RE: Silverado vs. F-150 repair costs: PH Ad Break

[Roger Irrelevant]

I think it was a Silverado ad that was on constantly the last time I was in the US in 2013 - basically a Brokeback Mountain inspired montage of rugged men doing man things and a song that was all about being 'strong'. It remains the cheesiest, cringiest ad I've ever seen, and it makes me proud that if that sort of thing was tried in Britain it would have the piss taken out of it mercilessly.

[unsprung]

This campaign by General Motors against innovation by Ford is a bit of an old story.

Here's the deal:

1. The campaign shows poor leadership akin to the "Scroogled" campaign by Microsoft when faced with the unexpected jump in popularity of Google Chromebook

2. The campaign insults customers by taking a position that, essentially, invites customers to take a narrow view of tomorrow (instead of being open-minded)

3. The campaign implies that Chevrolet's truck division is anxious about innovation -- that, despite their size and heritage, they are prepared to cede some opportunities to others (at least in the full-sized truck segment)


ps: The use of aluminum by Land Rover / Range Rover is not a pretext for the use introduced by Ford, because the latter required unproven innovations to address cost, scale, speed and the like.

[Beyond Rational]

It's a good job that they don't build things like engine blocks, suspension parts, aircraft and armoured cars out of that there weak-ass aloominumb.

[KTF]

Beyond Rational said:

It's a good job that they don't build things like engine blocks, suspension parts, aircraft and armoured cars out of that there weak-ass aloominumb.

GM skipped that part and also quickly glossed over how the 'hood' was made out of this new fangled material that takes forever to repair and costs more...

I would have thought that the repair costs and loan truck would come out of the insurance anyway so the time and cost is a moot point (ish).

[Matt Harper]

mariscalcus said:

Strangely, north of the Virginia line in NE US or on the west coast you will rarely see a pick-up truck since they are deemed hick.

This, by the way, is a load of bks.

[Fleckers]

I love yank Pickups, have a navara as a trend setter to the misses, hope to have a F150 Harley in next couple of years.

Washington State is norff and has loads of pickups

L&K's etc

[Codswallop]

I maintain that the advert for the Ferd F-teen-thousand is the best American truck advert. Direct, and gets the point across

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1C0r2EHQfY

[5ohmustang]

Sierras and silverados are the same trucks gm has been building for years, they have just been facelifted. Dependable for sure but no innovation. A stock 2015 f150 2.7 tt would destroy an escort cosworth in a straight line, get better gas mileage and they are really nice to drive.

[oldtimer2]

Ford has used JLRs aluminium bonding and riveting technology in the F-150, as they freely admit. And the technology is good enough for the civil aircraft that fly GM execs about the USA, so what are they really worried about? In fact GM is exploring the extended use of aluminium in their next generation of pick up trucks. Should be easy enough for Ford to shoot this one down.

[unsprung]

oldtimer2 said:

Ford has used JLRs aluminium bonding and riveting technology in the F-150, as they freely admit. And the technology is good enough for the civil aircraft that fly GM execs about the USA, so what are they really worried about? In fact GM is exploring the extended use of aluminium in their next generation of pick up trucks. Should be easy enough for Ford to shoot this one down.

My understanding of "JLR's aluminium bonding and riveting technology" is that this was developed by Ford in Michigan. Is that inaccurate?

Further... The application on the F150 is at a speed and scale never before achieved by any manufacturer, with the requirement that the process was engineered anew.

[Konan]

Hang on.....doesn't that guy sell quality Propane?