Outsiders View of Chrysler/Detroit TV Commercials

[Richard]

The Chrysler ad had a positive impact on me. I follow this forum with the hope that, through it, I will be able to sense the moment signalling the shift from the downward spiral to the leveling-off point. Obviously, there will be no clear line of cleavage between the trends, but I feel that this ad is one of the things that demonstrates the willingness of one element of the Detroit auto industry to acknowledge the loss of credibility they have experienced as well as their intention to stand by the area while attempting to remedy the malady.

I have lived in San Francisco for over 35 years now and lately have begun to hear positive buzz regarding the viability of Detroit as an acceptable location for living, IT, and edge.

Those who are not emotionally affected by Madison Ave are, of course, entitled to their perspective. I feel, personally, that emotional engagement is one of the engines that drive the joy of living.

I am blessed with a retirement that provides me discretionary income as well as available capital for investment. I am a small potatoes investor, but I believe it is people like me that fill a valuable space between the mega-developers and those struggling to save their homes.

I made an investment focused trip to Detroit and other parts of MI exactly two years ago. It is my * opinion * that the mood, energy level, and general perception of Detroit has undergone a positive change in that brief time.

Whatever happens, I feel the worst has passed. And if this area could weather this experience of recent decades, I feel confident that the future will bring a unique and totally unforseeable resolution.

Love and best wishes to all who participate in this forum.

To me the tipping or leveling off point was with the passing of the city charter it shows that the level that cares verses those who do not has reached a majority,most do not realize how powerful of a tool that was for a positive future.

Before that it really did not make much sense to invest in a city where the benefits are getting sucked up by a greedy few before it reaches the people no matter how cheap the property is. IMHO

[lilpup]

Loved the original Super Bowl ad and am a total homer but make no mistake about it. This is a marketing campaign to pull money out of the suckers who believe it. When the big three really come back home is when people should believe and support it. Unfortunately in today's world that's not gonna happen. So do as you please! I'll still be a Mopar guy at heart until they totally dissolve into Fiat.

How would you feel if Fiat or Honda relocated to Detroit?

[Sconie]

They make me chuckle----especially ever since I found out [[as reported by the Wall Street Journal last month) that the Chrysler 300 is not made in Detroit at all---in fact, it is imported----and is made in Brampton, Ontario.

[FlyingJ]

They make me chuckle----especially ever since I found out [[as reported by the Wall Street Journal last month) that the Chrysler 300 is not made in Detroit at all---in fact, it is imported----and is made in Brampton, Ontario.

So instead of Eminem those ads should've starred Michael Cera?

[Gistok]

Not an outsider, but I'm at least glad that Chrysler commercials aren't as boring as Ford's. Ford just takes a rolling car in the middle of an empty Los Angeles with Mike Rowe voiced over. Chevy shows local spots but still is just a rolling car with a voice over. They also have "Put it in D because Chevy drives the Motor City" or something like that. It's a little cheesy. Chrysler at least makes their ads memorable and connected to a specific place.

I wouldn't cry watching the commercials but I at least go, "Hey that's a nice ad right there."

Ford has done some interesting commercials... perhaps just not now...

Around the millenium Ford did what some consider was the greatest commercial of all time... This famous 2 minute Ford commercial staring Charlotte Church was shown at the same time in every Ford market on the planet at the same moment...
http://youtu.be/twsI3JmCgPU

[fryar]

The whole Super Bowl ad thing was hilarious.

You know things are bad here when people get pumped up and inspirational over a fricken television COMMERCIAL.

I remember someone on this board said they got up and gave a round of applause at a Super Bowl party or something when that commercial came on. Others said they got goosebumps. These people need professional help.

LOL. Yes, it was just a commercial, at the end of the day. But as you'll recall, there was much disquiet on this board about ruin porn and other negative portrayals of the city at the time. How few months beforehand had the city council interviewed the makers of Detroit 1-8-7 to investigate that show's presentation of Detroit? People were very sensitive to this matter, and were primed to fall in love with this commercial.

Also, while it lacks hamsters shu-shu-fel-ing warmongering video game robots into more peaceful exertions, it truly is a great commercial, you have to admit.

I hope all of you people signed that petition trying to stop Nickelback from playing the Thanksgiving halftime show. Sadly the petition really didn't matter, as it was announced that they WILL be playing the show.

As the cliched story always goes for the city of Detroit: One step forward, two steps back.

There has been some good things happening downtown the past couple years, but now we get stuck with NICKELBACK playing at our halftime show? That's an embarrassment to the city. I feel sorry for those who spent their hard earned money for tickets to that game. It's a shame. There is still a real lack of vision and progressive thinking in this city, With the deep history of great music in Detroit, that's seriously the best they can do?

LOL. I'm much amused.

Indeed, nothing embodies the absence of vision and progressive thinking in the city more than Nickelback doing the half-time show. Is there an utter, total lack of vision and progressive thinking? Undeniably - just think, Nickelback's doing the halftime show. Nickelback is totally taking Detroit two steps back by negating the positive developments in downtown and midtown. If that isn't the same old shameful, embarrassing cliche, I don't know what it is.

You know things are out of proportion when people get hyperbolic over a fricken NFL half time show. Those people need professional help.

Much better than that canned crap from the visitor bureaus.

I agree, I'm really happy to see that they have kept the ad campaign up.

See, this is exactly what I'm talking about. It's a commercial, not a piece of art. You're not going to have screenings for this at the DIA in 10 years.

More like 50 years. It really taps into the moment, I think. In post-Lehman America, there's a little Detroit in everybody and everywhere. It's [[cue loud, bellowy voice) "The Decline of America," folks. As the country is unwillingly "Detroitifying," up steps Chrysler and declares its pride in being associated with all of the Detroit greatness that is never talked about anymore. It's Chicken Soup for the American Soul [[or some part of it).

I read an article in the NYTimes a little while back about Chevy's iconic commercials with the "See the USA in your Chevrolet" jingle. I guess they were from the 1950's. Those, likewise, are designed to sell cars and promote a brand as being associated with something you take pride in, but they nonetheless express and tap into something specific about their place and time. As a result, they're not at all out of place for a museum, lecture, historical showcase, etc.

The most negative stuff I hear being said about Detroit is usually coming from Detroiters or folks in Michigan. Stop saying the rest of the country says negative things. Most of the country has higher hopes for Detroit than Michigan does.

It's true.

I guess technically speaking, people say negative things. Like late-night comics who crack jokes about a hiring drive for chalk body outliners at DPD. But really, that just shows you that these late-night comics are not, themselves, despondent about Detroit. It takes someone from Michigan to look at that and say it's shameless.

But most of the country definitely has higher expectations for Detroit than Michiganders from either side of 8-Mile do. No doubt about it.

Suburban people from Michigan seem to be the most negative on the city of Detroit than those who don't even live in the state. They're the only people I hear who make comments like "Nuke the city" or "build a wall around it"

Ah, the provincials. Aren't they a gas?
Including those from south of 8-Mile, of course.

Ford has done some interesting commercials... perhaps just not now...

Around the millenium Ford did what some consider was the greatest commercial of all time... This famous 2 minute Ford commercial staring Charlotte Church was shown at the same time in every Ford market on the planet at the same moment...
http://youtu.be/twsI3JmCgPU

That actually was a great commercial. At the time, we were all gaga with this new-fangled globalism that would allow us to finally make headway on brotherhood-of-man issues like world poverty in our newly begun post-historical Millenium. The Ford commercial really embodied that.

Shoot. Now you've got me all nostalgic for normalcy.