VW Passat commercials...JOLTING

[Disney1fan2002]

I have seen two of them now, and boy, are they powerful commercials. One shows two men driving arguing about why one of them says "like" every other word, when out of the blue, a car comes out of a side street and hits them hard, you see the passenger head hit the dash.

HOLY COW.

Then, yesterday, I am watching a very amusing commercial about a foursome driving after a movie, and the women were on the men for getting "emotional"...and then BAM. They get hit HARD. It jolted me, i had no idea it was coming.

Those commercials bother me.

 

[Charade]

It looks so real. I had to back it with my PVR and run it slo-mo. I can't tell that it's fake.

 

[sajetto]

Those commercials leave me so shaken that I change the channel now as soon as I see a VW. I'm a wimp, but sorry once is enough for me

 

[jfulcer]

I have seen two of them now, and boy, are they powerful commercials. One shows two men driving arguing about why one of them says "like" every other word, when out of the blue, a car comes out of a side street and hits them hard, you see the passenger head hit the dash.

Actually I think you might have seen it wrong. The whole point of these commercials is to show you how safe VW cars would be in a crash, even being t-boned at high speed. All occupants of the cars in the accident are shown standing around the car afterwards, which most likely would not have happened had they hit the dashboard..

For those that have not seen them you can see them here:

http://www.techeblog.com/index.php/tech-gadget/volkswagon-releases-new-crash-ads

 

[Lisa L from MI]

I just saw the "like" one tonight....no I do not like them at all either

 

[Free4Life11]

This is a new one. Selling cars by showing them in a crash...new concept for sure.

 

[Charade]

This is a new one. Selling cars by showing them in a crash...new concept for sure.

Back in the 70's they just hit the front of it with a crowbar (Pontiac for those older folks that remember)

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Wow. Freaky.

 

[cardaway]

Actually I think you might have seen it wrong. The whole point of these commercials is to show you how safe VW cars would be in a crash, even being t-boned at high speed. All occupants of the cars in the accident are shown standing around the car afterwards, which most likely would not have happened had they hit the dashboard..

That's the way I see them. Great stuff. We need some exciting commercials once in awhile.

 

[Fannie_Marie]

I saw the one with the guys talking about "like" and it scared the crap out of me. My mother was killed in a car accident 7 years ago and just last year my SO's sister was killed in a car accident also. I know that it's supposed to make you feel safe, but it looks so real I just can't handle it.

 

[jfulcer]

This is a new one. Selling cars by showing them in a crash...new concept for sure.

Allstate has already been doing this for a while to sell their insurance? Remember the commercials about the guy that's not paying attention and rear ends someone and drops his coffee? The announcer walks right through the middle of the crash. This isn't any different except it's not selling insurance - rather cars.

 

[Annie68]

I saw the one with the guys talking about "like" and it scared the crap out of me. My mother was killed in a car accident 7 years ago and just last year my SO's sister was killed in a car accident also. I know that it's supposed to make you feel safe, but it looks so real I just can't handle it.

I agree. I was in a serious accident leaving work one morning (2/94) and these commercials bring back some horrible memories. If only side airbags were around back then, my DD may have gotten the chance to meet her sister.

 

[Figment22]

I've only seen the "like" commercial. It's very powerful. I actually felt my skin prickle at the crash. It's been a while since a commercial made me say, "Wow."

 

[gris gris]

I saw the foursome one last night. It was scary! DH & I understood the message right away, that it is to promote how safe the cars are. We thought it could backfire on VW - you buy the car because it's so safe, get hurt in an accident, then say "well in the commercial everyone was ok". I'm curious to see how this campaign helps or hurts VW. I wouldn't buy one anyhow, every one I know who has owned a VW has sunk so much money into fixing the car they could have just bought a new one

 

[Disney1fan2002]

I saw the foursome one last night. It was scary! DH & I understood the message right away, that it is to promote how safe the cars are. We thought it could backfire on VW - you buy the car because it's so safe, get hurt in an accident, then say "well in the commercial everyone was ok". I'm curious to see how this campaign helps or hurts VW. I wouldn't buy one anyhow, every one I know who has owned a VW has sunk so much money into fixing the car they could have just bought a new one

That is what I am thinking. The accidents they show are SERIOUS accidents. In the foursome, they even have a disclaimer that the people are stuntmen. I honestly don't care how "safe" a car is, anyone in an accident like the ones they are showing, I don't think would be standing on the sidewalk, checking out the damage to the car. No way.

I use the commercials to reinforce how important it is to wear their seatbelts to my kids. They think we are safe cause mom is driving, and she is a good driver, but things can come out of nowhere.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Obviously the commercials are doing what was intended, we are talking about them.

Safe Happens.

 

[Disney1fan2002]

Obviously the commercials are doing what was intended, we are talking about them.

Safe Happens.

I think the commercial intends for us to run out and buy a Passat because you can get in a serious accident, and then be able to stand on the sidewalk as they tow the car away. It is THAT safe.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

I think the commercial intends for us to run out and buy a Passat because you can get in a serious accident, and then be able to stand on the sidewalk as they tow the car away. It is THAT safe.

It doesn't seem positioned to be a call to action ad. I think it is jolting to create a buzz, to promote another selling point.

 

[Beth76]

Well here's what I don't get. In the one with the four people in the car, at the end you really only see two of them. I suppose if you go back and pause you can see all four of them, but it's a quick flash. Most people will only see the two girls at the end and not all four of them. I was confused when I first saw that commericial on TV because it didn't really appear that everyone made it. I assummed it because otherwise they wouldn't show it.

 

[mickman1962]

I've had nightmares for the last 26 years after being involved in a head on collision with a drunk. Those commercials are just way too real.