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

kenjabi · April 2004

In the same mold as the Focus/Dell ad (which I thankfully haven't seen yet), I saw a Ford ad that said if you buy an Escape in April, they throw in a trip to the Virgin Islands (!?). Has anyone else seen this one? I wonder if these giveaways by Ford will work or not.

swschrad · April 2004

to trade right now

with the 24-inch cinema display. I have a positive lifestyle change coming, and need to reduce overall debt.

besides, dell consumer support is all outsourced now to a foreign nation reknowned for outsource work. numerous folks in high-paid industries would avoid the focus/dell deal just because of that tie; outsourcing is going to be a big political hoorah this year.

sounds like somebody didn't look ahead for negatives. the guys who are living scared are certainly aware of who outsources and where, and they aren't buying much anyway right now.

lemko · April 2004

...re-outsourced those jobs back to the USA because customers didn't like talking to guys who could give very little useful support and had thick accents they could barely understand.

PF_Flyer · April 2004

As intersting as the language of tech support discussion could be, let's not go there, OK?

Thanks!

PF Flyer
Host
Pickups & News & Views Message Boards

swschrad · April 2004

that was only for dell business customers. home users still get overseas support at this time. whether their laptop should be a come-on for a particular car should, maybe, be based on the percentage of foreign parts in the car? maybe if the parts come from taiwan, you should get an Acer laptop, or if the subassemblies are made in India, you get the Dell?

all sorts of ways to mock a moderately silly marketing move.

but the fact that ford tried it indicates that it's getting a bit hard to sell into this economy right now. as soon as somebody finds a trick that works, everybody will copy it. that's how the rebate started, after all, when chrysler was putting unsold cars on all the fairgrounds lots and had to move 'em fast or the grandstand rodeo show would be held on ground Dodges instead of sawdust.

i_luv_toyota · April 2004

I mostly see these on the YES network here in the NYC area when I'm watching the Yankee games, but haven't yet on the networks.

They both are the same idea, a rolling home away from home. And of course we're subjected to several shots of it's ugliness.

But at least they got one thing right, big SUVs are becoming like rolling houses. I guess that means the ad is ironic, which I wonder if that's what Infiniti was shooting for.

fintail · April 2004

This is kinda cool

http://www.daboyz.org/honda/

And it would be very cool if they sold that nice wagon over here.

andys120 · April 2004

where the guy "plays" the motor over the phone to his buddy really annoying. Possibly I wouldn't find it so annoying if the subject were an SL55 or something else I like more than the @!~$^& Cayenne but it really screams Yuppie [non-permissible content removed] to me.

This ad appears every 5 minutes on SPEED TV.

crkeehn · April 2004

A soccer mom is sitting, waiting for her brood at soccer practice. As she sits there, the vo touts the luxury features of the SUV. As the children run to the car, they get messier and messier to the extent that the mother locks the car before they can get in.

I like it.

michaellno · April 2004

Guy comes out of his office building and stands in front of a rusted out, on-its-last-legs mid 80's Chevy Citation 5-door. He sets his briefcase down, looks around, and pulls of what turns out to be a car cover painted to "look like" the Citation, revealing the Kia underneath.

Made me laugh.

mirth · April 2004

...of that commercial? That Kia's better than a 20 year-old Chevy? Or that someone would be embarassed to own a Kia and would disguise it? Either way it doesn't seem too flattering for Kia. Maybe there's something I'm missing.

seminole_kev · April 2004

I think you are missing it. He's hiding it so no one will steal it. Who's going to steal an early 80's Citation that looks like that?

tmart · April 2004

I find interesting though, is the driver's window appears to be down on the cover, but up when the cover is removed.

mirth · May 2004

stormdavy · May 2004

That is a great commercial...I believe it is special effects-- the old Citation is real (not a car cover) up until the point of the guy stripping it off; then it is shown to be a cover w/ the old car painted on.

