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

kenjabi

It would be an Abbott & Costello act:

First guy: Hey, is that a new cah?
Second guy: Sure is...it's a Ka.
1st: I can see that, but what kind is it?
2nd: I told you, a Ka.
1st: I know it's a cah, but what KIND of cah?
2nd: It's a Ford Ka.
1st: Well, Ford makes lots of cahs, what's this one called?
2nd: That's what I'm telling you, it's a Ka!
1st: Why won't you tell me what kind of cah this is??!!
2nd: I am!! It's a KA!

etc, etc....

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tmart

A friend in England has one. For such a small car it's surprisingly roomy inside. Holds four adults easily. The Ka Collection also includes a 2 passenger convertible which is really sweet.

vikd

...funny but so true. My Mother is from Boston (Arlington actually) and still carries the accent even though she has been on the left coast for over 30 yrs!! My wife loves to tease her...

Regards... Vikd

lancerfixer

I've seen two of them here in Iowa on separate occasions, both with Mexico plates. I like small cars, but there's definitely a limit as to how small! These things are tiny.

badgerfan

Small car, small name. Is two letters all that will fit on the narrow rear deck, or is the name this short to save weight and cost? No wonder Chevrolet has trouble making a good small car. The name is too long and heavy. :-)

bksward

No wonder Chevrolet has trouble making a good small car. The name is too long and heavy. :-)

There's a small hatchback that Chevrolet sells in Mexico that is labeled as a "Chevy" Its around the size of the Metro. The Chevrolet "Chevy" Here's one at a dealer:

http://www.carsmexico.com/catalogo/descripcionplus.asp?ID=28963

fintail

Cool that's like an Opel Corsa

i_luv_toyota

Nobody's mentioned a pair of horrid new Camry ads out on TV right now. It's another play off of the whole "Camry=My Car" theme.

One shows a guy driving a Camry XLE. It starts off with the guy drinking his coffee (or whatever yuppie drink of the day), and the camera then pans over to a woman doing the same thing. Every move Camry guy does, everybody else does the same thing. He brakes, everybody brakes. And to end it all, Camry guy throws the car into Reverse and starts driving backwards, and then you see everybody else driving in reverse too, including a dump truck with those reverse warning beepers.

The next one shows another Camry, where the guy (let's call him Camry guy #2) leaves early for work, then you see his neighbors backing out of their driveways all at the same time, causing some suburban catastrophe. Then you see Camry guy #2 pull into a donut store, get his pastries and leave. Once he leaves, a whole pile of cars pull into the store in another catastrophic moment. Then finally you see CG #2 pull into his work place (empty parking lot), lock up his car and go into the building. And, you guessed it, all people pull into spaces at one time in a mad rush.

Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse then the "Toyota Time" ads, huh?

crkeehn

It's a cute ad but didn't make me want to run out and buy a Caravan. I suspect it won't turn too many SUV owners back either, although that seems to be the intent.

crkeehn

I was watching the program on the reproduction Wright biplane to be flown this December. The project was sponsored by Ford and of course the Program also. They were pushing their SUV line.

I enjoyed the ad on the dual nature of the Ford Explorer. The woman sets off from her Suburban Development, into the icy wastes. As a play on the suburban rite of picking up hubby at the station she picks up her hubby from his nuclear submarine after it breaks through the ice.

His excuse for being late? A wrong turn at Greenland.

swschrad

I'll only buy that if a fish is driving

tmart

I find this one very annoying and not very effective. My wife saw the commercial twice and didn't realize it was for MB. She also didn't see why the monster was being beaten back into the hood. Also, who backs out of their garage at 3.5-4k RPM?

a_l_hubcaps

If I hear that F. C. Kerbeck GMC screamer ad where they blow the whistle and yell "SCORE!" one more time, I believe I'm going to stab my radio with a screwdriver.

-Andrew L

crkeehn

but it worked for James Bond.

andys120

but I saw an ad for XM Satellite radio that features a favorite of mine, an Alfa Sprint GT ca. '66-'67. What a pretty car, it still looks modern to me.

crkeehn

A man is visiting the doctor, his new car has somehow turned his right foot to lead. His New V-6 Accord Coupe....

intrepidspirit

I am not a fan of the Infiniti FX, but they have a new and unique commercial that I found intriguing.

