Did you recently take on (or consider) a loan of 84 months or longer on a car purchase?
A reporter would like to speak with you about your experience; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com by 7/22 for details.
Options

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

1…8081838586…167

Comments

  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,706
    edited January 2011
    If it makes you feel any better, it did win.
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,706
    The Fiero rolling down the embankment right into the Oldsmobile was the highlight of the season for me.
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • fushigifushigi Member Posts: 1,459
    Well, it's not like TG UK always uses English cars. They're currently using a Kia.
    2017 Infiniti QX60 (me), 2012 Hyundai Elantra (wife)
  • michaellnomichaellno Member Posts: 4,120
    Well, it's not like TG UK always uses English cars.

    What English cars? MINI is owned by BMW, Rover by the Chinese. I don't think there is a domestically produced small 4-door saloon or hatch produced by an English manufacturer.
  • fushigifushigi Member Posts: 1,459
    Still, the point is that "Top Gear US" is actually "Top Gear". I don't think they need to favor domestic brands at all times or even most of the time. Doing so would not only disrespect the rest of the world's automakers it would make the show come across as discriminatory v. just biased.

    They already have a rather heavy US-slant in the comparison segments; they don't need to carry that over into all aspects.

    And in a way it's a good thing to focus on less popular brands. It gives the brand exposure (I've little doubt the car was provided by the manufacturer) and should squash any notions about the show being a popularity contest.

    If anything, given the advertising support, I'm surprised they aren't driving a small Mercedes. ;)
    2017 Infiniti QX60 (me), 2012 Hyundai Elantra (wife)
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Cee ee ee apostrophe Dee. LOL
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,401
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrpuI9_cPoE

    Happy Birthday Mercedes
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Neat, even neater if those are all real horn sounds. Towards the end it seems like they may have re-tuned a few of them.

    Saw a CLS at the autoshow ... lots of form over function on that one. I like the pillarless E coupe better.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,401
    Yeah, I am pretty sure those veteran cars didn't have electric horns.

    I can see why the CLS exists, and I want to like it...but I wouldn't want to own one. I'm too tall, the visibility is not so hot, and I like lots of glass anyway. If I'm going to have something impractical and overdone, I'll take a CL. E coupe isn't bad either, real hardtops are an almost dead breed, except in Stuttgart.
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    The gullwing SLS was at the Philly Auto Show as well.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,401
    I've actually seen one on the road a couple times, once even on my street...the local robber barons are still cashing in.

    When I was at the AMG factory, you could even sit in one. So much cooler than the SLR, and half the price.
  • ajvdhajvdh Member Posts: 223
    It's nice that Subaru is playing up the handling capabilities of the WRX and STi in their new "Get more Gs" ads. But it rings kind of hollow when they're both slower around a track than a 6 cylinder Mustang.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I saw that, too, but I'm just not a fan. It's like the stylists stopped trying aft of the B-pillar. It just sags away, droops down. Reminds me of the Panamera, but not that bad.

    I loved some of the hugely oversized moonroofs Mercedes had.

    Looked, but did not see the SLK with the magic Sky roof feature.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Subies are not really optimized for dry track handling. They have a little extra clearance and AWD, which would show their advantage on dirt or gravel, or at least a wet track.

    The Mustang was a total over-achiever - I was quite impressed.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,401
    It would have been better with some kind of rear quarter window like a 300SL
  • ajvdhajvdh Member Posts: 223
    Be that as it may, they do market aggressively to track guys and they used to be at least competitive in their price class. Now even their flagship is well off the pace of both its chief competition (the EVO) as well as a much cheaper "secretary's car." Given that, it's ironic that they choose now to brag about G-forces.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Good point, but marketing is always disconnected.

    I dunno if we can call the V6 Mustang a secretary's car any more, either. LOL
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,401
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R55e-uHQna0

    Cute
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Well done, indeed.

    I was expecting the windows to open. I can open them on my Miata with the keys.
  • toomanyfumestoomanyfumes Member Posts: 1,019
    Good one.
    2012 Mustang Premium, 2013 Lincoln MKX Elite, 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander.
  • ajvdhajvdh Member Posts: 223
    Yeah, I'll admit the "secratary car" comment was a bit facetious. Generally, once you slap Brembo brakes on something, you can't use that phrase anymore.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    A friend here at work got one, a V6 with all the tech. It's a pretty nice car now.

    I owned a 1980 Mustang Ghia with the 3.3l straight six. That was not a nice car. My dad bought it, so it wasn't exactly by choice.

    Night and day improvement, even for its day.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    http://www.autoblog.com/2011/02/04/video-mercedes-benz-super-bowl-ad-directors-c- ut-reveals-c-clas/

    Though it's actually humorous.

    C coupe resembles an Accord coupe too much, hope it looks better up close.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    http://www.autoblog.com/2011/02/04/videos-chevy-drops-entire-load-of-super-bowl-- commercials-on-us/

    I still can't get used to Tim Allen, life long Ford guy, touting Chevys. It's just strange.

    Camaro one is still the best.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    A bit much, but still funny:

    http://www.autoblog.com/2011/02/04/video-epic-kia-optima-super-bowl-ad-stars-pos- eidon-aliens/
  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,706
    I am not watching Super Bowl commercials ahead of time!
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,401
    The MB spot, easier to view here, is pretty good:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSkMwMnUVgI

    Heritage themed ads are hard to hate.

    I wonder how many Optimas will be equipped with those 2004 style Audi wheels.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I have mixed feelings.

