Labop

I like the look of the new GTO, one problem.

I was watching techTV (yeah, I'm a geek), and they showed the new GTO comercial. It blatantly suggested street racing. It showed the GTO driving up to a red light. It sat there through the green and yellow. And another GTO pulls up when it turns red, they sit there revving and then it cuts.

I can't beleive this made it past the censors with all the cracking down the police are doing on the streets; and the FCC is doing when programmers show lewd/suggestive behavior (think Janet Jackson). Now I'm as guilty as the next guy of launching at a light (not racing) and enjoying the power of my car; Mazda sponsors autox events/track days; Subaru encourages taking the WRX off road, but thats quite diferent from an automaker encouraging (or seeming to) street racing. And no, I don't feel that the tiny sized disclaimer at the bottom flashed for half a second is enough to cover their rear-ends.

That's my rant..., sorry.

Ike

Yep, you're a geek :p

Seriously though, the FCC can go to hell. If people are so easily inluenced and persuaded by things they see on television and and on the radio they deserve every bad thing that happens to them. I'm so tired of the sheep we have in ours and many other societies, what happened to personal accountability and common sense. Just because there are a bunch of morons out there that will try something they see on television doesn't mean the rest of us should be subjected to constant fluff and censorship. By the way think about what you're complaining about for a second, and then think about the many movies shown on television regularly. The Chevy commercial is harmless compared to many of them, as is seeing Janet Jackson's boob.


And that's my rant

Labop

Personal accountability is fine and good, if people accept it. I'm not digging at you, you bring up a valid point and I agree with what you're saying. But (knew it was coming huh?), I don't think most people get it.

I'm in the Navy, and am an instructor at one of our C schools, but deal regularly with "booters". These kids are volunteering for service, and we have to constantly explain/train/enforce/brainwash them to get them to understand things like honor, integrity, and accountability. When we're done with them, they head to the fleet hopefully with the skills and attitude they will need to be successful out there. I'd be easier if their parents had at least mentioned it when they were growing up, they cold slip it in between "take you finger out of your nose" and "bring the car back in one piece".

My dad raised me with good values, I didn't need them explained, but not everyone has that unfortunately. Most people/kids are not getting that. Do you think the average kid these days can spell accountability, let alone have any sense of what it means?

I have no problems with street racing in movies, at least you know they are works of fiction (like Vin Diesel being referred to as an "actor"). :D

jonnyb

so what? name one car commercial where the car isnt drifting, speeding around a corner, or doing 180's on public streets. the only reason they have disclaimers in the end is for idiots who would try that stuff then sue the car maker when they crash.

Labop

This commercial compared to others..., closed course/street. Professional drivers. No other cars around. Racing is legal, street racing isn't; the manufacturers shouldn't encourage it, that's all I'm saying. Sorry all, didn't want to start a war here. :o

shelleys_man_06

Us Mazda owners can't say much when there's an RX-8 commerical in which one is powersliding around a corner.

DreRX8

U sure it was another GTO--the commercial I saw had a 5 series pull up.

aruffell

I have a video clip of an ad that was apparently released in Spain although Panda is a car originally designed by FIAT (Italian). I am from Italy and there is not as much censorship as there is here in the US....

Check the video out at:

http://www.alexruffell.com/rx8/nuovapanda.mpg

HeelnToe

It seems many manufacturers get around the problem by making their commercials into fake movies. You've seen them: they open with a movie rating, then show the cars doing ridiculous stunts, jumping bridges, crashing though walls, etc.

Even with the RX-8 (and others) doing power sides, you get the sense that it's in a controlled environment. All these commercials leave me with the impression of what I COULD do with the car. They're doing silly things you KNOW are silly to do in daily life.

The GTO commercial is different. It bothered me too as soon as I saw it. I guess the setting and situation is TOO real, TOO authentic. It leaves me with the impression that this is what I SHOULD do with a GTO. It's not some abstract photo-op of a powerslide on a wet road to show off the car and it's lines; rather, it's a real-world situation and encouraging a real-world problem.

Maybe next they can make a video showing the speedo at 150mph while the car weaves in and out of rush hour traffic, lol... after all, we KNOW it's "just a commercial," right?