The commercial is broken into 2 parts. The first part has a still picture of an FX for about 10 seconds. Then a message appears on the screen "We'll be right back." Some other unrelated commercials play and then the still picture of the FX again. Then a message "You can stop holding your breath now" (or something like that), and the FX is in motion, complete with music.

If the purpose of a commercial is to get your attention, this sure works!

gambit293

I just saw an ad for a Midwest-something Ford dealership in Kansas City.

It featured a "hostage swap" at the Missouri-Kansas border. The hostages were Mizzou and KS mascots. Not sure what it had to do with Ford, but it was entertaining.

swschrad

they do take their football seriously down in Jayhawk land.

actually, lots of one-team towns will have most of the advertisers shill for the team once a year or so, just out and out jock sniffing, so they can keep their standing as With It! for the rest of the year.

I would sorta expect that the regional dealer's ad fund doesn't contribute to those ads, though, so that may explain why they often have what is called "limited exposure." meaning they are run during the game, or during the Savage Fighting Jayhawks Football Show, and noplace else.

swschrad

dodge has two new hemi spots out... and ford stomped the hemi RAM commercial today with a look-alike driver. so whose commercial is schweeter?

18fan

Saw a commercial over the weekend for the 04 BMW 5 Series. Of course, the obligatory shots of the car from different angles while driving along a twisty road. The thing that was most striking to me was... if you change the grill and headlights, the front end looks EXACTLY like a Honda Accord!

vikd

...but the Gillete shaver ad has a verrryyy nice Ferarri in it. It's painted some other variation of red...more of a candy apple red than a Ferarri red; never seen one that color before. I kinda like the look it brings to the Fer.

Regards... Vikd

suvshopper4

Oh yeah.
That is the most beautiful car on TV these days.

I wonder how many proof-of-purchase UPCs I'd have to tear off the shaving products to qualify for the car.

scscars

The car in the Gillette shaver ad is a $250,000 Lamborghini Murcielago. Great looking car and a slick looking razor, but I hope that as a razor, it isn't as expensive when compared with other razors as the Lamborghini is when compared to other sports cars.

swschrad

so we can use it going down American roads at the speed limit?? the lamborghini isn't :-D

fintail

Just give it big ugly bumpers and non fitting headlights

jaserb

Exotic, yes. Imposing, absolutely. Pretty? Lambo has always been a distant second to the prancing horse in that department.

For my money, the prettiest car on TV right now is that gorgeous step-nose Alfa GTV on the XM radio commercial. Actually affordable by mere mortals, too - extremely nice examples are in the $10k range, with a nice driver for $5-6k.

-Jason (missing his Spider)

andys120

very few cars at any price are as pretty as a vintage GTV. What happened to your Spider?

vikd

...ooops, youre right! Saw it again last night...not sure how I couldve mistaken that rear quarter for a Ferarri...! I thought that the tint of that red was off a bit... Still a very nice vehicle!

Regards... Vikd

jaserb

When I bought it in 2001 all it needed to do was get me to and from work 5 miles away the two or three times a week I didn't ride my bike. The I started an MBA program and was looking at a 100+ mile round trip commute 2-3 days a week and came to the conclusion that I needed to get a car that can handle lots of miles without needing so much maintenance. Of course, this was after I replaced motor mounts, fan and shroud (KABOOM!!), distributor, fuel pump (both of them - one twice), ragtop, rear axle straps, tires, and fixed the A/C.

But the story's not all sad - I replaced it with a low mile (36k), cream puff '93 Sentra SE-R that's a hoot to drive and dead solid reliable.

Back on subject, does anyone remember the "Bob's car" ads Nissan had in the early '90s? I've been looking for them online but can't seem to find them.

