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

swschrad · January 2004

take the honda ad in england, where for several minutes a variant of the old domino-trick ad has one part rolling into another until the last part of the car rolls up against the new UK Honda Whateveritwas. if I remember right, they appropriated the passport name for what looked more like a CR-V with five doors.

that was engaging. one dingus almost didn't start the next one off about a third of the way in, which suckered you in as well.

the VW ad in which the overweight jogger passes/is passed by nothing but VWs... on the transport truck, stopping to ask for directions as he gasps for breath, etc... is also memorable. as is the "lick the door" ad, although I'd require mine to be steam-cleaned inside and out, and tested for DNA before I signed for it :-D

mindless pap of sales dudes/dames hurrying across the sales floor throwing single lines of the script over their shoulder just plain old doesn't do it for me (chrysler.) four moving mini-crane shots of cars and a logo on the screen while Smoothly Unctuous-Reader rolls through a 15-second script in 30 seconds doesn't do it, either (everybody.)

even if I'm inclined to favor the V13 Belchfire, one of those popcorn ads will put me to sleep.

stormdavy · January 2004

last night: a red VW Bug (the original) which turns out to be a toy... wandering around the tires of the new Phaeton.

Voiceover, little boy seen as camera pans out, sentiment, all very engaging. An example of a good ad. Also marks a change from the Drivers Wanted angle.

ajvdh · January 2004

...is what used to be called a "Rube Goldberg" device. Think the old "Mousetrap" game. The commercial is an excellent tribute to (or ripoff of, depending on your point of view) a Swiss short film from 1987 called "The way things go (Der Lauf der Dinge)". Pretty amazing film. You can find a trailer here:

http://www.tcfilm.ch/lauf_txt_e.htm

One thing that's interesting is both films used the same "tires rolling uphill" trick, except in the original you can actually tell how they did it (no trick photography in either film).

2003tls · January 2004

The Honda ad (known as "Cog"), uses all the parts from a European Accord station wagon (which isn't available in the US). It is truly an amazing commercial. And yes, it is all real - no camera tricks.

Here is a link (it takes some time to load):
http://myweb.cableone.net/gryphon/honda.html

But for a commercial to be "good", it has to be memorable. Either visually ("Cog"), audiably (the Mitsubishi commercials), funny (VW armchair),or catchy ("Zoom, zoom").

intrepidspirit · January 2004

At $75k a pop, VW may need to resurrect that "drivers wanted" angle...

stormdavy · January 2004

Still, a charming ad for VW. Fits into its theme of 'cute', yet is grown up.

wsag26 · January 2004

Dodge's new Durango commercials are stupid: how are they going to pull off saying that the Durango has a DVD entertainment system, smooth ride, and HEMI engine in the same commercial. The kid saying HEMI was not amusing at all, though. Though I might be a GM fan, that doesn't mean that I like those Harley Earl whispering commercials. Anyway, can't they say, 'What kind of person wants to drive the ugliest SUV since the Azteck?'
Personally, I think they should because that Dodge commercial sucks....

gambit293 · January 2004

Those new Jaguar commercials are driving me nuts. The voiceover pronounces Jaguar as "JAG-OOOO-AR", and it's making my hair fall out. What kind of screwy, messed up accent is that supposed to be? Did I mention that I find the commercial annoying??

seminole_kev · January 2004

but have you heard how the brits say "jaguar" before? Sounds pretty much like you described to me.

Maybe they should have had a Bostonian do the voice over? ;-)

kenjabi · January 2004

Five guys sitting in a truck, two in front, three in back. Radio is playing "Feel Like a Woman" by Shania Twain, and the guy in the middle back is singing and dancing along with it, while the other guys sit and stare in horror that he likes the song so much. I've seen it quite a few times now and still find it pretty funny.

That's the second "American Revolution" Chevy ad I've seen so far, and I must admit I like both so far!

anythngbutgm · January 2004

Pahk the Jagwah in Havahd Yahd...

