Volkswagen ad

[Larry Kart]

Just  saw one that now takes on a new meaning. Spokesman begins: "When you drive, things are not always what they appear to be..."

[danasgoodstuff]

They need to get on the stick and address this mess, but I can't imagine that any of their current ad approaches will work - put the CEO on nice and contrite, an it better be good.

[erwbol]

Volkswagen launched their new ad campaign on Real Time with Bill Maher. I can't see it doing them much good ....

Edited September 28, 2015 by erwbol

[Big Beat Steve]

VW screwed this up big time and ought to clean up that mess FAST. And some MORE heads wil have to roll.

 

But it makes me snicker seeing how - of all places - the US of  A drool about all this and pull all sorts of stunts in rubbing it in against VW.

Is what's left of the US automotive industry in that much of a horror vs. their competitors that they now see some last chance of regaining some ground? Nothing more to offer beyond bloated SUVs? OTOH, must hurt badly seeing the Chevrolet bowtie being attached to some laughable Korean baby shoe box. Badge engineering at its very worst and not even the most ergonomical way of designing a city runabout.

[erwbol]

Volkswagen's new ad campaign continued on another HBO show, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.

 

[Big Beat Steve]

 

Uh oh ... this might backfire. It would take only insignificantly more imagination and historical awareness to do EXACTLY the same fake ad with the FORD plum instead of the VW logo.

[clifford_thornton]

VW screwed this up big time and ought to clean up that mess FAST. And some MORE heads wil have to roll.

 

But it makes me snicker seeing how - of all places - the US of  A drool about all this and pull all sorts of stunts in rubbing it in against VW.

Is what's left of the US automotive industry in that much of a horror vs. their competitors that they now see some last chance of regaining some ground? Nothing more to offer beyond bloated SUVs? OTOH, must hurt badly seeing the Chevrolet bowtie being attached to some laughable Korean baby shoe box. Badge engineering at its very worst and not even the most ergonomical way of designing a city runabout.

American cars are pieces of junk and have been for as long as I've been alive (38 years). 

The only car I've ever had that I actually liked was a Honda Civic (and that's saying a lot, considering the fact that I'm very tall).

[catesta]

VW screwed this up big time and ought to clean up that mess FAST. And some MORE heads wil have to roll.

 

But it makes me snicker seeing how - of all places - the US of  A drool about all this and pull all sorts of stunts in rubbing it in against VW.

Is what's left of the US automotive industry in that much of a horror vs. their competitors that they now see some last chance of regaining some ground? Nothing more to offer beyond bloated SUVs? OTOH, must hurt badly seeing the Chevrolet bowtie being attached to some laughable Korean baby shoe box. Badge engineering at its very worst and not even the most ergonomical way of designing a city runabout.

Take it easy. Do you think the U.S. auto industry is writing the jokes for these shows?

Yes, we're still making full size SUVs here. Is that all that's being made? No, not even close. Large SUVs are hardly something exclusive to U.S. manufacturers these days. I have wonder though how much of a difference there is in the fuel efficiency of a VW Touareg vs. Chevy Tahoe.  

Anyways, all jabs at VW and Korean GM brands aside. It looks like VW had to bullshit their way to grab market share and that is what really should make you snicker.

Edited September 28, 2015 by catesta

[Big Beat Steve]

 

It looks like VW had to bullshit their way to grab market share and that is what really should make you snicker.

It does (and it irks me in a way). And they cannot count on much compassion from me. They've had it coming to them, given the way they acted.

But all those sideswipes from U.S. would-be jokers reek a lot like trying to regain lost ground now, though overall they are set to be on their way out, even if VW were to take a serious blow. The US automotive industry won't survive on Tesla alone when it comes to smart automotive concepts for tomorrow. SUVs are and remain the plague in traffic over here so credit for the original idea to whom credit is due. 

