Zoom Zoom
I know I wrote about this sometime last year, but what the hell is going on with car ads on TV? They try to sell cars by demonstrating totally unsafe driving techniques.
There is one where a group of cars are weaving in and out of each other on a highway. There is a truck with a loaded trailer attempting to stop before it gets to the edge of a cliff. There are cars that skid sideways into parking spots. This is the feature of several commercials.
Then there is the group of cars that drive crazily through the night and return home as the sun comes up. VW has maniacs screaming out their windows about three V-dubs under 17k. What about Zoom Zoom?
Can’t the auto industry sell their cars without the aid of an unrealistic fantasy of dangerous behavior? Alcohol ads remind people to drink responsibly. Lottery ads remind people the lottery isn’t an investment and shouldn’t be used for investment purposes. Auto adds only state that it is film on a closed course with a professional driver. What they need is a caption that states, “If you drive like this you may lose your drivers license, wreck your car, and cause personal injury or death, asshole!”
posted by The Guy Who Writes This at 5:51 AM
13 Comments:
Cars are marketed to men. Men like toys that go zoom, zoom despite the fact they lead boring, suburban lives where they haven't got a shot in hell of driving their shiny, fast, new car like a professional driver--but they are willing to spend $42k to imagine they can.
Why do radio ads for car dealerships SCREAM at you? Because it's been proven effective.
Those kind of ads backfire with me. I think, "Who needs a car that can do that??"
But then, those ads aren't really directed to someone like me. They're aiming for the people so aptly described by "hahn at home" - (above comment.)
Have you noticed the TV commercial for that new cell phone that you can surf the web on?
They just hold up the product and demonstrate it's features and speak in a normal tone.
No hype, catchy gingle, phoney humor etc... Just a neat demonstration.
Best commercial I've seen in a while.
If it's the iPhone ... the ad is probably like that because it's an Apple product. Apple tends to rely more on word-of-mouth, than on advertising. And what little advertising they do, tends to be simple. Although ... if you look at the computers used in TV/movies ... more and more of them appear to be Apple's.
Anyway ... why do they make car commercials like they do? Because they have to show something that will allow the potential buyer to justify spending about 1/3 the cost of their home (generally) on a new vehicle.
I used to drive like that in LA and people would honk at me because I was too tame.
Well, If they showed the reality of sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic, dodging idiots, and sucking up poisons there wouldn't be a rush to the car lot. ;)
I've worked in advertising too long... look at the pretty colors and gimme all your money.
Sorry we missed you when you were in Seattle, btw! I've abandoned blogging lately so you haven't been missing anything over there anyways.
Gearhead, I agree about the iPhone ad being refreshing. I sat there, mouth agape, the first time I saw it.
As for me, that's about the only advertisement I've seen recently. I purposely don't watch commercials, don't wear name brands unless I'm specifically trying to advertise for the company, and I don't buy things unless they're actually good deals (not just "on sale").
Advertising is out of hand.
I seldom watch commercials but did notice one for the Legend keying in on the stereo system. I think I saw it on Leno. It has a woman listening to music behind the wheel with her eyes closed. I realize she's meant to be parked and listening, but if so, why not the passenger seat rather than behind the wheel?:)
OH, talk about advertising some can't resist. I don't need any more shoes, or maybe I do need this one pair. But if you need shoes or boots about as much as I do, don't go here. Addington Falls always has a dive of the day that is $19.99 no sales tax. I just got a pair of leather boots, which I obviously needed because they are kickass boots. Or is it, asskicking boots? Either way, I needed them, don't you think? ~ CB
CB, damn girl, I almost deleted your comment as spam. Good thing you signed it.
Mike, that's Dianna Kraul. That series is more about a sound system instead of the car, pretty cool.
Jaggy, I wrote about being a walking billboard last year sometime. I'm glad you think like me. I would rather deface a shirt with a logo on it.
Mo3, I'll bet you still drive like that ; )
Bayou, Right you are. Traffic in Seattle suck even on the weekends.
Walt and Gearhead I have an article about that (kind of) and I'll publish it tomorrow.
Beth, your Canadian, so you are more level headed.
Lori, so what sort of ad does it take to get you into an auto showroom?
i saw a comic making fun of racecar fans on TV last night. he said, "having now met some, I understand how big, loud shiny objects going in circles would appeal to these people. and it's fine for me to make fun of 'em, because if they chase me i just turn right."
Benji, I hear you, Brother. Great solution. By the way, I think they make show pigs go left as well.
Yeah, right Guy. In my minivan. With the sticker collection on the window.
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