Anyone catch the commercial with Lean Ryhmes? and Reba Mckintyre SP? in a flashy silver convertible?

Quiz of the day: Anyone know what that beauty was (besides Leann)?

seminole_kev · January 2004

isn't it one of those new Shelby roadsters? Shelby GT (or something like that)?

ab348 · January 2004

LeAnn certainly has, uh, grown up, to become quite the looker. I really like this commercial even though I'm not a country music fan.

It's different in that it doesn't have what most car commercials seem to have these days: an absolutely idiotic, stupid premise (i.e. the Honda Pilot "raised by wolves"); a 10th-grader's approach to humor (i.e. Dodge truck Hemi); or the requisite car/truck/SUV sliding sideways over a dry lake bed/snow-covered field/mountain trail (virtually anything else).

anythngbutgm · January 2004

It's funny how many people here at work have asked me what that thing was. Probable 5 people today! Shelby Series 1 to be exact. Never really caught on (shame) actually. Funny fact about the car is it's running a 4.0l Olds V8 (Northstar?), mated to a six speed manual. Running something like 300hp, 300 ft/lbs Naturally aspirated.

stickguy · January 2004

actually not even a car ad, since it is a Dr. Pepper ad. Leave it to this group to focus on the car (and the "spokeswomen").

odie6l · January 2004

the one MAJOR reason the Series 1 Never took off is because of the $200k price tag for an overworked Olds. So it has the Shelby name on it...ooo, there are so many Shelby Daytona's, Shebly Charger's, Shelby GLHS's (Omni), and a few Shelby Dakota's running around up here in Central Pa you could throw a rock and probaly hit 1 or 2. Plus there were only supose to be like ONLY 150 made. Car and Driver did a story on it way back when it was announced and they didn't really praise it either.

Odie

scscars · January 2004

FWIW, a '99 Shelby Series 1 sold at the Barrett-Jackson auction on Thursday night for $92,000. Still a lot of money, but nowhere near the original price of $200,000+. Perhaps a Series 1 would be worth more if it had a 4.6 Litre Cobra engine or a modified Triton V-10. If the new Shelby Cobra roadster is built, it will probably be worth serious money from the "git-go."

ab348 · January 2004

Saw the dumbest Jeep ad last night - guy is driving on a long bridge in what looks like the Florida Keys when a huge tree falls from the sky in front of him and blocks the roadway. Of course the "trail-rated" Jeep just climbs over it and continues. Since that sort of thing happens all the time (not!) I'm sure that will sell a ton of Jeeps. Dumb, dumb, dumb.

rroyce10 · January 2004

... l.o.l... "JAG-OOOO-AR ... actually, that how the Brits' like to pronounce it ..

Terry.

swschrad · January 2004

it won't happen on A1A going down to Key West... but it can happen in, say, the boundary waters... and your choices if there is trouble behind you are to jump the stump, cut up the stump with the bush saw you carry under the duffel bag of parts and manuals... or die.

I have the first two covered, as well as a nice stout logging chain if I figure on making only two cuts and dragging the stinkerweed off the road.

if it's me against the world, and I can jump the stump (not a tree with diameter larger than 12 inches or so) that's a live option.

if there's a bunch of folk in little me-too importmobiles behind me, it's free steaks and beers for life in almost any city I visit if I take the second option and help the rest out. that also has some appeal.

freakin' dying is not even in the ballpark. haven't paid all those doctors for nothing, gang.

if the situation is possible for you, consider equipping for the first two options. you can do a lot worse indeed than a JGC with a fire at your back and a log at your bumper. my AWD explorer is a little light in one-wheel torque for some situations, but having had to jump three rows of bumpers to get out of a few blocked parking lots, and jumping a 8-inch log or two to get down some rough road, it's got enough for what I'm likely to get into. with locking diffs and 4wd-low options on late AWD exploders and mounties, you may be able to add skid plates and do the Rubicon if you don't mind paint chips.

carguy58 · January 2004

Has anybody heard them? I heard one last night where the guy lock his keys in his car with the engine running. Of course we all have done that at one time or another. I don't know what the purpose of these commercials are. Could it be to show how the on-star system works? GM should use this money on their product or commercials for their car brands. I don't see wha the purpose to market on-star is.

stickguy · January 2004

how did he push the On star button if he was locked out of the car?