And who knows who else among those crying out loud for action now is actually just trying to find added power or leverage now to get that TTIP can of worms (that is facing increasingly stiff opposition in Europe, particularly in Germany) across.

 

[BeBop]

I've got  2013 Golf TDI.  It's a great car, stellar mileage, and even enjoyable to drive.  For now.

Just for kicks, I checked the offer price, if I wanted to sell (which I can't, since the smog check would be seller's responsibility) - down $6,000 in a week.

 

[Larry Kart]

Just be clear, the VW TV ad I quoted at the top of this thread was genuine -- saw it yesterday during a football game -- and not my or anyone's attempt at a joke.

[Big Beat Steve]

THIS I would not have doubted ...

[JSngry]

No it ain't. My daddy was an honest man.

[Big Beat Steve]

Not that new, all this.

Among halfway knowledgeable (and THINKING) people interested in cars it has been discussed quite openly that Common Rail technology and indirect injection are a VERY mixed "blessing" when it comes to really reducing health risks and engineering advances aren't always where you THINK they are. Those ever finer, ever tinier particles are still there and they will penetrate where the diesel smoke emitted by "daddy's diesel" did not pass.

Like someone characterized it fittingly here when the "clean diesel" vs old diesel debate raged here several years ago, exaggerating only for illustration's' sake: "What those old diesels emitted were bricks of coal that would never pass the hairs and surfaces of your nostrils (which is why your handkerchief ended up black once you sneezed afterwards). But those minute particles (that won't even leave black traces) are there anyway and will go right through inside."

But this problem is a general one and not limited to VW.

[JSngry]

It's not about diesel, it's about my daddy. My daddy was an honest man, these VW people were not.

[Big Beat Steve]

My daddy was an honest man, these VW people were not.

In (not so) good company with a lot of "industry and business leaders" worldwide, unfortunately ...

[JSngry]

Yeah, my daddy's people came from Germany (well, my daddy's people's people, anyway, some kind of weird shit called "Pennsylvania Dutch"), so I'm not predisposed to hating on VW because they're German. The whole Nazi-Joke thing, I mean really, that's too easy, lazy humor, it's the same kind of mental laziness that was on display in the VW boardroom, take the easy way out, worry about it later, if ever. Lie about your cars, go for the okie-doke on the jokes, same thing in the beginning, if not in the end, just...unchecked laziness.

VW was not honest, and when they go bringing my daddy into their paradigm of lies, like my daddy didn't know shit about diesel engines (and he didn't, but he knew enough to avoid them for the rest of his life after the one time he tried them), so you, hey, daddy's son, THIS one's for you, you'll LIKE this one,  this is something with which i will not abide. I trust my dead daddy more than I trust a living corporation.

Actually, we drive Hondas for the most part, and that's something that my daddy never did. He was American Cars all the way until the day he died. No VWs OR Toyotas for him, no sir. So hey VW, leave my daddy out of it, ok? You're not worthy.

[jazzbo]

Hey I have some Pennsylvania Dutch ancestory too,and I also come from other German religious separatists from Pennsylvania predominantly known as Moravians (more of them in my heritage than the Pennsylvania Dutch).

This is unfortunate for VW and really all car-makers. But who is surprised to find that "truth" isn't everywhere in that or other industries?

 

[BeBop]

This is unfortunate for VW and really all car-makers. But who is surprised to find that "truth" isn't everywhere in that or other industries?

 

Without focusing on myself ;-) , it's really unfortunate for Volkswagen owners.  For the most part (Phaeton owners aside), we're a pretty humble lot, driving a "people's car".  We were lied to, and any "solution" at this point will compromise performance and/or fuel economy as well as market value.  Some class-action lawsuit will enrich attorneys, and I get a check for $75 off my next Volkswagen purchase.  

It's mind boggling to think that this went on for so many years, undetected.  The corporate deeds don't surprise me as much.  (I'm not a guy who throws a blanket of "bad" over all corporations, despite having grown up in Oakland/Berkeley.)