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

akuska1

Also, if you look at the sub-ratings within the side-impact crash test, the Jetta does better than every car with a Gold award (i.e. it gets sub-ratings of Good on every category - the first car tested to do so - while the Gold winners have at least one Acceptable sub-rating). Thus, the side-impact commercial is spot-on. Side-impact crash scores can be compared between categories, unlike frontal impact crash scores.

On the frontal impact rating, VW is on slightly shakier ground, at least with the Jetta. It gets 4 out of 5 stars from NHTSA, and while it does get a "Good" from the IIHS, the individual ratings indicate a risk of injury to the lower leg. The Passat does better.

It's too bad VW doesn't want to promote its active safety features the way Hyundai does. VW and Hyundai both provide stability control in their new small and mid-size cars. Honda doesn't make it available at all on the Civic.

ateixeira

That's precisely where Subaru has fallen behind - VDC is only offered on a few models. They really need to address that.

-juice

john_324

Those "riding in my Ford" hip-hop ads are the worst...that tune is terrible.

Is this Ford's plan for how to go after the younger demographic?! The mind reels...

jimveta

I just saw it for the first time and it definitely creates a larger impression than their "fast" ads (which I like as well). It's ironic how I've seen the crash test footage in sloooow motion for some time.. but this kind of real time footage (well, perhaps not "real footage" but simulated, staged, whatever), the collision, with the airbag deploying, the people inside striking it, the reaction of impact, all within a second.. then the silent reflection of the aftermath afterwards.. like you said, Wow.

Edit: so I've come across some postings online saying the interior impact footage is real.

carlisimo

"Edit: so I've come across some postings online saying the interior impact footage is real."

Gives new meaning to the term "crash test dummies!"

Always read the fine print when you sign up to be in an ad...

4crrt

Another odd thing about these commercials (and maybe you have to be a black guy to notice these things), but in each one it is a black male starting to speak and WHAM! One was driver (sided impact) and the other is passenger (front impact). It strikes me as odd because young black men are never featured in commercials unless the advertiser is trying for street cred, but as soon as one starts to voice an opinion--CALAMITY!

ateixeira

The supermodel appeared in ads for the euro Citroen Xsara crash tests. Similar concept, so the idea isn't new, just another recycled idea from Europe.

-juice

john_324

I dunno...it would seem an odd advertising choice to pursue racist (if subtlely) tv commericals, esp. for a company that has some some other unpleasant associations, historically-speaking. I'd have to imagine it's just coincidence...

I do find it interesting that at the end, post-wreck, the commercials cut off just prior to a profanity...

au1994

If anyone is in the Southeast you will know the annoying Ford Mustang ad I am refering to by 2 words "beep-beep".

1racefan

Yes, and it's freaking annoying. Have you heard both the radio ad, and seen the tv add?

au1994

Haven't had the "pleasure" of the radio ad, but I can't reach for the mute button quick enough when the ad comes on TV!!

1racefan

For me, it was the opposite. I started hearing the radio ad during my morning commute, and then was suprised to see that there was a television ad featuring the same song (kind of like hearing a song on the radio and then seeing the music video for it).

fintail

The small car that is eaten (fish style) by the midsize car that is then eaten by the Escalade-ish SUV that is then eaten by the Honda Fit is kind of amusing. Best with the sound off.

john_324

In that vein, the new Yaris ads are kinda weird.

The ones with the Yaris that has various cybernetic appendages that cut open piggy banks or syphon gas..reminds me of the creepy spider machines from "the Matrix".

kyfdx

Hilarious.... I actually saw that for the first time tonight.. and.. had the sound muted!!

I thought it was a great commercial... but, I haven't actually heard it, yet..

(Listening to my son practicing guitar in the other room, while the commercial was on)

anythngbutgm

But last night I saw commercials for both the Yaris and the Fit. A couple of Yaris ones (Piggy Bank one a couple of times).