lemko · May 2004

...kind of car covers in Philly! I remember a skit on Saturday Night Live of a car for the city called the Chameleon. It was a new car made to look like a beat-up jalopy.

swschrad · May 2004

you know, the shining little car that when you get closer, turns out to be five coats of paint over the unfixed rust spots, and that leaks enough oil to foul your shoes in the time it took to approach to see what a pitmobile it was. the interior is usually done in dog hair, and the windows so coated with [non-permissible content removed] and/or stickers that all the cracking is hidden.

but often enough, there is a fine set of bling-bling wheels on the lawnmower ^H^H^H^H car.

fintail · May 2004

Here's one that annoyed me, a spot for the new Aveo, with the "American Revolution" logo playing on the same ad. Aveo isn't much of an American car

lemko · May 2004

...I knew of a crooked used car dealer in upstate PA who would stuff rust holes with newspaper and then paint over them. The first time it would rain, the duped buyer would have reams of the "Standard Speaker" streaming out of the quarter panels.

2003tls · May 2004

The Aveo ads are sort of silly - just like the car. The one with the basketball players just doesn't work for me. If it is roomy inside, just show it, don't exaggerate it.

bottgers · May 2004

Suzuki and Mitsubishi have joined ranks with the Korean auto makers and are now also comparing their vehicles to Hondas and Toyotas, even though they don't compare. Why does everyone insist on comparing their vehicles to Hondas and Toyotas?

lemko · May 2004

...Mitsubishi seems to be comparing itself to Hyundai these days. Even their commercials tout a 10 year/100K mile warranty "on a car you really want to own!"

i_luv_toyota · May 2004

Who's brilliant idea was it to have a car talk? I hear them on the radio and the TV, so it's a double threat. I have thought them annoying when it uttered "Cockadoodledoo, C'mon drive me!" for the first time.

As for the Kia ads, I think being a Kia is enough of a theft deterrent. The Chevy Citation cover isn't really needed.

norne · May 2004

"Why does everyone insist on comparing their vehicles to Hondas and Toyotas? "

Honda and Toyota is the benchmark for quality/reliability nufff said.

bottgers · May 2004

I realize Hondas and Toyotas are the benchmark, but these ads are implying that their vehicles are a similar product, only less expensive, have a longer warranty, have more room, etc. They aren't a similar product because they aren't built as well as Hondas or Toyotas, except they don't bother to tell you that part.

bottgers · May 2004

You hit the nail on the head with that statement! If I'm going to risk getting busted for grand theft auto, it sure isn't going to be over a Kia. The Kia-Citation-car-cover commercial is really getting old. I see it at least once or twice everytime I sit down to watch a little tube.

bottgers · May 2004

Where is everybody? This place is dead!

PF_Flyer · May 2004

Liven up your evening and join your fellow enthusiasts every Tuesday from 6-7pm PT/9-10pm ET for our Mazda Mania Chat!
The chat room opens 15 minutes before the scheduled chat time, so come early and get a good seat! Hope to see YOU there on Tuesday!

Mazda Mania Chat Room

PF Flyer
Host
Pickups & News & Views Message Boards

andys120 · May 2004

It's really an ad for the new movie based on Asimov's I, Robot, has anyone seen it? It's kinda cool.

gambit293 · June 2004

USA Network will be airing what amounts to a very long commercial for the Pontiac GTO disguised as a movie this Wednesday. "The Last Ride" blends entertainment and shameless self-promotion.

And they wonder why no one is watching tv anymore.

fintail · June 2004

Shouldn't Lutz be out there touting the superiority of the movie and the car?

i_luv_toyota · June 2004

This time it's a braking test between the Galant and the Honda Accord. It's on an unfinished bridge with a bright yellow line painted on it showing where to nail the brakes.

After they hit the brakes, it shows the cars progress stopped at the end of the bridge, followed by the SeeWhatHappens.com web address, and then cuts to the scene below the bridge, showing the Galant of course stopped before the bridge's end, and shows the Accord flying over the edge, to the tune of a punk-sounding "Yeah, yeah yeahyeahyeah."