-Jason

swschrad

guess they didn't do the job, huh...

mirth

An old, old commercial, but with the new Malibu coming out I was reminded of it. When the current version of the Chevy Malibu first came out, they had these commercials/ads where people would see one and be captivated by its looks. The car was so boring looking that the commercials were ridiculous. I don't know what the ad agency was thinking - they must have been drinking too much GM Kool Aid.

carguy58

They said(can't remember the magazine)the Malibu doesn't look as good as a Honda Accord or Toyota Camry but maybe better than a Mazda 626 and definately better than a Volkwagen Jetta. I was at a car wash one time and I was behind this lady who was driving a Maibu. Interesting enough I was in line behind her with my 626 interestingly enough waiting to get my car washed. Anyway one of the attendants at the car wash complimented the lady on her Malibu. Nobody said nothing about my 626 so I guess her Malibu was better looking than my 626 like the magazine said(a little sarcasm there.)

lemko

...I was driving my girlfriend's 1999 Oldsmobile Cutlass sedan - the Malibu's sister and a lady gave me a compliment on the car's looks. Maybe the Malibu appeals to women? Hey guys, get rid of those Corvettes, Porsches, and BMWs! The Chevrolet Malibu is the car chicks dig!

loncray

My wife bought her Malibu before I met her - agreed that it's got a female-skewing appeal, not unlike the old Nissan Pulsar. To me, it's just a boring vehicle - but it's perfect for non-enthusiasts who see cars as appliances.

speterson1

I've seen that Gillette ad a few times too, but I thought it was a McLaren F1 rather than a Ferrari or a Lambo. I certainly could be (and probably am) wrong though.

jchan2

It was for Saab, something about the State of Independence, where all minds are turbocharged...... Advertising the year-end clearance.

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vikd

...ding...ding...ding...we have a winner! Saw the ad yesterday; theres a shot near the very beginning of the commercial of the car from the back...definitely a McLaren. I typically missed that part of the commercial; paid special attention yesterday to make sure...still a nice vehicle...

Regards... Vikd

i_luv_toyota

Quite possibly the oddest I have seen from them. It shows a doll of what is supposed to be Christopher Columbus saying to get to a Toyota dealer to get in on the saving during the Columbus day sale.

All I can say is thank heavens Columbus day is over!

suvshopper4

Yeah, a wise-talking Christopher Columbus action figure as part of what looks like a homemade commercial meant for viewing only in Podunk Falls, USA.
It got my attention. It's perverse enough to make me want to see it again.

scscars

SPeterson and Vikd--Indeed you are absolutely right about the McLaren F1 in the Gillette Razor commercial. Since you mentioned it, I looked at several sites on the net that have some truly awesome pictures of it. On my initial guess, I stand corrected, and I would imagine that the Lamborghini with its slightly angular and slab-sided physique wasn't inspirational enough for the Mach3 Turbo guys at Gillette ;>)

vikd

...I must say that I'm slightly embarrased that not only did I mistake the McLaren for a Lambo, but also a Ferarri...eegads! I guesss it's time to go back to "Exotic Italian Sports Car" school...

...what sites have more pics of the McLaren? The candy apple red is truly awesome on that vehicle. Part of the reason I mistook it (twice!) was because you typically only see the McLaren's in silver...

Regards... Vikd

anythngbutgm

It's a Saleen S7. We actually had an Olds/Saleen dealer in Newton Ma with a nice maroon one in the bay window. Talk about rubberneckin!

Link:

http://www.saleen.com/auto/S7/s7.htm

Pretty hot machine.

vikd

...well it is the same color red... I dunno, I give up...

Regards... Vikd
now seriously questioning his enthusiast knowledge especially since he has an exotic car calendar up on his office wall right now that has BOTH the F1 and S7 occupying May and the centerfold respectivley...

speterson1

one way to tell if it's a Saleen or an F1 in the ad is if you can glimpse if it has a passenger seat or not in the front. F1's only seat one driver behind the wheel, alhough there are two passenger back seats. I see from the Saleen link that there's both a driver's and a passenger seat in the front of them.

Pretty cool car, the Saleen. Never heard of it before today. Styling is very similar to the F1, I can see how they would be mistaken for each other.

vikd

...I'm looking at both right now and though it's a bit hard to tell precisley because of the angles of the pictures, the S7 looks like it is overall wider; especially in the back. The S7 also employs more "venting" in the design; on the front fenders, the sides and the back aft of the rear window...

Regards... Vikd

suvshopper4

I like seeing Dick Dale playing original surf guitar in the Pathfinder (Armada?) commercial.

swschrad

wonder if the armada held enough picks for him to get all the way through the song ?? :-D