"Worst Car Commercial of all Time"???

[DUCeditor]

Several sources have called it so.

I haven't seen every car commercial so I can't say for sure. But it certainly wouldn't sell the car to me.

http://pajamasmedia.com/lifestyle/2011/ ... all-times/

-don

[donm]

It's ok I guess, but I've heard comments already about it being a "girl's car". If that idea takes hold, it will be the kiss of death for male buyers and possibly evern for women.

What they should be doing is featuring the car, not a star. They sould be highlighting it's handling and fun to drive aspect. Does anyone remember the Fiat comercials in the '70s for the 124 sedan? They featured a movie stunt driver, has name was Rene Juliean or something like that, flying arounc corners and jumping over buildings it. I think that was one of the reasons I bought one. They were great handling cars and the commercial really made the point.

[WYSpider]

Fiat should have had Jeremy Clarkson of Top Gear on the BBC pump the 500 to give it some credibility.

[leftfield6]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NBjvVVa ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5U9I7QrpSkk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5U9I7QrpSkk



Vw knows how to make commercials. That third one is just plain awesome.

[azruss]

I've seen the ad several times. If it hadnt been an ad for a 500, i wouldnt have paid any attention to it. I dont think it is any more stupid than the focus ads with the unicyles or the scion ads with the "cool" gerbils. These ads are not aimed for the enthusiast. I have also come to the conclusion that they are made for and by a generation that sprung from a different gene pool than my own. I dont get any of these ads.

[baltobernie]

How about "Best Car Commercial of all Time"

Hey L.T., you even get your gated shifter! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_kwxzU4wL4

Don, you gotta understand ... the new 500 car (and therefore the commercial) aren't for you or me. Let the youngsters go do their own thing. If they wanted to sell a small car to us old farts, they'd do it this way ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUJKOcvq0SA

[CajunMike]

Who gives a crap. If the car is good it will sell itself. In another hobby of mine the brand i prefer uses actors and actresses as brand ambassadors and features them in the ads. Some of the stars I can't stand but still buy and promote the brand because the product is solid.

I do agree though that if the 500 gets too much air time as a chick car sales will suffer.

[Newell33]

The commercial reminded me of some of the corny Ford American Idol commercials starring the contestants (hehemm... not that I watch or anything....hehehemm... I like beer and red meat). I actually thought the Fiat commercial was more poorly directed, though. I really like the commercials that FedEx has been putting out the last couple of years. I'm not sure who they're using for an ad agency, but they do a great job.

[spidernut]

It really does not come across as an ad for any kind of vehicle whatsoever. You have to search for the Fiat. It is a promo for J-Lo posing as a bad music video.

[manoa matt]

Bernie,

I never saw that before, but yes, "Best car commercial of all time." As the sound and speed gradually got louder the grin on my face just kept getting bigger and bigger. AWESOME! Now I'm going to watch it again!

[DUCeditor]

I suppose I am the last person on this forum who should have posted this thread. I don't even own a TV as such (i.e, no cable, sat or antenna -- just a home theater and an enormous film library). But that ad wouldn't have sold me anything. Nor would the lesbian one which I frankly found in very bad taste for television.

I think the last car ad I remember seeing was for Mitsubishi. It showed some twenty-somethings gyrating - i guess to music -in the seats of the car as it drove up a spiral parking garage ramp. To me it looked like they had to pee. I remember thinking to myself... "Does this actually sell cars?"

Back when I was a lad we looked forward to the new car ads. That is when US cars were body on frame and thus could get a new "look" every year. Looking back now my favorite year for American autos was 1958. But the ads that first lit my teen fire were those of 1965 -- the year that Chevy for the first and last time used the feline rise over the rear wheel arch. "Wow!" I remember thinking as I watched the ads on the Dina Shore Show. "That is beautiful!."

Dancing squirrels? Squirming kids? Mothers in mini-vans? Forgetaboutit! And LoJo (or whatever her name is). Nope, she can't sell me anything.

-don

[azruss]

Don, you are really dating yourself talking about the Dinah Shore show. That takes me back thinking of Groucho Marx and the Mopar ads.
My favorite car ad was very short lived (only saw it once). It was an ad for a early Chevelle SS. Had a typical white collar father driving into the service station for gas with his new Chevelle. The gas attendant (when was the last time you saw one of those), a young "hot rodder" looking kid, admires the Chevelle and then points to his own sitting in the corner of the lot. Camera pans over to show a jacked up Chevelle with cheater slicks, blower intake sticking out of the hood and flames down the side.
Chevy must had decided it gave the wrong vibe and pulled the ad.

[DUCeditor]

I'd love to see that ad!

One of the most wonderful thrills of my life concerns a 1964 Chevelle SS.

My dad always drove Ramblers. Sedans. Boring as can be. When, in late Autumn of 1963 I was preparing to take my driver's test I knew that his car would be the foreseeable future be my car. Oh well I thought, at least I'll have wheels.

One night at the dinner table my dad, just in passing, said he'd bought a new car. I asked him if it was a Rambler. "No son, I decided to try something different." "Really?" What?" "Go up to my bedroom and bring down the envelope you'll find on my dresser."

I did, seeing with some excitement the name of the local Chevy dealer emblazoned on it.

When I got back to the kitchen he asked me to open it and see what was inside. Opening the envelope I took out the folded buyer's contract and froze. Could I possibly believe what I was seeing? Had he really purchased a brand new, to be delivered, bright yellow Chevelle Supersport Convertible. Oh my god!!!

Yes, he did. And he had done it for me.

I still have friends who talk about the good times we had on Saturday nights in that car.

Thanks Dad!

-Don

[spidernut]

Dinah Shore...man, haven't thought of that show in years! How about the show "Julia"? The first car ad I actually remember was one for about a 1968 or so Plymouth Belvedere. It was a hideous gold color in the commercial. What a tank!

Dang...I still hate the J-Lo Fiat 500 commercial. Yuck!

[narfire]

I don't know about worst commercial, but it does not do Fiat any favours.
I thought advertising would show what it is you have and what the benifits are and proof of your statements (testamonials)
Jlo lip sinqing to a song of sorts and then getting yanked out of a car and wiggling about... ??? (she is a good wiggler )
Another post mentioned Top Gears host doing a blurb. I seem to remember him peeling about in a 500 with a big grin on his face having a hoot driving the car. That would show the virtues of the car better than what the JLo commercial does.
Chris