Why bother showing us the web address? We already know what happens. The Accord goes flying off of the edge of a bridge in a Mitsubishi biased braking test. At least the one with the Camry ended when the SeeWhatHappens.com website address is posted on the TV.

What's next, a competition between the Endeavor and the Honda Pilot or Toyota Highlander to see who could get the front row parking space at the mall/grocery store first?

svevar · June 2004

For a few weeks, the Galant vs. Accord commercial ended without showing the Accord flying off the bridge. The clip of the losing Accord was added after the fact. If you go to SeeWhatHappens.com, you'll find more test videos which pit the Endeavor against the Pilot and Highlander.

I rather like these Mitsubishi commercials! I find them entertaining, and I like the built-in element of interaction (visiting the SeeWhatHappens.com website).

-- Mark

i_luv_toyota · June 2004

For a few weeks, the Galant vs. Accord commercial ended without showing the Accord flying off the bridge.

They did? My first exposure to this commercial showed the Accord going over the bridge. I guess I must've missed that. I don't remember the one with the Camry (the "Ballroom Blitz" one) ever showing the results as time passed, though.

I'll check out SeeWhatHappens.com to see these other comparisons you talk about, which will probably wind up on TV in the near future.

badgerfan · June 2004

At the rate Mitsubishi is going, the next ad will show the whole company being pushed off a bridge (maybe by a Hemi Dodge?!).

Detroit News website article says their ex-president has been arrested in Japan for his role in concealing defects. Sales in Japan are off 60% for month of May this year vs last year.

norrmanndo · June 2004

Whats with all of the Hummer commercials and SUV commercials showing a soccer mom driving over a 2X4 or super model driving over a flat desert wasteland? A corvette could do that. The Subaru commercials make sense for what they are trying to do-- kick-[non-permissible content removed] on back roads. The Land Rover commercials actually show off-roading. The Murano commercials are about style which is correct, and theyll also get you thru that occasional snow storm. Highlander commercials make sense for a soccer mom in an area with significant snow or steep hills. Sports car commercials also demonstrate the intended purpose  great handling. Well I guess the Hummer commercials are accurate after all, since most Hummer buyers just drive around town trying to look impressive and haul big egos.

seminole_kev · June 2004

but I actually like their commercials. Good music and just showing the product. Whomever is handling their commericials, I like what they're doing. Still hate the product and wouldn't touch one with a 10' pole with someone else's wallet at the end, but I like the commercials.

tornado25 · June 2004

"At the rate Mitsubishi is going, the next ad will show the whole company being pushed off a bridge (maybe by a Hemi Dodge?!)."

Hee! I have to believe DC is in a terrible predicament right now. I'm sure they'd love to dump their entire stake in this company. Chrysler is trying, and apparently succeeding, to turn themselves around and Benz is desperately trying to keep the ship of public perception upright as they slip in the quality rankings. The last thing they need is to be dragged down by this. The problem, however, is Chrysler has too many cooperative projects with Mitsu, from what I understand. I guess a new small car engine (4 cyl for Neons, Sebrings (or their replacements) is the biggest. I'm sure there are others.

Would it be better to dump the relationship and try to plow money into their own development or just hope they can get it together here in the US?

speterson1 · June 2004

The Hummer ads have cool music (I dig that recent one with the techno music) and clever ideas but Hummers as vehicles for the general public are ridiculous. I live near Peoria in a small town of about 12,000 people, and there are a few people in town who have Hummers. I don't think I've ever even seen one dirty! Gas is back down below $1.90 here, but I can't imagine the fuel costs with one of those monsters!

gambit293 · June 2004

I like that new Land Rover commercial with the two college bums hiking down the road.

They're talking about leading spiritual, zen lives when a Land Rover pulls over to give them a ride. Once inside, they are so taken back by the rich interior, one comments, "well, you can always minor in ceramics..."

