New Chrysler 'Ask Dr. Z' Commercials

So what's the consensus on Chrysler's new 'Ask Dr. Z' commercials

marc0ni...

How come it seems like there's no such thing as a "hearty ecosystem?"
Or simply an ecosystem which can withstand the mere presence of human
beings?

elf...

How about because the ecosystem grew and evolved for millions of years,
but has not had time to adapt to the ravages mankind has caused almost
entirely in the last century?

videonovels...

.

Marconi has a point. The ecosystem IS hardy (note the proper word),

marc0ni...

You could have made the correction without drawing attention to it, my
pedantic friend.

constantly renewing itself every spring with new plants & animals.

BUT the ecosystem was never designed to be run over by *10,000 pound*
trucks, fueled by 300 horsepower engines, and studded tires, that tear
up the grass, run over animals, and leave behind a muddy mess where
grass, trees, and animals used to thrive.

marc0ni...

"Designed"? Was that the word you carefully chosen?

And if you think I'm exaggerating, go back and watch Daimler-Chrysler's
"environmentally friendly" (cough) SUV commercial, because that's
exactly what they show. Huge trucks tearing up the environment,
throwing dirt&mud into the air, splashing through lakes, and leaving
behind a destroyed ecosystem.

marc0ni...

There's another point: how big is an "ecosystem"? I see the term used
to describe areas as vast as the Mojave and as small as a mud puddle.

videonovels...

The whole planet.

marc0ni...

So using your scale for the "ecosystem", you're saying that a single
truck throwing dirt & mud into the air and splashing through lakes is
"destroying the planet". A single truck destroying an entire planet;
this is what I meant by "overblown".

.

Normally I wouldn't care. Lots of commercials shows trucks in the
wilderness. But THIS commercial makes a point of being "friendly" to
the environment while showing images of environmentally destruction.
I'd prefer they'd just be honest:

"Hemis. Diesel. Power. Buy this and feel like a REAL man. (grunt
grunt grunt)." ----- To stand there and LIE to us that their trucks
are friendly while showing the exact *opposite* in the video clips....
well it's sickening. Complete hypocrisy.

marc0ni...

The old saying is that hypocrisy is the tribute Vice pays to Virtue.
But in an era when Virtue itself is negotiable, how can there be any
Vice, much less any hypocrisy?

(But I guess that's how advertisers think of americans: easily-duped.
Show them destruction, and yet convince them that it's "good" for the
environment. Amazing. Truly amazing.)

marc0ni...

Or maybe they're advertising to people who think the entire

videonovels...

.

You mean like yourself? ;-)

Maybe you'll better understand the need to preserve the environment
when the air is so dirty that you can not breathe it. Oh wait; that
already happened back in the 70s. Good thing we had environmentalists
to step forward & demand cleaner car exhaust.

environmental movement is overblown and composed of self-righteous nags.

starring Daimler-Chrysler chairman Dieter Zietsche (not sure I spelled
that right...)?

Susan Bartholomew...

Thanks!! Guess I was close, anyways...

Rhino...

According to the Chrysler website, it's Dr. Dieter ZETSCHE.

weberm...

I prefer the "Unpimp my ride" guy in the Volksvagon ads better.

Casey McDonald's Guidance Counsellor, Ian J. Ball...

That's "Abruzzi" to you, pal! ;)

I think they're kinda interesting, it's a good idea for them to use him
since he's charismatic enough to make a good spokesman.

Jorabi...

They wouldn't be bad if they weren't run so gd OFTEN. During my local
news there are prolly four of these in 30 minutes (not all different
ones, either).

I would be ecstatic if there were never any car commercials on TV,
EVER. I don't get why they spend billions on TV ads. Who would

daveparks_00...

Too offset, in advertising tax deductions, the losses of vehicles
sitting in manufacturing facilities, shipping ports, and dealership
lots all over the world?

videonovels...

.

Corporations should not able to deduct advertising off their taxes. No

Anim8rFSK...

Because why? It's a legitimate business expense. It employees a lot of
people. It increases the corporations revenues tremendously. If they
couldn't deduct the advertising, they'd do less of it, not pay more in
tax.

No

wonder they get away with paying next-to-nothing to support the
government.

daveparks_00...

You'll like this;
See you at the dealer! ;-)

ever consider buying a car based on TV ads?

David Johnston...

Lots of people. The experience of companies who have tried to turf
their advertising budgets to cut costs strongly establishes that it
makes a real difference. Even a bad ad is better than no ad because
people are reluctant to buy brand names they've never even heard of.

daveparks_00...

If you're questioning the value of television advertising, ask the
unoriginal Lexus division of Toyota Motor Corp. who followed Honda's
Acura lead in marketing, (ie:advertising) a brand of psuedo-European
styled autos aimed specifically to the susceptible American consumer.

Rhino...

As commercials go, I find them a bit more interesting than most because I'm
trying to get a sense who this guy is. I'd never heard of him before the
commercials started so I thought first he might be an imaginary spokesman,
like Mr. Clean, but played by a live actor instead of an animation.

Susan Bartholomew...

We've heard of him quite a bit around here in Detroit, and a lot after
he was appointed chairman a while ago. From what I've heard, he's fairly
amiable, but very much a perfectionist, and he's known to be demanding
of his employees.

But I don't like commercials and I am not going to buy a car based on who
the spokesman is, even if Dr. Z is the real life chairman of Daimler Benz.
Therefore, if the point of the ads is to sell me one of their cars, the
spokesman isn't going to do it.

Susan Bartholomew...

I've never bought a car based on the spokesman, either, but I think this
was a pretty good move on Chrysler's part. Since their chairman is a
charismatic kinda guy, why not use it to the fullest extent! Fortunately
for them, he's game and seems to have a pretty good sense of humor
about the whole thing. Whether it sells any cars remains to be seen...

The footage of the car surviving a hard impact with passengers unscathed is
perhaps more persuasive. However, I have no way of knowing whether the Dr.
and the other guy were actually _in_ the impact that they showed from
another angle or whether the impact scene showed dummies or stunt men and
then cut to another scene showing the Dr. and the other guy in a mocked-up
car that wasn't so badly damaged. I didn't see any text that claimed the
crash actually happened as represented so I suspect something that was
simulated just the way any TV or movie crash is simulated. I am NOT

Jorabi...

There would be text if it WEREN'T real, not vice-versa. But even though
there isn't any text, I don't think they were really in it.

daveparks_00...

I'd prefer a more directly humorous approach to the scene using obvious
'dummies', a la 'The Three Stooges' - with the vehicle violently
smashing into the wall; parts, glass, and dummies flying everywhere -
then quickly cut - the smashed vehicle has now been replaced with a new
one, different color. The dummies have disappeared, and the Chairman
and passenger, are now sitting in their seats quietly sipping tea
enjoying classical music on the radio. Flash an obvious warning about
the fakery - and they're done.
I mean, how many people after viewing those classic Volvo commercials
actually went out and drove their Volvo off a multi-story building?

convinced that a REAL Chrysler in a similar crash would protect its
occupants as well as the commercial shows. And I am cynical enough about the
exaggeration and hyperbole of commercials in general NOT to give them the
benefit of the doubt and take them at face value.

PastaLover...

The commericals are arguably better than Chrysler automobiles....

RichA...

"Ve haf vays of making you buy cars!"

Default User...

I kind of liked the one with the "Hemi" coming over to yell at him for
screwing up then muttering "actors" as he walks away. Other than that,
fairly blah.