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

andres3

Not sure why Toyota doesn't concentrate on their strengths, such as:

1. Being able to ride over railroad tracks at 100 MPH without spilling a drop of liquid from a cup filled to the rim.
   
2. Getting excellent MPG's
   
3. Saving money over the life of the car from low maintenance and repair costs.
   
4. Pretty good resale value.
   
5. Quiet interiors
   

Really no reason marketing has to pretend they are still selling a bunch of Supras.

fintail

I think some freshly cloned MBA types got together with a focus group and decided that boring isn't good, even if it still sells (Toyota could stand in the middle of 5th Avenue and shoot someone and not lose customers). There's an old adage that you can sell an old man a young man's car, but you can't sell a young man an old man's car. Even though much of the buying demographic is far from young, it's an ego thing. Nobody wants to admit they are buying boring but reliable.

The recent Toyolex styling direction is the same thing. For the most part, the vehicles still drive the same, but they now feature gobs of aggressive styling. Bold, I tell ya!

berri

Selling sporty is kind of a young person pitch, but age and responsibilities such as family can change perspectives. There is a market danger I think if Toyota pushes sporty too much. The sell a lot of Camry's, so are people really wanting sporty and aggressive?

andres3

berri said:

Selling sporty is kind of a young person pitch, but age and responsibilities such as family can change perspectives. There is a market danger I think if Toyota pushes sporty too much. The sell a lot of Camry's, so are people really wanting sporty and aggressive?

Judging by the amount of Camry's SE's and Corolla S's they sell, I suppose the answer is a resounding yes. At least, if a bigger tire/wheel and lower body moldings make a car sportier to some. Some people like to be "pretenders."

fintail

I wonder if the drivers think they are sporty and bold.

My mom drives a Camry LE. She doesn't think it is sporty and bold, and she loves the car, as it is the most trouble-free she has owned.

berri

I think people buy the Camry SE mostly because of the interior and added items at a pretty small price difference personally.

tjc78

My mom bought her 09 SE specifically for the looks... then went on to say it rode harder than her previous LE Camry. I did an "I told you so" on that one. All in all, however, she loved that car. White over grey.

Hers was a 4cyl but that same car in V6 form I could live with.

berri

So what's with the latest Toyota commercial where people know just where to roll out their welcome Julia lights in a park, she knows where to sit, her view is clear because plane appears to be on final, but you don't hear the jet roar? It is a wide body so doubtfully a one runway airport, but they know which runway approach and time. Hmm, Chinese or Russian hacking involved

fintail

Not going for the #volvowedding theme ads at all. I really have to wonder who comes up with this pretentious stuff.

berri

Yeah, is that guy with the beard supposed to be a Cuban, a Greek or what??? In any event, it is a Volvo so Chinese money must be involved

fintail

All I was thinking is that the beard makes him look 20 years older. It's not a look I like.

I had this thought that the ads might be some kind of Chinese vision of aloof sophisticated (self-proclaimed) western life, but I think it is just the work of hipster "ad creatives". The brand is big among those of Chinese descent though, at least around here. Buying the home product, in a way.

carnaught

Not digging the Chrysler Pacifica ad with the kids in elf hats, nor the Hyundai ad with the boy elf. Also, sick of the car ads in the snow with bows.

sda

berri said:

Yeah, is that guy with the beard supposed to be a Cuban, a Greek or what??? In any event, it is a Volvo so Chinese money must be involved

That commercial and the one where the two brothers race each other in their Camrys just make me laugh, not in a good way. Just awful.

berri

The Volvo ad takes me back to the Seinfeld episode with Kramer's Dominicans' rolling those crepes too tight

Mr_Shiftright

Here's a blast from the past that reminds us of how Cadillac had no idea of the freight train that was about to hit them. Check out all the loathsome people in this ad:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IG9EsoFCm4

ab348

Mr_Shiftright said:

Here's a blast from the past that reminds us of how Cadillac had no idea of the freight train that was about to hit them. Check out all the loathsome people in this ad:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IG9EsoFCm4

Those were arguably some of Cadillac's worst cars, but I have always loved that commercial and that song. As for the people, hey, it was the '80s. I wouldn't mind being the guy hauled into the back seat of the Sedan DeVille by that blonde.

fintail

The people aren't too loathsome for the times - remember, greed is good, and a rising tide lifts all yachts.

Some of the cars are amusing though, they just had to include a Cimarron. I think the trendsetting side of the younger affluent crowd shown in the ad had moved to Euro brands by the time the Allante was on the road.

Mr_Shiftright

I mean, really, hunting dogs and polo ponies--it's a bit much. It's like a poor man's idea of a rich person. The only character not in the ad is the millionaire from the Monopoly board.

fintail

That line reminds me of what I have always thought about stretch limos - poor man's idea of a rich man's life.

It was the 80s. Not the real world

ab348

Mr_Shiftright said:

I mean, really, hunting dogs and polo ponies--it's a bit much. It's like a poor man's idea of a rich person. The only character not in the ad is the millionaire from the Monopoly board.

It seems you don't remember the '80s.

Mr_Shiftright

I think I do, but it was more about stock brokers snorting, businessmen looting banks and pension funds and Japanese buying classic Ferraris. I don't remember the polo and fox hunting.

Maybe in the upcoming next era of Wretched Excess, we'll get those in, too.

fintail

I think we might be there already - snorting, looting, foreign buyers - the new swamp.

