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

ateixeira

That's a real stretch, "luxury performance".

It's a sporty mainstream sedan, but that's about it.

Right now it's 4 cylinder only, though it actually manages OK with that engine. Not feeling as cheap as other Suzukis doesn't quite qualify as luxury.

ponderpoint

I am constantly laughing at car commercials setting up dreamlike backgrounds showing the new vehicle gracefully and expertly handling curves. If it's an urbane setting - the streets, empty and buildings (also beautiful) whiz by, all traffic lights green or non-existent.

How about showing construction zones, traffic completely jammed on the outer loop, cars coated to a white gray color from road salt, potholes, disabled vehicles on the shoulder with that weird angle because they're missing one wheel. Tractor Trailers would be a nice touch also - the ones with graffiti all over the trailer. Urban landscape? Don't even go there.

Except for a brief drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway a while ago, I don't know where the car companies think this fantasy land is....

fintail

Local Hyundai dealer has a self-made TV spot about the 2011 Sonata, saying it is both great and can be had for under 20K. But, they use a pic of a 2010 model. Does anyone proofread this stuff?

ateixeira

Cadillac had a good one a while ago that showed off the magnetic ride control. It compared the ride of a Seville (IIRC) to competitors on very bumpy roads.

Practical, sure, but not very sexy. No sizzle.

i_luv_toyota

Seems like to me that Ford is on a tear with advertising these days. Between Mike Rowe swapping rides, Lincolns "taking off," and the new 2011 Mustang V6, they've taken what seems to be the lion's share of car ads on TV.

I can't escape them no matter what I'm watching!

ateixeira

They even got American Idol to sing about their cars in ads.

xrunner2

Except for a brief drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway a while ago, I don't know where the car companies think this fantasy land is....

Been on there a couple of times and it is a great experience. Many car commercials are stupid, showing cars in the desert kicking up dust, sliding sideways. Very dumb. How about realistic commercials showing cars arriving at nice restaurants with nice backgrounds, cars in the classic US national park scenes driving at "legal" speeds and in control, not sliding sideways. If we want to see REAL driving dynamics, we can watch NASCAR, IRL and F1. The guys in control of advertising budgets at car companies are apparently jerks.

snakeweasel

How about realistic commercials

You mean like being stuck in traffic or being stuck behind some clown who apparently doesn't know that the long thin pedal is the gas?

cars in the classic US national park scenes driving at "legal" speeds and in control

Last time I was in a national park (last summer) I got stuck behind a motor home doing 10-15 under the limit that slowed down to look at any little thing alongside the road. That wouldn't make a very good car commercial.

euphonium

That is to be expected when sauntering side roads in National Parks. Be NOT in a hurry, but patient with others driving motor coaches - many of whom are veterans.

fintail

I've always been irked by dark colored cars in commercials driving on shiny wet roads in the sun. From my experience, the car will look clean for about 15 seconds after the sun comes out, then will look filthy.

On the commercial note, I like the new Accord commercial that shows the different generations of cars...but I LOATHE the song that plays during the spot.

fintail

Civil War veterans and sometimes even War of 1812 veterans :shades:

Of course, if you're driving through a national park and you're really in a hurry, you're doing it wrong.

snakeweasel

Yeah, but if you have a growing line of cars behind you wouldn't you thing the courteous thing to do is to pull over and let them pass?

snakeweasel

Of course, if you're driving through a national park and you're really in a hurry, you're doing it wrong.

There are some National parks where the main road through it is just another US highway with normal traffic going over it.

roadburner

Yeah, but if you have a growing line of cars behind you wouldn't you think the courteous thing to do is to pull over and let them pass?

No way! When Paw-Paw is at the helm of his Winnebozo HE sets the speed limit!!!
:P

euphonium

When in a NP, usually those people in following vehicles, evacuate with cameras to take pictures of the same 4 legged animal. They visit with each other, share a beer or two, and finally after the herd runs off, the human herd disperses too, until the next time Granpa Geezer sees an animule.

stever

wouldn't you thing the courteous thing to do is to pull over and let them pass?

I "lost" 15 minutes of my life last weekend in Yellowstone thanks to discourteous beasts.


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i_luv_toyota

"On the commercial note, I like the new Accord commercial that shows the different generations of cars...but I LOATHE the song that plays during the spot"

I was going to mention this ad a while back but didn't have time.

I definitely agree with you on the song. It's very grating on the senses.

"I'm one, I'm two..." Ugh!

Luckily it's been absent from the airwaves for a bit. Hope it stays that way, or Honda at least finds different music for it.

fintail

I think that song is somehow trying to lure in a younger female demographic...I can't imagine it attracting a male. Shame, as I love heritage themed ads, but the noise can set it back. I just saw it no later than last weekend.