I know you can probably call them on the side, but they do stress the push the button in an emergency feature.

tmart · January 2004

no longer free. Depending on the services used, it can cost over $50 a month. And yes, you'd have to call them on a land/cell phone to unlock the door, after giving them your password.

suvshopper4 · January 2004

They are selling security, or peace-of-mind, especially for your loved ones.

It's smart marketing, as there is a strong desire for security these days.

ghulet · January 2004

Anyone know who does the SONG on this new TV ad, the guy's driving down the street, an oldish punk-sounding song is playing (vocals sound like Michael Hutchence of INXS). He's hitting the steering wheel to the beat of the music, looks like he's singing but is actually reciting his grocery list....commercial's kinda funny, but my brother and I are mostly racking our brains trying to figure out the damn song!!! Help!

carguy58 · January 2004

Its hip and it shows driving a mid-size car you can still be cool.

svevar · February 2004

Continuing its string of terrible advertising, Chrysler debuted the Dodge Magnum during the Super Bowl with one of the night's worst commercials. Cool car, dumb commercial. Why don't they hire a new ad agency? I thought the GM ads were pretty good. Why can't Chrysler do that?

-- Mark

PF_Flyer · February 2004

Thought the GT ad was pretty simple and good. I THINK that they had the car running around the Laguna Seca track if my Gran Turismo experience taught me correctly...LOL

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ajvdh · February 2004

It's Thunderhill. A friend of mine who's run there said the lines he was taking were pretty scary. Then again, any time you have the tail that far out you're after "show" not "go". Looked pretty cool though. You can bet that if they'd used Laguna, they'd have shown the corkscrew.

Even though they weren't for cars, I liked the Orange County Chopper commercials.

PF_Flyer · February 2004

Actually, the corkscrew is what I thought my eye caught. I was too busy telling my 11 year not to get her hopes up when she said WHOA when she saw the GT...LOL

I also thought it was very smart to pay whatever it is they had to pay to get that GT commercial on early in the game broadcast.

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i_luv_toyota · February 2004

those annoying Chevy Malibu ads with the "Jack-in-the-Box" (the sound a JITB makes before whatever's inside pops out) going in the background. And now they have one for the Malibu Maxx (wagon) version, too.

This has to be one of the most annoying set of ads in a long time. No Chevy, contrary to what you might think, I don't think it's anywhere near perfect.

Like another person said, the Chevy Colorado ad with the Shania Twain song is pretty funny, and the "10 new Chevys in 20 months" ad with the cars/trucks driving onto the tractor-trailer is good too, so they're obviously not all duds.

i_luv_toyota · February 2004

which aggrevates me to no end. Toyota is promoting the availability of VSC (vehicle stability control) on their cars. This particular ad features an old lady with her Camry and some Italian guy, without children mind you, with a Sienna (both cars are red, too). They both banter on and on, then finally the lady asks why the guy has a Sienna and no kids, he responds with "I am waiting for the right woman to come along" in a thick Italian accent.

I could go on and say how I hate this series of Toyota commercials, but I'm not in the mood to write a novel right now.

But I'll say one thing, I hate that stupid, "whimsical" music that Toyota uses in the background in most of their recent commercials.

2003tls · February 2004

My opinions on some of the Super Bowl car commercials:

Ford GT - Awesome commercial - pure driving at its best. All product, no fluff. I love the disclaimer "Obviously a professional driver on a closed course."

