Filed under: Gripes, Viral, Online, Television, Ads We Hate, Campaign Launch, Op-ed
I haven't owned a car in years, so maybe I'm not the ideal demographic for car ads, but there is a kind of car commercial I just hate: ones where the cars or trucks do things that you can't and/or shouldn't do it real life.
Case in point: the "Ask Dr. Z" DaimlerChrysler ads that are currently running, the ones where "Dr. Z" takes the reporter out for a wacky test ride. Near the end, when the doctor and the reporter smash into the wall, a note comes up on the screen saying that it's a simulation and you shouldn't really do it. Then why show it to us? Isn't the point of an ad to show us what a car can do?
There's other ads too. The one where the car literally flies around the city, bouncing off the roofs of buildings. WTF? How does that help me in my purchasing decision? Why not just have it drive underwater or fly to Pluto? You can't do that either in real life. Or that truck commercial where the tons of metal and other trash falls from the sky and completely covers the truck, and then the truck drives away because it's so strong and well made. That's not real either, according to the disclaimer. Then why show it?
It's almost as if car companies want to have it both ways. "We're going to show you why you should buy these cars, but the reasons aren't real."
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