Comments on: Daily Podcast: Huh?

By: MPLS

MPLS — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 04:49:56 +0000

Yeah, its pretty dumb to point out the fact that the Tahoe really doesnt deserve a “Green” car award.

On the other hand, using children in advertising is often effective, so it isn’t completely “dumb” approach.

BTW, the Chevys “gas free” car is the Equinox which is a test pilot program right now in Cali and maybe somewehre else. Yeah, I know, they dont actually sell anoy of them yet. Maybe they should advertise what they have on the dealers lots?

By: 6G74

6G74 — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 15:17:16 +0000

shaker :
February 16th, 2008 at 9:05 am

L47_V8:

Yes, the Kia “Millard Filmore” ads this time of year are clever and funny; much more so than the Chevy mangled “Hail to the Chief” theme song (replayed ad nauseum).

Chevy got on my nerves a few years ago by running a localized ad for a summer sale, looping “Walking On The Sun” (A song that I initially liked, but grew to loathe). I e-mailed a complaint to them, and they actually replied — to wit: “We regret your displeasure with our television advertising, but…”

Maybe their ad agency is just as out-of-control as the rest.

Kia also had a “Flashdance”-themed ad a few months back that was very clever. I enjoyed it the first few times I saw it, but the song got a bit old.

I’m not at all a fan of the GM President’s Day ads, either. During one commercial break last night I caught a Chevrolet one and a Pontiac one back to back, and one commercial later, a GMC one. I’m already tired of them, despite those three being the first (and second and third) time I’d seen them.

By: shaker

shaker — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 13:05:45 +0000

L47_V8:

Yes, the Kia “Millard Filmore” ads this time of year are clever and funny; much more so than the Chevy mangled “Hail to the Chief” theme song (replayed ad nauseum).

Chevy got on my nerves a few years ago by running a localized ad for a summer sale, looping “Walking On The Sun” (A song that I initially liked, but grew to loathe). I e-mailed a complaint to them, and they actually replied — to wit: “We regret your displeasure with our television advertising, but…”

Maybe their ad agency is just as out-of-control as the rest.

By: Redox

Redox — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 01:27:37 +0000

That little ~~booger~~ hybrid badge in the picture looks a lot like something in a mailing I just got from Mambo Sprouts*. Compare the badge to the trademark of Equal Exchange Coffee and judge for yourselves:

Was this by design or did they not do a proper trademark search?

*I think the Mambo Sprouts mailing is a result of my Car and Driver subscription.

By: 6G74

6G74 — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 00:31:10 +0000

thetopdog :
February 15th, 2008 at 3:30 pm

I’m not going to argue that GM’s ads aren’t bad but Hyundai and Kia’s advertising is insulting to my intelligence, not to mention annoying.

I agree with you on the “Think about it…” ads from Hyundai, but I’ve gotta say the Kia “Unheard Of President’s Day Sale” ad (which, inexplicably, got several executives fired earlier this week!) is one of my absolute favorites in a long time. I crack up. It’s almost too clever.

The Tide Pen “Talking Stain” commercial also gets me everytime. In my humble opinion, those two are the best running right now.

By: seoultrain

seoultrain — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 21:43:11 +0000

Agreed with Robert on this one. You guys are very concise, which tends to keep my attention throughout the podcast.

less is more.

By: Robert Farago

Robert Farago — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 21:21:48 +0000

crc:

Is there a reason you try and stick to 10 minute podcasts? I love listening to you guys and am hoping you make them longer.

Thanks for the compliment.

As for the duration, it’s like term limits: you gotta draw the line somewhere. I reckon it’s better to leave ‘em (that’s you and five others) wanting more, rather than rabbiting-on like some automotive podcasts we could name.

By: crc

crc — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 20:37:57 +0000

Mr. Farago,

Is there a reason you try and stick to 10 minute podcasts? I love listening to you guys and am hoping you make them longer.

By: peoplewatching04

peoplewatching04 — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 19:57:48 +0000

In a marketing class, we recently talked about GM’s commitment to producing poorly-targeted advertising. In Miami, for example (a largely Cuban area where GM has meager and declining market share), GM ran a Saturn ad that was set at the Alamo (to appeal to Mexicans?). They also run the same ads in the South as they do in the North. That means that, in the wintertime, ads in the Northeast focus on GM vehicles in the snow. And so do the ads in South Florida. Where they don’t have snow or, presumably, GM customers.

By: thetopdog

thetopdog — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 19:30:02 +0000

I’m not going to argue that GM’s ads aren’t bad but Hyundai and Kia’s advertising is insulting to my intelligence, not to mention annoying.

By: SunnyvaleCA

SunnyvaleCA — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 19:12:43 +0000

If you say something enough times, some people will believe it is true. Political and commercial marketing both work on this principal.

I miss the Joe Isuzu commercials. At least with those you could laugh at the marketing claims and nobody (I hope!) was fooled.

By: mikey

mikey — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 19:11:29 +0000

God only knows I go out of my way to promote GM products to anybody Yeah I know TTAC readers are shocked at this revelation.
But I have to say this: GM HAS THE WORST TV, RADIO,AND PRINT ADDS BAR NONE!
Are GM Add exects blind deaf,stupid?Wake up look at the competion.GMs best adds are hokey compared to the other companys worst.
End of rant.

By: ajla

ajla — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 18:42:53 +0000

I think the GM hybrid SUVs need more badges declaring that it is, in fact, a hybrid. The current 8 just doesn’t get the message across well enough.

By: Johnny Canada

Johnny Canada — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 18:41:40 +0000

Joey, have you ever been to a Turkish prison? You ever seen a grown man naked?

Gotta love The Graves.

By: TriShield

TriShield — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 18:36:09 +0000

I can’t help but think GM’s precious little advertising dollars would be better spent on promoting vehicles that are actually for sale now. Like the Saturn Aura and little Astra, the Cobalt (as bad as it is) or even the upcoming Vibe (which looks good). All of them are fairly miserly, affordable and the first three you can actually buy now.