Bizzarre. The Fit one with the Space Invaders was interesting but still very odd. The Yaris ones were just strange.

ateixeira

Saw the Yaris one last night. I like the part when the car splits in to two, hatch and sedan. A little weird but unique enough that it got my attention, so in that way it worked.

Space Invaders? That's an old-school game, I think they're missing the target demographic on that one. That was big in the 80s, and those folks are buying Accords now, not Fits.

-juice

carlisimo

I think it works. My generation's just getting out of college, and we all remember space invaders. Most of us are getting new Civics, Corollas, low-spec Accords (and a lot of used Accords). My friends in grad school for are getting cars closer to $10k than $20k. A small hatch would work a lot better in a college town environment...

It's also a great ad for computer geeks, who like things small and complicated - traits opposed to the general reputation of domestic brands and strong in what people know about Hondas.

ateixeira

You'd know better than me. I have a younger half brother and sister that are about your age, but they're not very typical.

-juice

carlisimo

They're unique individuals, just like everybody else?

odie6l

I got e-mail the Mazda6 wagon commercial from a friend over in the UK (because I'm looking at the US version) that is called Mazda's Brat Trap. It was hysterical. You guys will have to look it up if you want, but I could see Mazda running that one here.

Odie
Odie's Garage

lemko

Honda small and complicated? I thought Honda was "We make it simple!"

Anyway, I saw the Yaris commercial with the piggy bank. Weird! A laser probe comes out of the Yaris and cuts the bank in half and then a saw cuts it in quarters, but it appears the piggy bank just split into halves and not quarters. I'll have to look closer next time.

john_324

I think (but I'm not sure...it's such a strange ad) it's supposed to be that the laser and the saw don't work, but rather the traditional knock with the hammer is what does it. I dunno. :confuse:

At least the fuel pump handle-insect one is easier to figure out...

anythngbutgm

I saw the "Food chain" Fit ad over the weekend. Kinda funny seeing a little fit engulf an Escalade...

Got a laugh out of it.

ateixeira

I think their point is the Yaris won't break the bank. Notice at the end it takes one single penny to operate.

-juice

fintail

It seems the big three usually miss out on cool ads....hmmm

The dog riding in the Caliber mooning the dogs in the other small cars is really amusing - for 9 year olds. Can't they do better?

The VW crash ads are getting lots of play lately.

fintail

Oh yeah I saw the new Mercedes GL wind tunnel ad ..."More Mercedes To Love"...I kind of laughed, as that's something you say to someone who has put on a few extra pounds.

i_luv_toyota

Since I live in Yankees country, Ford uses Derek Jeter to promote their cars and trucks.

The one they show most often is one where Jeter welcomes the "audience" into his crib (his words, not mine). First we see a puny living room with a couch, TV and a pool table. After that, Jeter says, "Now let me show you where all the action takes place!" He then opens the door to his garage and we see a large collection of Ford cars (including the Ford GT). He then proceeds to showcase a few, including a Fusion, a Mustang GT and sometimes an Explorer Eddie Bauer edition. Jeter then says, "I've got mine, now go get yours!"

Another one which advertises Ford trucks shows Jeter lifting weights, but I can't remember anymore detail than that.

Does anybody see these ads outside the greater NYC/NJ/CT area? They seem to run many times even when the Yankees aren't on.

michaellno

My guess is the Jeter ads are paid for by the NY/NJ/CT Ford dealers, so it would only show locally.

Why would I care what Jeter has in his "crib" when I live in Colorado?

We have the "Rocky Mountain XXX Dealers" here, where XXX is whatever brand (Ford, Chevrolet, Toyota, etc.). They often have lots of ads in the winter of their trucks and SUV's plowing through 4' snow drifts and commenting on how their vehicle is the only one to get you to the ski slopes safely.

anythngbutgm

Hey! From your crosstown rival up here in Bosox land. Yankees suck!!! J/K Love NY, great city.
We have Curt Schilling as the official spokeperson for Ford, usually Ford trucks. And then WAY back we had Clemens as the Ford truck spokesperson before you guys swept him up as well.