Chevy SSR - Great commercial. I love the soap/kid imagery. The audience can fill in the rest of the sentence.

Chevy Aveo? - It is a poor excuse for a car. I can't believe they wasted $2.1 million on it.

Dodge Magnum - Great car, really dumb commercial. Come on, monkey on your back? Not very original.

Cadillac commercials - OK, but less inspired than last year's.

What do you think?

explorerx4 · February 2004

imo, agree with you, up to the point of 'dodge magnum'. great car(maybe) - if you are short.

cadi - best commercial they had was that red xlr given to brady as mvp. maybe i was caught up in the euphoria, but it looked great!

2003tls · February 2004

Got to love correct product placement. Much better than when the winner of the original Survivor won a Pontiac Aztek. Gee thanks!

i_luv_toyota · February 2004

The Dodge Magnum ad was dumb. At first I thought it was going to be a beer commercial, but turned out to be for this car. I didn't know until last night that it was even for sale yet...

The Aveo ads also sucked. What the hell is with that dumb song? Also, the car is ugly...

ghulet · February 2004

I thought Brady was given a choice between an XLR, CTS, STS or Escalade. I'm pretty sure he chose the Escalade (FOOL!!).

rctennis3811 · February 2004

Wow, what a fool!

stormdavy · February 2004

There is a new (to me) ad featuring a black X-Type in a movie-like chase scene. Shows the advantages of all-wheel drive, and the surprise ending brought a smile.

seminole_kev · February 2004

haven't seen that one yet. Have to keep an eye out as that is a car the wife is interested in.

tmart · February 2004

I agree, the ending was a surprise. Shame it couldn't really happen.

tmart · February 2004

Hate to admit it but that Escalade commercial was pretty good.

jimveta · February 2004

i love that gt commercial, and fyi you can watch
it (60 sec and 30 sec versions) at fords site:
http://www.fordvehicles.com/fordgt/media_gallery.asp?gallery=CURR- ENT_VIDEO&bhcp=1&session=Ps8YpsI1frZlyU2k4XngNK7fZ4
which also includes a behind the scenes video.

in addition, while not actual tv commercials here are some promo vids i came across online:
http://www.magiccitymustangs.com/images/tms/2005/pics/Trilogy.mpg
- GT vs '05 Mustang vs '05 Shelby Cobra (well, i hope '05

.. similar to the gt supebowl ad, but
on the street with a more flashy production.

http://members.cox.net/slonlo350/NewCobra.WMV
- TLC clip with Shelby burning rubber with his new car .. "It's gawna be an [non-permissible content removed] kicker"

kenjabi · February 2004

tmart - I like that ad too, but I'm pretty sure it's for the SRX, not the Escalade. I remember watching it during the Super Bowl...everyone at the party thought the tv's sound went out! But hey, it got our attention, right?

cmartin411 · February 2004

It was the SRX on the commercial. The Slade would have had a hard time making those kind of maneuvers. Good ad.

2003tls · February 2004

Good ad, but why did they show it twice in the second half of the Super Bowl? For $2.1 million each, I would have run two different commercials. Besides, it wasn't as interesting (as in "what happened to the sound?") the second time around.

6thbeatle · February 2004

car commercial is the one where two guys in a black dodge ram hemi pull up at a light beside a guy sitting in his black dodge ram, and they both hit the gas. at the end of the commercial, check out the short order cook at the drive thru as he says "sweet." cracks me up every time

carguy58 · February 2004

I just seen this new Mitsubishi commercial today: the Galant and the Camry side by side with stuff being thrown at both cars. Its a hilarious commercial(kinda put a smile on your face.)

andys120 · February 2004

svevar · February 2004

The point is to show that the new Galant out-handles the Toyota Camry. If you visit SeeWhatHappens.com as the commercial suggests, they explain it all in full detail. There are comparisons to the Accord on the website, too. The Mitsubishi tops its two competitors in most of the tests.

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

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