To me, that commercial is appealing because it's kinda funny yet it also speaks truthfully about life.

badgerfan · June 2004

My guess is that if Mitsubishi goes under, DaimlerChrysler will maybe salvage the ongoing projects, and personnel, tooling etc. involved with those projects out of Mitsubishi and maybe obtain the Normal, Illinois plant as well if it fits their plans. Likely it will be a mess however it plays out, but I doubt if Mitsubishi is really critical to DaimlerChrysler's overall future. Mitsubishi is just not a big enough piece of the whole pie, and it is shrinking daily.

cmartin411 · June 2004

The two new Tundra commercials were cool. The ones I saw were with it falling down a cliff and landing on all fours. The other is with the monster truck running into the side of it and flipping over.

Reminds me of the Michael Vick and LeBron James type "actual footage" filming.

carguy58 · June 2004

Has anybody seen this commercial? Its like a videogame type of commercial with the S40 in red being like a Ferrari. I was like Volvo is trying to be young and hip? Its like Volvo is trying to hard to get younger buyers. I just blew it off.

I saw an ad for the S40 last week in the USA Today and the car caught my eye actually. Imagine that a 24 year old actually the least bit curious about a Volvo? I was though. I went to the Volvo website and the car looks like a solid product. I like the exterior design(mostly) and the interior is decent. Just the front of it I question if I like it. I especially like the optional sport package on the S40(dual exhaust and a little rear spoiler to top it all off.) I love dual exhaust tips on my cars.

Volvo is a solid company(good cars.) Volvo's always struck me as a solid product with nothing really bad to say about them except for the boxy styling of the 80's and 90's. Volvo exterior designs are seeming to get alot better of late especially in the last few years.

astroman05 · June 2004

commercial is that the commercial shows the guy making a shift on a conventional manual transmission stick right before the crash.

Volvo doesn't offer a conventional manual on the US version of the S40 - just an autostick option.

gambit293 · June 2004

The manual for the new S40 should be available in the states in the late fall. I think manual is already available in Canada.

swschrad · June 2004

chrysler closed belvidiere, IL about 25-30 years ago, home of plymouth, because of costs and overproduction. they have excess capacity now. if DC does buy normal, they will close one or two other plants to balance things out during this down business climate for the whole company. be careful what you wish for....

there were also posts in the past couple weeks indicating that DC is winding down its mits compacts, and they will have hyundai building their mixed-breed-mobiles. so what tooling do they want to buy at auction from mits, then?

no, if mits goes down, DC is not going to the wake IMHO.

of course, I must state for the record, my horse has not come in a winner. anybody think I should go with "Elmer's In Quarts" saturday in the 5th at canterbury???

i_luv_toyota · July 2004

Here in the New York area on the YES network, I am subjected to this awful commercial for the Infiniti G35 with "intelligent" all wheel drive. It shows the car driving around in different situations.

The one I don't get is when it's driving around in the snow and there are people loading stuff in or out the back of a truck. A forklift backs into the path of this G35, which is flying down the street, and causes it to swerve out of the way (showing off it's AWD abilities).

The part that irks me the most is the fact that in that last part, the car's headlights are off! If they were on like they were supposed to be, then the forklift wouldn't have backed into the road causing the G35 to swerve.

I guess it's called "Intelligent AWD" because it has to cover the "stupid" driver who's driving around in inclement weather without his lights on!

BTW cmartin411--Those ads are for the Tacoma, not the Tundra.

stormdavy · July 2004

New GTO ad with the car "waiting" through a green light is perfect, for alot of reasons.

bottgers · July 2004

That "intelligent AWD" also isn't going to do anything to help avoid a crash for the women who insist on yacking on cell phones and applying makeup while they drive.

andre1969 · July 2004

but I kinda like the one they're currently running that has the people driving around in their cars throwing frisbees. At least it's trying to make the cars seem cool, youthful, and fun, instead of doing nothing but trying to cram value, rebates, and other incentives down our throats!

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

Comments

Helpful Tools

Most popular vehicles

Your Privacy