan little toasters that made a Mustang II look downright hedonistic.
I'll take the Venza or the Outback over the Honda any day. Not only does the Crosstour look like a pregnant frog, but also the cargo area is only 31" wide, about a foot less than the Outback.
The revision didn't help matters, either.
I'll take an MDX or an X5 and the $10 grand credit in order to give up the "styling" I think they try to call it.
Take a tall, heavy utility, and then remove the utility. They're totally pointless. Sure, with $70 grand worth of performance they can actually drive well, but why not start with a 6 series coupe?
Why not just buy the Gran Coupe? Oh yeah, some like the faux ruggedness of a slightly higher riding vehicle.
some like the faux ruggedness of a slightly higher riding vehicle.
True, but when you get utility at least there is a REASON for wanting that.
We've owned 5 SUV's / crossovers over the years, specifically for their utility.
'98 Ford Expedition
'02 Ford Explorer
'05 Saturn VUE
'08 Saturn VUE
'10 Mazda CX-7
Note the progression from pure boxes to something a bit more stylish. However, we didn't lose any functionality when we went from the VUE to the CX-7, since the Mazda is slightly bigger in all dimensions.
The ZDX and X6, IMHO, are trying to marry the utility of a crossover with the sporting DNA of the brands.
Somebody is buying them, I guess.
I want the exact opposite. Utility with the lightest weight possible.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=3ZaD-lDSgYE
Great as it sounds, I still don't think the styling holds a candle to the original.
I'm not seeing any positive correlation between higher riding and practical.
The original is slowly but surely creeping up on 7 figures now. The newbie version is a mild supercar bargain at just over 200K. But yeah, the original is an amazing design, the new one just wants to be something it won't be.
Higher roofs allow for a taller, more upright interior, which in turn is very practical.
The Forester isn't significantly longer or wider than an Impreza Sport but it has tons more cargo room.
(OTOH if you compare an Impreza XV to an Impreza Sport, the 3" of lift does nothing because the shape is still the same.)
Similarly, RAV4 is much bigger than a Corolla Fielder station wagon.
Wagons are long, but crossovers are TALL and long.
That was the E9 2800CS or 3.0 CS.
the "big" (and I use the term loosely, it was probably about the size of a Maverick) sedan they had were very nice.
That would be the E3 2500, 2880, 3.0S or the Bavaria.
But most of them were just those 2002 models. And let's face it, while those cars were nice little handlers, they were still spartan little toasters that made a Mustang II look downright hedonistic.
The 2002 wasn't a glitzy chrome-laden boat with a marshmallow ride, true- but its only real weakness was the lack of a decent fresh air ventilation/air conditioning system(the heater will pump out hot air down to @-15F). Aside from that I can't see how any American iron was superior in any way save raw horsepower. The '02 had comfortable reclining seats, a carpeted trunk, and a SOHC engine- and no domestic possessed a better balance of ride and handling. Even today I would just as soon drive my '02 as anything else in my garage- as long as the temperature is below 80F. The only '70s vintage US car I'd seriously consider owning is a 1970-1974 Z28 RS. Period
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
The Forester can (has) fit large appliances, including oversized clothes washers. That's $50 off the delivery charge each time, plus no waiting.
My Golf bag carrier fits inside without having to dismantle it each time.
Bikes will fit in there, though I prefer to use a rack since the mountain bikes get messy (that's the whole point). :shades:
Picked up the family at the airport and the van carried 8 people, so the Forester hauled most of the luggage. We couldn't get 3 suitcases in our previous midsize sedan (which was longer).
What do you get at big box stores? Big boxes. Check.
Add all those instances up and it's fairly often that we use that capacity.
The best part is the overall length is shorter than a Chevy Cobalt coupe. So no big size penalty.
Pick the right crossover (some are *not* practical) and they are right-sized. Small outside, capacious inside.
New Forester pics are leaking and the new one is still under 181" inches long and will have another 10% cargo capacity. They know what their customers want!
Here's the ad he did for Kia:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FMU5yPZgwM
What year is that white one?
The ad is interesting, but not well done. Didn't come out as well as their usual heritage ads do.
Cool idea, difficult execution.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=2hJfBM2sRkQ#!
I'm fluent in Portuguese, but she whines so much that maybe you're better off if you DON'T understand it all.
Benz spotted at 3:25, is that a fintail?
His nickname is "Ninho", which she screams a lot, mine was "Tinho".
The white car around 1:10? W114/115, starting in 1968.
The old MB is a W108/109, which replaced the fintail. If I came into a huge amount of money, I'd have my car restored and drive it around the Ring. Here's a race prepped one being driven there:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HJ8j8JUZ1w
Makes that Infiniti actually look like a good solution - kind of van like to me, but not loaded up with false butchness.
Here's Patrese taking his wife around:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIhGJyLR6TI&feature=player_embedded#!
I'm sure she uses the same plastic surgeon as Ninho's wife.
bosswife actually finds the van too big to drive. It is nearly 2 feet longer and about half a ton heavier.When we're all together we actually use the minivan most of the time. No keeping-up-with-the-Joneses attitude at our house.
We considered the Mazda5 but no AWD and no bench seat in the middle row at the time. Forester is just-right sized and the entire top half seems to be made of glass (huge windows and panoramic moonroof).
The JX is too big for her, I'm guessing. She felt the Highlander was too big, the previous one.
I don't mind big cars so long as I don't have to drive it in the city. Long wheelbase is actually good for long highway drives, smooths out the ride. In the city, though, the smaller the better, for me at least.
I'd hate to go back to one car again. I'd have to compromise on both - space for my trip car, weight for my city car. I'm not sure what I'd get to be honest.
I'd like to add a city car to my fleet (3 cars just for me LOL) and turn the Miata in to a track/project car, but I have two kids to put through college.
I remember that Patrese video, fun to see the reactions of those who otherwise never feel anything close to minimal g forces. I've pulled tricks on my mother if she's riding in my car, as it corners well for something of its mass, A sharp unannounced turn will have her yelling at me. Would never try it in her Camry ,it would probably roll :shades:
Make the kids get jobs, you only live once
Nah, they're set up for terminal understeer. The front tire would come off the wheel before it rolled.
Her car has very low mileage, put it that way. So does the Miata. The van does all the trips so even though it's not my daily it gets the most miles by far.
My kids are far from spoiled - she's got an apprenticeship and will be working soon, and she's still 3 years away from driving. Mandatory volunteer (*) hours and will be 3 years or so ahead of schedule. :shades:
My boys' a slacker so I gotta work on him next. At least he helps around the yard.
* if SSL hours are mandatory can you really call it volunteering? How about forced unpaid child labor. LOL
SSL - some kind of social service thing? It's volunteering like a forced donation to religion is charitable :shades: As long as they don't end up being the next freshly minted cookie cutter MBA crop of crap with mysteriously acquired junior exec positions while still living on a parental allowance, you've done something right.
You're preaching to the choir.
I liked the highly technical 800 level stuff over the business classes I couldn't stand.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=QlOiNs5-qCQ
They should turn that in to a commercial.