Check this out. It's Auto-Armageddon! From BusinessWeek:
"It was like somebody turned the lights off in October," said GM sales and marketing chief Mark LaNeve. According to GM, October, after adjusting according to sales per capita, was the worst month for sales in the post-World War II era. It was worse even than sales in September and October after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks against New York and Washington in 2001. "In my 27 years in the business, I've never seen a month like this," said an exasperated LaNeve.
The declines aren't limited to U.S. brands. "The carnage was completely widespread," said GM's LaNeve. Toyota (TM), despite huge ad spending and zero-percent financing, reported a sales drop of 23%. Nissan (NSANY) was off 33%. Hyundai was down 31%. Suzuki was down 44%. Luxury makes weren't spared. Mercedes-Benz (DAI) was down 26% and BMW was off 10%.
We find it just shocking that that annoying-as-hell "Saved By Zero" commercial that Toyota is mercilessly force-feeding hapless football fans isn't working. Don't you?
Auto Sales Worst Since 1983 [BusinessWeek]
Stop Playing Toyota's "Saved By Zero" Commercial [Facebook]
Toyota Won't Stop Saved By Zero Ads Despite Pleas From Thousands Of Facebookers [Jalopnik]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Be5Xy66cwD0
I've got an idea. Harness the power of Saved By Zero; LET'S START OUR OWN CAMPAIGN! Play this loop at your office, school, at a friends house, at your local Best Buy, etc. Then, crank the volume WAY UP! Sure, its a stupid ad for Toyota, but it'll make their ears bleed and they'll hate the commercial too.
You're welcome.
]]>@Rectilinear Propagation: here you go, you were warned.
It's bad economic times for everyone, and Toyota's 23% drop in sales is not much compared to GMs 45%. If you consider that they are still the most popular make right now, than it may be a desperation move, but the stats do not prove that their Ads are failing.
Aside from this, im sure "Saved by zero" annoys the hell out of 95% of viewers. But that's kinda the point.
]]>@Birki:
Yea, The Fixx are a great band. I think they are still together, or were not so long ago.
That damn commercial ruined 'Saved By Zero' for me. It'll take years to want to hear it again.
]]>I hope this means they are taking down the commercial. NOW. Its about as bad as those stupid red wig Wendys commercials. Only more catchy, in a really bad way.
]]>let them go broke. that'll teach them to ignore consumer requests for innovation.
]]>What I really wanted to say was: The only way any of us are going to be able to come to terms with the suckage that is the Toyota commercial is if someone makes a funny "Literal Video Version" of the music video like they did for Take On Me. Someone get on that, ASAP!
]]>@Ben_Q2:
Was going to say - haven't seen any commercials in a while as I don't watch commercial television. Life has improved considerably. Or at least my blood pressure has dropped to comfortable levels.
@lawnmowerdeth: oh man that's a tight comparison, but yeah i think i'd have to agree with you on that one.
]]>@RedwoodFlyer: I think you're thinking of Steve Irwin? Crocodile Hunter?
]]>@SuperiorInky: Don't forget HeadOn.
I've mercifully been spared "Saved by Zero" where I am.
]]>If the 1-series is "budget minded", I'm the Queen of England.
I belive MINI is the closest they get to a budget model/brand..and FWIW I'm sure strong MINI sales are a part of a lack of decline for BMW,.
]]>All I have to say is you guys are very fortunate to not live anywhere near "A Step In Time" Chimney Cleaners. Now THERE is a commercial that will f your day all up.
]]>I'll buy an electric car.
]]>If i were them, i'd focus on reliability, and mpg, and not more financial games lol.
]]>ReplayTV, take me away...
]]>It reminded me of one of the bosses from world of warcraft.. or the Eye of Sauron or something..
]]>The one that gets in my head is the stupid Subway "$5 foot long" one. It has actually turned me off Subway.
And of course, no one will buy a car at 0% if they don't have any money (me).
]]>I replied..."It's because you have an Audi" (they keep the battery in the trunk)
She lifted up the bottom of her shirt and said "nope, I have an innie...ugh"
]]>I'd like to add, in addition to disgust for the song, I also hate that the red "0%APR" graphic is anthropomorphic by "watching" and "reacting" to each of the vehicles whizzing by. Stupid.
]]>It's by units sold. Keep in mind that BMW recently debuted the 1-series in the US market...it's basically the "Pizza Mia" of cars - not a true BMW..but aimed at the budget minded (in relative terms).
]]>I thought Mike Rowe got killed by a stingray years ago?
]]>If you think this is bad....you should listen to XM 202...the same bleeping annoying ads 10x times an hour!
]]>Never seen the commercial, think I will join the masses and search for it on YouTube.
]]>@Burgandy: Oh come on, the Fixx rocks! (Or um...25 years ago, they sure did.)
]]>Looks like Rowe is hocking the 2008's.
]]>( tivo smug is => hybrid smug )
]]>Here's a hint: It stars a happy fellow named "Bob", and he has a problem in his pants.
]]>does anyone remember the old 'still the one' 1977-8 ABC TV season promos bastardizing an already overplayed Orleans song???
i was 16 and wanted to rip the flesh off my skull for 6 months while that went on....