Even if you guys kill us in the playoffs again this year, my only wish is that Jeter gets beaned with a fastball to knock that arrogant dinkus off his high horse

ateixeira

Saw that Caliber ad - it's terrible.

The worst part is they compare it to a Chevy Aveo?

Care to aim a little higher, guys? :sick:

-juice

rockylee

'Bold Moves' campaign includes reality TV show, online documentary as automaker goes on the offensive.

Rocky

http://www.detroitnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060503/AUTO01/605030392/- 1148

ateixeira

Saw the other Yaris ad, the one where the interior vacuums up a bunch of stuff to show how many storage cubbies it has.

Sort of clever, but it highlights my least favorite part of the car - the goofy gauge pod.

-juice

rockylee

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060502/BUSINESS01/60502001/101- 4

Rocky

cm88

Hi, i know this is a bit out oof the ordinary, but... i'm looking for a car commercial(duh) however i can't remeber for what type of car it is for.... all i do remeber is that the words said in the commercial go something like the following:
moments can define you, moments can help you, you can make a moment be a moment, be a moment live a moment....
and after each little saying theirs a picture that is shown if you could help me it would be greatly appreciated thanks
CM

ed_scott0013

It's a Lexus commercial. You can view it here:
http://www.boardsmag.com/screeningroom/commercials/2010/

john_324

The new Ford "Bold Moves" ads are terrible IMO. You don't even know it's a car ad until the end.

I shudder to think how much money Ford spent on this campaign, money that could have been going toward developing better products...

fintail

I'll agree about the Ford ads...what were they thinking? Where do the domestics find their ad agencies? When at the same time Honda, Toyota, and VW all now do much cooler ads.

ateixeira

Finally saw this ad. Pretty weird. Quirky. Definitely going after young folks, probably the college crowd.

I think I like the Yaris ads better. They just seem a little more clever.

Ironically I prefer the Fit (the car).

-juice

carlisimo

I was one of the people who didn't like the crash ads, but they did do a great job at getting attention.

Then yesterday I saw an ad for the Passat touting its low ego emissions. Great ad!

It has drivers in other stereotypical cars shouting out the window with megaphones things like "I make more money than you, I make more money than you..." (a Benz I think) or "I am compensating for my shortcomings..." (that one in a Viper).

4crrt

Does anyone else wonder how the ads for Yaris & Fit were so perfectly timed to the recent spike in gas prices in the U.S.?

PF_Flyer

They pretty much had a one year warning given what happened last year, even if that's not really far enough out.

Chalk it up to being in the right place at the right time?

PF Flyer
Host
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logic1

but their on line promotion for the GTI is great.

They have a feature where you build your GTI then get to take it out for a race with 'Helga' as your co-pilot.

Helga is hilarious. The interactive feature changes depending upon how you configure your car.

The GTI is pricey for an FWD coupe, but cool to look at. The online pieces have to be attracting some attention.

explorerx4

now they are commanding you to 'move forward'.

ateixeira

I think their timing was perfect. The Yaris ad where it takes one single penny to fuel it up really hits the nail on the head for people that want a fuel miser.

-juice

anythngbutgm

it has been on the Euro market since 2002. Plucking the car from there and bringing it here should not have taken too much effort. H/T probably recognized the scare last year around the hurricane Katrina disaster and figured it was a prime time to introduce a sub compact to combat the recent gas gouging pricing.

carlisimo

For the Japanese market, based on the cars shown.

Human Touch

lemko

...I don't remember for what make the commercials were, but it shows young people looking at their reflections in the windows of their cars and seeing old people.

fintail

Buick?

Sorry, couldn't resist

lemko

...was for Mazda. The car used in the ad was a Camry - the select choice of the new old.

Funny. Why is it when I look in the window of my '88 Park Ave I see myself looking like the Portrait of Dorian Gray?