I think Toyota's "we're still the best" themed ads are a little smarmy too.

michaellno

If you're a fan of Top Gear, you might like these:

Hyundai #1

Hyundai #2

Of course, the satire is lost if you don't watch the show.

I, OTOH, found them hilarious.

fintail

Those are pretty creative...I have to imagine the BBC gave them the go-ahead there too, if not...lawyers could profit.

And I guess its a way to show one of those things winning a race too :shades:

ateixeira

Pretty clever.

Their soccer ads are decent, as well. The one with the widow and the Portugal fan is my favorite.

michaellno

I have to imagine the BBC gave them the go-ahead there too, if not...lawyers could profit.

Since the next "season" of TG starts on Sunday in the UK, I wonder if the guys will have any comment on those commercials.

Wouldn't surprise me in the least, given how irreverent they are.

fintail

I saw the annoying Honda song ad this morning around 0500...luckily I could mute the TV fast.

I think Toyota ads and locally made Hyunkia ads constitute 80% of the car commercials in this area.

lemko

Though it's unlikely I'd by a Jeep or any other SUV, I like the message, "We were once a country that built things..." Yeah, WERE!

ateixeira

Hyundai is sponsoring the World Cup so I've been seeing tons of those. They're mixed but the message on loyalty is definitely getting across.

tallman1

I saw the annoying Honda song ad this morning around 0500

Funny... I like that song.

kplacer

Singing opera... dear lord... just when you thought it couldn't get any worse, it does.

euphonium

But, you have to admit he's a really good Tenor.

Kirstie_H

Some of them are pretty funny. I like the one about the person who had 11 names (each of the 11 surnames of a Liverpool soccer team).

i_luv_toyota

It's what I like to call the "mute button special."

I absolutely detest Mr. Opportunity, so it should come as no surprise that I hate these new operatic "Mr. O" ads.

In other words, this ad is as much an aural assault as the Crosstour is a visual assault.

i_luv_toyota

"I think Toyota's "we're still the best" themed ads are a little smarmy too."

No arguments here. After the whole recall fiasco, the whole "safety" theme of their ads (along with their airing frequency) is just insane.

We get it already, your cars are safe. I don't need to see these ads 10 times an hour. Even though I'm a Toyota fan (as if you couldn't tell by my name), these ads get on my nerves.

nycgriff

Many of you are completely missing the point of this live action/cartoon commercial. When I first heard this little "opera" ditty whilst showering, I was struck by the clarity and power of the voices. As a professional singer (baritone/bass) who occasionally duets with a "dramatic soprano" in concert, I think (whom ever the voices are) sound absolutely terrific! Once I visually peeped the Honda commercial and discovered it was this "Mr. Opportunity" cartoon, I was somewhat dismayed, but still enthralled by the real-life singing capabilities of the actors who had done the 'sing-overs'. Go ahead; cuss me out. Good voices are 'good' voices... Period!

euphonium

I agree with you. The common folk have no appreciation for superior quality music and musicians. Rednecks don't attend operas and haven't the slightest idea of how much effort, education, private lessons, and money it costs to learn from a good teacher. Opera voices can sing anything while Western Geetar players sure can't sing Verdi or Wagner.

lemko

Rednecks don't attend operas...

What about the Grand Ole Opry?

stever

Don't forget Tommy, which played at the Met in '69.

slorenzen

I just spit coffee all over my keyboard...

thanks, Lemko!

:P

snakeweasel

Oh I don't know, I have heard some mighty good opera sung by untrained rednecks.

euphonium

You no doubt have, but I always shower alone.

snakeweasel

So that means you never made it into high school.

euphonium

Last group shower was when I was in the Army Reserve at the Yakima Firing Center after two years of active duty 50 years ago.

snakeweasel

You were in the Army? Which side, Union or Confederate? :P

Last group shower I was in was in Boot Camp.

euphonium

And Davy Jones was in your unit eh?

snakeweasel

:P

ateixeira

There is a very nifty Fiat Uno commercial here in Brazil, it has all my nephews singing along so catchy as well:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvEMQmhBSUQ&feature=related

It's a huge hit. The song is sort of a nursery rhyme, I think, in Portuguese.

fushigi

The common folk have no appreciation for superior quality music and musicians.

Which is why the commercial fails. Hondas are supposed to appeal to the common person.

(I'm not going to debate "superior quality music and musicians" since that's subjective. One man's opera is another's hip hop.)

fintail

The Chrysler preacher commercial is very annoying

urnews

Amen.

ateixeira

Link to YouTube since I'm out of the country?

lemko

I think the Kia Soul commercial with the hip hop hamsters is pretty cool with its slam on appliance-like vehicles showing other hamsters riding around in a toaster, washing machine, and a cardboard box.

urnews

I like that one too.