@catdogpigduck: Of all of the things that Heroes "should be doing". That doesn't even enter my top ten.
]]>@seanhcalgary: I didn't know ford made Toboggans!
I kid I kid, much love to the north.
]]>Clearly you have never had to replace a transmission. Once the resale value is below 5k it becomes less and less worth it to replace the transmission or engine.
]]>For a song that only has three words, it's pretty catchy.
]]>@Slack: I was thinking the same thing, even though I still use a VCR to record whatever I'm going to watch. Of course, since all sports are now a commercial, I never watch them anymore, so I am no longer assaulted with the annoying ones and the really stupid ones (think celebrity endorsements for cars and other stuff).
]]>I was looking to buy a new gas efficient car a couple of years ago. I saw some ads from Hyundai for 0% APR. So I went to a Toyota dealer first and asked if I can get the same deal on a Corrolla. The dealer along with some of his goons flat out laughed in my face and told me never ever will Toyota do such a thing. "Were not like our American counterparts, we have standards" he said. I like to see the face of that Toyota Car delear now. I should just stop by with my 0% financed Hyundai to stick to him.
]]>Please people, stop buying Toyota's.
]]>By the way, you should've gone with Carmageddon. Auto-Armageddon sounds like the new fully automated way to destroy the world.
]]>@altryan: Sales of Geo Metros were up, a few months back, when gas prices were high.
Now, sales of Geo Metros are back up, because people realized gas prices have dropped again, and they're driving one of the USA's ugliest vehicles.
When GM, Ford, and Chrysler can make a competitively priced car of comparable quality to the japs they might stand a chance. Classic example: The Chevy Malibu. Its a good car... but the 09's are more expensive than the camry/accord and have fewer features. While the build quality is close to the japs there are still finishing problems and GM hasn't addressed them.
Lets not forget fuel economy either. Chrysler might as well put license plate frames on their cars that say "gas Gussler".
]]>It's always cheaper to fix a used car than buy a new one...
]]>I think the auto industry is beginning to deal with the results of building cars that don't actually fall apart three years after they leave the lot. I have a 2005 Ford Escape that hasn't had so much as a single problem with it since I bought it. The used car lots in Nashville are loaded with Toyotas and Nissans that are several years old and have plenty of life left in them.
I'm sure the main factor is the economy, but you have to wonder how saturated the market it right now.
]]>Hey, Canada had an INCREASE in car sales this month...
]]>I would almost dare to say the promotion is working in spite of the asinine ads!
]]>Here's a hint, no one in their right minds are buying your stupid ass trucks right now. Stop playing this ad 2 times every commercial break.
]]>My hero, Zero, such a funny little hero,
But till you came along,
We counted on our fingers and toes.
Now you're here to stay
And nobody really knows
How wonderful you are.
That commercial seems to be working very well! You can't say "sales are down, so the commercial didn't work," you need to ask "what would sales be if they _weren't_ doing the 0% promotion and the ads?" Given that their sales are off less than any other major automaker, it sounds like the promotions are a success.
]]>To be honest, I don't think I will ever forget this awful commercial, but give me 24 hours and I won't remember the brand it advertises. It worries me that someone, somewhere, enjoyed this enough to buy a crap ton of air time.
Bring back 'dogs love trucks!'; those were good.
]]>How are used car sales? Just curious...
]]>you read the wrong report.
it's "audits."
IRS audits.
]]>@Burgandy: I haven't seen this commercial in the Los Angeles markets for 2 weeks or more. I saw it once or twice, and nothing since thankfully.
Since we are on "Badvertising" tag the Bertolli commercials on CBS with the blonde Insider "reporter" are seriously way worse IMO.
]]>That commercial has caused me to peruse the Toyota lineup though. What I found was a whole bunch of uninspired designs that melt into a sea of uniformity that is made up of most cars available today.
]]>well I was very interested except I did the math and I'd end up paying twice as much a month on the financing than I currently am for my used 99 camry. Frankly working FT and doing school PT I just can't afford it.
]]>That's just rude.
]]>@weakdome: It means most of those who are buying them are not being affected by the economy. Either that or no one was buying them in the first place.
]]>Auto sales in Canada actually rose 1.5% during the same period.
You're welcome.
]]>@Murph1908: dear god i thought it was just me
]]>Heroes should adapt it to "Saved by Hiro"
]]>Yea, it's a great idea, but a horrible commercial.
]]>BMW was only down 10%?
Does that mean their prices are high enough to offset the difference, or does it somehow mean more people are buying real cars?
I would much rather listen to Denis Leary tell me how much ass the '09 F-150 kicks all day that being saved by 0.
]]>The only other commercial on right now that can compare for annoyance value is the one with that drunk-sounding harlot driving a caddy and asking "when you turn your car on, does it return the favor?" NO IT DOESN'T NOW GET OFF MY SCREEN WOMAN.
]]>It isn't so bad until the end, when the 'saved by zero' they are singing doesn't correspond to any melody in the actual song.
]]>Does this mean I don't have to listen to that song anymore? Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease???
]]>