    All that heritage reduced to a rapper's lawn ornament? Kinda sad, no?

    At least they have a sense of humor about it.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,401
    Isn't that what a lot of luxury rides are relegated to, meaningless jewelry for the souless or ostentatious rich? Really, it might be flattering to something as relatively mundane as an S-class, where a Bentley or Rolls would be more likely in the same position.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Unfortunately, yes. The same is true of exotic sports cars. I bet many owners don't really even know how to drive them.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,401
    From what I see of the local new Ferrari and Porsche Turbo etc set, that's certainly true. They are like how I would be on a sportbike, cruising up the boulevard at 35mph...but I wouldn't spend 200K to do it, I can turn just as many heads in my old beast.
  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,706
    I put a program on 'The greatest Super Bowl Commercials'
    It is a mix of old and 2011.
    Chrysler has some good stuff in theirs.
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • stickguystickguy Member Posts: 53,326
    saw a new ad today that was like the benz retro commercials. concept was that people used to have style, and drove chryslers, and the new 300 was bringing back style.

    nice montage of cars from the 30s or so thru the 60s.

    2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.

  • Karen_SKaren_S Member Posts: 5,092
    These are my faves.

    Darth Vader kid for VW Passat
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NvSgrxp8Yg

    Eminem promoting Detroit for Chrysler
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKL254Y_jtc
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Darth Vader was full of win. Best by far. 13 million hits in another version of that one.

    Kia grabbed attention with their "Epic" Optima commercial, the one with Poseidon.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLGj6iSZvak

    Near a million hits if you count the different versions.

    Eminem got 800k hits, so-so. I give it 3 strikes:

    * Chrysler 200, really? No way he'd drive a rental car
    * Fiat ownership means the message wears thin
    * Eminem sold out, this is the first time his music was used in an ad

    The Chevy Camaro one where the guys brainstorm an ad and it happens live was kinda net. They got 354k.

    I pretty much agree with the public, VW won by far. 2nd place isn't even worth mentioning, noone was close.
  • tmarttmart Member Posts: 2,396
    The Force was definitely with VW. :shades:
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    LOL yes it was.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    http://www.autoblog.com/2011/02/07/report-marchionne-apologizes-for-refering-to-- govt-bailout-as/

    Ouch. Nice timing with that Super Bowl ad, dude!
  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,706
    Do you know where Eminem grew up?
    I heard Toyota was going to have a commercial , but it got recalled. ;)
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • kyfdxkyfdx Moderator Posts: 265,257
    I liked the commercial... even if I didn't know what a Chrysler 200 was.. :blush:

    As noted, he is from Detroit, and is an ardent supporter of his hometown... I don't think that makes him a sellout.... and, if his music was being used, at least he was there to acknowledge it... Not like The Who or The Beatles just cashing a check (or, whoever owns their catalog cashing a check, is probably more like it.... Michael Jackson?)

    just to clarify... in case we are ranking the above artists..

    1) The Who
    2) The Beatles
    3) Eminem
    4) Michael Jackson

    Edmunds Price Checker
    Edmunds Lease Calculator
    Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and share!

    Edmunds Moderator

  • iluvmysephia1iluvmysephia1 Member Posts: 7,709
    Michael Jackson is over-rated would offend the masses, so I won't.

    Having said that Foghat is the greatest rock band in the history of recorded instruments. :shades: Rock on!

    2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick

  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    edited February 2011
    ...the weird Kia Optima commercial? The car is travelling down a winding mountain road when it is picked up with magnets or suction cups by a helicopter and flown out to an awaiting yacht. As the helicopter is about to drop the car onto the yacht's deck, the sea god Neptune arises out of the ocean and grabs the car with his left hand only to have the car snatched away by a flying saucer's tractor beam. Then space aliens are shown driving the car on a desert planet with several moons. Then, the car is sucked into a vortex and the alien driver dematerializes...
  • tmarttmart Member Posts: 2,396
    I thought this was one of the better ones. Still think Darth was the best.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,401
    Yeah, that's an odd one. Still think that car looks so much better than a Sonata anyway.

    The MB ad was cool, but really got played out last night when it was shown about 10 times during Top Gear.

    I see Honda has brought back the Accord ad that shows the old generations - and has a song that to me couldn't be more annoying, I run for the mute button when it comes on.,
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    edited February 2011
    I got the Eminem connection....

    Thing is, Chrysler had to feature a car built in Michigan, and while the 300C would have been a FAR better choice, it's built in Canada.

    So they used the weaksauce 200 half-baked update instead. A rapper pitching a rental car?

    Toyota will spend money on ads this summer when the Prius V is launched. Ironically it was Ford who pitched lots of ads and announced a recall simultaneously. They took over for recall leadership this year. :P
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    PS that was a 2 minute commercial, isn't that $12,000,000?

    Hope it was worth it.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,401
    Well, Tiger Woods pitched Buicks...
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Yeah but the timing was right - the Enclave was a hit and appeals to the golfer demographic.

    I've seen all of Chrysler's updated cars, and the 200 is one of the weakest products in their whole lineup. It's a bunt among home runs.

    Show off the Grand Cherokee or Durango. There's gotta be a better vehicle they build in Michigan, no?
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,401
    Or the new 300 for that matter (don't know where it is made).

    The Tiger thing for me was funny in that someone of his wealth would never drive something like a Buick.
  • anythngbutgmanythngbutgm Member Posts: 4,277
    300 is built in Canada, although I'm not sure how much of the viewing audience would have even known that.
Sign In or Register to comment.

Helpful Tools

Most popular vehicles