By Justin Berkowitz
October 22, 2008
Yes, I know “Saved by Zero” is a song by The Fixx. I respect New Wave. But I don’t like how it tastes when Toyota crams it down my throat for my own good.
Subscribe to New Content Alerts30 Comments on “ Is Toyota’s “Saved by Zero” More Annoying than Chrysler’s “Let’s Refuel America”? ”
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POWERED
October 22nd, 2008 at 11:52 am
“No other car brand can make this offer.” Salt. Wound. Rub.
October 22nd, 2008 at 11:56 am
My buddy was ranting to me the other day about this - I compared it to the local Chevy ads that beat that “Walking on the Sun” song to death a few years back.
At least Toyota has money to lend (but they shouldn’t brag so much, it’s unbecoming).
The problem with the new Flat-Screen TV’s is their fragile and expensive nature - I used to (lightly) punch the older CRT’s when something enraged me or got under my skin.
Too bad the Fixx sold out — somebody needed retirement cash?
October 22nd, 2008 at 11:56 am
Short answer…YES! I listen to a good amount of New Wave, but that commercial is annoying as hell. It was on literally every commercial break during the Penguins-Bruins broadcast on Monday night, and got me to the point of muting the damn thing…
October 22nd, 2008 at 12:01 pm
It’s definitely a “mind worm”
and it’s on tv & radio nearly as much as Obama
October 22nd, 2008 at 12:03 pm
I have a DVR, haven’t seen the commercial yet.
October 22nd, 2008 at 12:08 pm
Books & music on my iPod in the car (or just listen to the hum of the engine) and no television machine…somehow I am not annoyed by the ad, oddly at peace. And isn’t 20 year old music “Old” wave?
October 22nd, 2008 at 12:16 pm
On a related note, anyone who took advantage of Chrysler’s “Let’s Refuel America” promotion in lieu of a rebate (you know, all 5 of them), must be feeling like a real tool right about now.
I believe the guaranteed gas price was $2.99 a gallon in that particular program, and gas is now selling for well under that in many places (I saw $2.42 this morning driving into work).
October 22nd, 2008 at 12:19 pm
Yes and no. It’s arrogant for sure, but at least it isn’t playing the patriotism** card, which is something I always found particularly nauseating in the domestics’ offerings.
** The “German engineering” crap that VW pulls is almost as bad.
October 22nd, 2008 at 12:19 pm
Memo to Toyota: Nothing left to be saved by zero.
October 22nd, 2008 at 12:40 pm
It took all of two times hearing that stupid commercial for it to be absolutely annoying.
October 22nd, 2008 at 12:46 pm
someone else has noticed this, apparently. they must have known how irritating it has become, with the warbling drone issuing the ’saved by zero’ come-on. i always catch it on Fox during the simpsons re-runs (actually, it gets lost amid fox’s other grating reality-tv promos and ads).
it was even running during the F1 race on speed, sandwiched between penis-inflating and/or enhancing ads. why do i not own a tivo?
October 22nd, 2008 at 12:59 pm
Jeremy, watching F1 live on Speed when they are racing in Asia is true dedication. Get a DVR before next season starts and enjoy your sleep.
October 22nd, 2008 at 1:26 pm
brian- you know, I actually like staying up until early-o’clock watching the race live. it helps that it’s a saturday night, too. but the ads geared toward the obvious target demo definitely make it an exercise in patience..
October 22nd, 2008 at 1:58 pm
The execution of both commercials is annoying. Toyota did a much better job with the Yaris driving off the side of the aircraft carrier.
However, the Toyota commercial informs consumer of something valuable - 0% financing - on a lineup of boring but generally competitive and well made cars.
On the other hand, Chrysler’s commercials deceived consumers about something with no value - a gas discount card with so much devious small print that it’s worthless - on a lineup of boring horribly sub par poorly made vehicles (except for the large RWD sedans, Wrangler and Viper, of which the latter two probably didn’t qualify).
Most people would probably find it less annoying to be informed about something good than to be deceived about something bad.
