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#24603 of 32000 Re: Chevy Traverse [fintail] by tlong

May 19, 2012 (8:05 pm)

Replying to: fintail (May 18, 2012 6:52 pm)
I rode in one of those once, seemed put together well enough, materials a little chintzy, iffy visibility (but I think they come with a camera).
 
Just flew back east today, a quick drive of the Traverse tonight. Will report more in next few days.
 
Seems this is a more base model - cloth seats, etc. Initial impressions are: Smooth engine, drives nice but large turning circle, fairly nice looking controls, dash and door plastics are too chintzy for the rest of the vehicle. The center dash compartment on top is nice but the door is cheap. Storage area is nice in back but floor is quite high, so less space than you might think given the size of the vehicle.
 
Given that it has chrome handles and chrome rings on the dash, why the cheap hard dash plastics? Seems like the materials should be matched - as an example, don't put chrome on everything until you de-cheap the plastics. Seems kind of like one of those cars you see people driving where they are primer gray with fancy wheels. Just a mismatch of priorities.

#24604 of 32000 Re: GM Resurrected [steve_] by circlew

May 20, 2012 (4:06 am)

Replying to: steve_ (May 19, 2012 7:06 am)
Taking after Hyundai eh?
 
Interesting that GM is following Hyundai. Good move.
 
Here's the counter move!
 
As soon as General Motors said this week that it would quit paid ads on Facebook, Ford was on Twitter saying it has doubled-down on social and digital media -- and hinted in a tweet that GM just didn't know how to use new social media
 
Then, no sooner had GM said yesterday it would not buy ads in the next Super Bowl, and Super Bowl regular Hyundai quickly let us know it won't pass on the biggest annual ad event in TV -- and by the way, (are your ears burning GM?), did know that the game is a huge social media event, too..
 
Perhaps GM will now get back in!
 
Another shot at GM as Hyundai re-ups for Super Bowl
 
Regards,
OW
 
Regards,
OW

#24605 of 32000 Re: GM Resurrected [circlew] by steve_ HOST

May 20, 2012 (5:59 am)

Replying to: circlew (May 20, 2012 4:06 am)
Maybe.
 
And then there's people like us - no TV in the house, but there is an iPad. I tweet and FB, but only for work. Can't say that I much read what others tweet or stick on their Wall. I like football okay but even when Eli or Payton are playing in the Superbowl, I just follow the box scores at SI and catch the highlight reels on YouTube that night.
 
What I'm really hoping for is that GM gets really smart and buys a lot more ad space here. Although...plenty of people use ad blocking software so even that's tough to quantify. I just spent ~$400 on house paint. Most all the research was done by reading handyman sites and forums and talking to my painter.
 
So it's no wonder GM and the rest wonder if their ad dollars are working. For example, I'm more likely to learn that the Equinox has good gas mileage here than in a commercial somewhere.
 
And please don't tell me that you think Ford and Hyundai's reactions to GM pulling ads came from their home office and not their ad agencies.

#24606 of 32000 Re: GM Resurrected [steve_] by busiris

May 20, 2012 (9:11 am)

Replying to: steve_ (May 20, 2012 5:59 am)
Back in the heyday of taxpayer financed coliseums and stadiums, supporters of these construction projects always used mathematical metrics of how each game would bring in so many $$$, so the projects were, in their theory anyway, virtual moneymakers.
 
Enough research has been done and actual data accumulated now that pretty much refutes so many of those claims. Most reputable ecomomists stopped making claims of that magnitude years ago when supporting these types of projects.
 
IMO, that is where we are on advertising today. I have serious doubts that anyone actually gets just repayment for the multi-million $$$$ Superbowl ads alone. VW, I believe, gets more coverage of their Superbowl ad via viewings on YouTube than the Superbowl viewings, and it's considerably cheaper to have an ad viewed on YouTube.
 
Having millions watching you advertisement isn't worth anything if none of those millions are interested in purchasing your product. How many of the "dot.com" companies that were the heavy-hitter advertisers on the Superbowl just a few years back are still around today?
 
One other comment about car ads... I can't help but wonder how effective car ads are that show a driver putting a car through its paces in an ad, with the disclosure that "car is being driven on a closed course" really are... Sure, some buyers like those ads, but does the average car buyer really understand the significance of "0 - 60" in 5 seconds .vs. 6... or 6.5... 7.?
 
So, I guess I agree with you in that ads placed in an area that viewers are already interested in looking most likely give the biggest bang for the buck. There isn't anything wrong with a bit of generalized advertising, keeping your product name out in the public eye, but I'd love to see some qualitative data demonstrating car sales being directly tied to something like Superbowl ads.

#24607 of 32000 Re: GM Resurrected [steve_] by fintail

May 20, 2012 (9:26 am)

Replying to: steve_ (May 19, 2012 7:06 am)
Wasn't Hyundai thinking of abandoning that gimmick?
 
The chances of that tablet, obsolete within a year, staying with the car through the note or lease period, is the same of Caddy making a legitimate S-class competitor by the end of this calendar year

#24608 of 32000 Re: Chevy Traverse [tlong] by fintail

May 20, 2012 (9:28 am)

Replying to: tlong (May 19, 2012 8:05 pm)
I think that is something I remember too, cheapish door panels. GM seems to have learned that investing another $50 for interior materials can go a long way, but the job isn't done yet.
 
Of course, with rentals, one has to be fair - who knows how the car has been treated, and many rental models are at a spec level only available to fleets.

#24609 of 32000 Re: GM Resurrected [fintail] by steve_ HOST

May 20, 2012 (11:33 am)

Replying to: fintail (May 20, 2012 9:26 am)
Haven't kept up with the Equus owner's manual (sounds like it was a one year deal?), but few owner's manuals wind up with the car when they get traded it seems. At least updates are easy to grab from iTunes or wherever if you have a digital manual and a tablet or smartphone.
 
The original iPad we got was a refurb purchased just after the second generation came out and it's still functional, but yeah, I wouldn't leave mine in the glove box if it came with the car.

#24610 of 32000 Re: GM Resurrected [steve_] by circlew

May 20, 2012 (11:57 am)

Replying to: steve_ (May 20, 2012 5:59 am)
And please don't tell me that you think Ford and Hyundai's reactions to GM pulling ads came from their home office and not their ad agencies.
 
No but the decision to buy the ad space did. That's what counts.
 
GM would be smart to buy ad space on Edmunds....so you know they probably won't.
 
BTW, Benjamin Moore has always done right by me!
 
Regards,
OW
 
Regards,
OW

#24611 of 32000 Re: GM Resurrected [busiris] by fho2008

May 20, 2012 (12:23 pm)

Replying to: busiris (May 20, 2012 9:11 am)
Closed course? We all know thats legal stuff, covering thier behind, and how else is there no other car on the road?
 
 Sometimes they do have other cars in there but you see whatI'm getting at.

#24612 of 32000 Re: GM Resurrected [circlew] by steve_ HOST

May 20, 2012 (2:17 pm)

Replying to: circlew (May 20, 2012 11:57 am)
The store brand trim paint we got from one of hardware stores is made by Sherwin Williams. Basically we had two choices, other than Walmart. What's funny is that Walmart paint was made by Sherwin Williams until they supposedly switched to Glidden a couple of years ago.
 
But naturally you'd prefer Benjamin Moore since they are owned by Berkshire Hathaway. You know - the same outfit that just purchased 10 million shares of General Motors.

Messages Page 2462 of 3201

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