Mr_Shiftright said:

I think I do, but it was more about stock brokers snorting, businessmen looting banks and pension funds and Japanese buying classic Ferraris. I don't remember the polo and fox hunting.

Maybe in the upcoming next era of Wretched Excess, we'll get those in, too.

Mr_Shiftright

I don't know as I can be quite as optimistic as a car commercial (where life is always pleasant, and there's no traffic or car payments), but I'll try it out for 2017.

ab348

Mr_Shiftright said:

I think I do, but it was more about stock brokers snorting, businessmen looting banks and pension funds and Japanese buying classic Ferraris. I don't remember the polo and fox hunting.

That's what they did after looting the banks.

tjc78

That Caddy commercial led into a bunch of other 80s commercials. I just watched way too many.

thebean

I have to admit in the early 80's, I wanted a Caddy and even test drove a yellow Sedan de Ville.  I am of the generation that used to think the ultimate was to drive a Cadillac.  Luckily I came to my senses and bought a Toyota.

tjc78

I love land yachts so I know that in reality they were bad cars, but so many of them I actually like.

explorerx4

@tjc78, easy to go down that youtube rabbit hole.

fintail

I'd like to see a modern day version of that Cadillac ad, for certain cars of today. I'd love to see the lifestyle dreams associated with the Bentayga or G-Wagen, or even the X6 - cars that fairly or not are not associated with pleasant tasteful money.

berri

Still don't think there is any vehicle today as comfortable as an old land yacht for a cross country Interstate drive

Mr_Shiftright

Too scary to drive though. They need modern mods. Radials, better brakes, sway bars, better shocks. I drove a '75 Eldo last year and it was frightening--and this was a very low mileage car. But yeah, with $2000--$3000 in improvements, it's hard to beat a straight line cruise in one of those.

tjc78

In the late 90s I drove a 79 Town Coupe up and down the Schuykill expressway through Philly. I think people were scared of me! I totaled two vehicles that decided to run into the back of me. The beast just kept on rolling.

ab348

Give me a late-70s fullsize Olds with the uprated suspension and a 350 Rocket under the hood and you will cruise the interstates like (as Tom McCahill wrote) a wheelchair upholstered with cream puffs.

toomanyfumes

Hopefully the holiday ads are almost over. I have to laugh at the GM one where the person buys some Chistmas junk and is jealous that their neighbor saved big on a Yukon or whatever,. "Dang, should have bought a $60k SUV instead "

berri

ab - always get a kick out of those old McCahill quotes!

Toomanyfumes - that handle always cracks me up. Don't know whether to think of a Cheech & Chong performance or "that smell' and Lynrd Skynrd

carnaught

Getting sick of the stupid Carmax commercials with the goofy guy giving various inane scenarios.

sda

Or the Carvana commercial where the guy is singing this doesn't suck. It is a real turn off to me.

thebean

sda said:

Or the Carvana commercial where the guy is singing this doesn't suck. It is a real turn off to me.

I hate it also, but if they are trying to appeal to young folks, it might be effective.   A lot of youngsters have never had to negotiate anything in their life - their parents always did it for them.  So, an easy buy process that doesn't suck might just make them use this place.

berri

There are some in the advertising biz who believe weird or obnoxious commercials actually stick in potential buyers mind, ironically in a positive way for product recognition. I suppose perhaps, but sometimes those type of commercials take away from the product being advertised. Too clever for their own good. Buyer remembers the ad, slogan, jingle - but doesn't associate it.

Mr_Shiftright

There's some truth to that but it can backfire. On my local sports station, they air a commercial called "Cars for Kids", and it has this mind-numbing jingle that sticks on you skull like a crazed monkey.

The station has actually gotten death threats about this---LOL!

fintail

People are tricked by anything they see or hear today more than ever. For such cynical times, people are naive.

That being said, there's still often no such thing as bad publicity, especially in advertising.

berri

You don't enhance critical thinking skills when standardized multiple choice tests and complete political correctness become the focus in schools.

kyfdx

Advertising works. Seems like most of our economy is based on it.

berri

Sadly, seems like all too often lying works too

fintail

I don't know about mandated PC and special snowflake policies causing the problems, some of the most gullible I see come from some time before that

Advertising works, as long as you don't wave a few specific symbols, and the media ignores your transgressions, there's no such thing as bad publicity.

fushigi

Mr_Shiftright said:

There's some truth to that but it can backfire. On my local sports station, they air a commercial called "Cars for Kids", and it has this mind-numbing jingle that sticks on you skull like a crazed monkey.

The station has actually gotten death threats about this---LOL!

Local news radio station here gets those same commercials. When they come on I switch stations. Most other radio commercials I tolerate but those, well, they can incite road rage.

fintail

Makes the $7/month for satellite radio seem worth it.

Saw an ad for the "fun and stylish" Corolla this morning, I guess in this new era of "alternative facts", it works.

Michaell

fintail said:

Makes the $7/month for satellite radio seem worth it.

I was thinking the exact same thing. About the only time I listen to terrestrial radio is when I'm in the car and the Broncos game is on.

PF_Flyer

I think it's time for "real people, not actors" to go away. Honestly, if I hear, "Oh my gosh, it's going up" a couple of more times, my head WILL explode

fintail

The "real people" theme is almost funny now, as it becomes a little more absurd with each new day and each new version. There's a good parody of it on Youtube now - I won't link it as some language might offend the over-sensitive delicate flowers out there, but I am surprised it took this long to make. The comments on those ads really say what people think - yet publicity is publicity, and they probably still sell cars.