October 22nd, 2008 at 1:58 pm
that commercial was annoying on the first listen. if you’re going to use that song, just license it. their version is horrible. Toyota, if you’re trying to appeal to people who grew up listening to this kind of music, you’re having the opposite effect.
October 22nd, 2008 at 2:11 pm
That commercial just may drive me to drinking.
Having to watch crappy GCI of almost every snoozer-rific vehicle in Toyota’s line up is like a mild form of torture. Yaris, Corolla, Camry….night…night
October 22nd, 2008 at 2:19 pm
I know I live in my own little world, but the opening strains of the commercial strongly remind me of “Daylight Again” by C,S & N.
October 22nd, 2008 at 2:27 pm
I’M SO SICK OF THIS COMMERCIAL. It’s made it into the “instantly muted” category, along with the bizarre talking-elephant-air-freshener commercial and anything with a caveman in it.
I realize that all of these commercials probably tested well, but what advertisers don’t realize is that, if they show the same commercial 26 TIMES DURING FOUR HOURS OF TELEVISION, they’d better make damn sure it’s a GOOD commercial.
Hey advertisers! Let me know what the focus group thinks after the 113th consecutive viewing, jagoffs!
Wow, I’m bitter. Maybe I should go lie down.
October 22nd, 2008 at 2:39 pm
I like the original song. This commercial is awful.
It can’t be in the running for “worst commercial of all time” as I think Old Navy bought and paid for that award long ago.
But it is bad.
October 22nd, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Yeah I prefer the original music. Didn’t mind the CGIs of the cars though. Thought they were pretty cool.
Now I must say that I listen to podcasts, recorded music and we own a DVR so I thankfully get very few commercials in my life. ANY commercial gets old about the 3rd time.
I have two viewings before this commercial loses it’s entertainment value.
October 22nd, 2008 at 4:35 pm
Each and every new Toyota commercial sinks deeper and deeper into the “Worstest Commercialz Ever” category, mostly because of the music.
The “Give you what you need” commercials before this set were mind numbing at best.
When my wife and I saw this ad for the first time, she looked at me and said, “Did they actually say ‘Saved by zero’? What the hell kind of nonsense is that???”
Plus, the CGI isn’t terribly good.
October 22nd, 2008 at 4:38 pm
Jeez, Toyota, you had to actually loop the Camry, Tundra and RAV4 back in for a second time during the commercial? Get on making some more models, chop chop.
Or, make your commercial 15 seconds and back them with another 15 sec. Toyota ad.
October 22nd, 2008 at 4:48 pm
I’m with miked ! What commercials ? I have a DVR. Indeed, I’ve not watched many commercials since I got my first VCR.
Between the DVR and Satellite Radio, I don’t hear too much pitching. Well worth it.
October 22nd, 2008 at 4:51 pm
Either commercial sets maybe annoying but look at the idiots who took the “let’s refuel America” cheese and are now looking at < $2.99 gasoline!
Gas spikes up and down but cannot sustain such a high price as people do conserve (only when their wallets are empty and their debt too great).
October 22nd, 2008 at 5:58 pm
Saw the Fixx at First Avenue this year (yes, THAT First Avenue). Great show. Too bad such a cool old progressive tune was wasted in this ad!
October 22nd, 2008 at 7:20 pm
It still doesn’t come close to the annoying and insulting Routan commercials that VW is pumping out. I’m really sick of their arrogant “German Engineering” bs as well.
October 22nd, 2008 at 7:21 pm
Not sure about you guys, but gas is nowhere near $2.99 anywhere actually inside Chicago. I have seen $3.30′ish though….
October 22nd, 2008 at 9:10 pm
Robstar, it’s down to $2.29 here.
October 23rd, 2008 at 11:26 am
I thought the Nissan “shift…” ads were terrible, until I saw this. Wanted to throw my remote at the TV.
October 24th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
I think the ad is great. Does any other carman offer this good cars this cheap? No. And as said the computer cgi is great, the cars seem funny and loveable.