Chevy dealers "mad as hell" - target Tundra with ads
One radio spot written by Mark Frost, general manager of Jim Ellis Chevrolet in Atlanta, claims Toyota recalled more vehicles in 2007 than it sold. "Folks, the reality is Chevrolet is better for you, your pocketbook and America," the ad says. Frost is well-known in the area for displaying a Toyota Camry in front of his dealership. Oh yeah, it's crushed beneath a Chevy Silverado. A Toyota representative called the recall claims "ridiculous."
The Chevrolet dealer network is also circulating an e-mail attempting to discredit one Tundra ad claiming the truck is pulling 10,000 pounds up a steep grade. The e-mail claims the Tundra did not, in fact, pull a trailer loaded with 10,000 pounds of brick, but instead hauled a 5,000 pound trailer and itself (another 5,000 pounds) to equal the claimed 10,000. Busted! But wait. The ad's producer says it can document and prove the trailer was actually loaded with 10,000 pounds. Snap!
It's really a shame to see Chevrolet dealers stoop to this level. Seriously, what do they fear? In February, Toyota only sold 10,000 Tundras to Chevy's 59,000. We say the best way to sell vehicles is to present the facts (facts, not propaganda) to the customer. With enough truthful information, buyers should be able to at least choose the best vehicle for their needs, if not the best vehicle period.
[Source: Brandweek]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 7)
dieselis 4:07PM (5/10/2008)
everybody knows gm lets its customers test their vehicles at that customers expense.if toyota is recalling vehicles their being responsible.the foriegns didn't come over here and grab a huge slice of american car business by sacrificing quality.it's quite the opposite.let me assure you there's a lot of american investment in japanese auto industry.who do you think rebuilt japan after ww2?american businessmen
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bobdobbs 1:19PM (4/05/2007)
You mean "facts" like Toyota selling the Prius makes them a green company?
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beanspants 1:11PM (4/05/2007)
though i don't have any particular problem with that tundra ad, and could really care less if it had a 10k lb trailer or a 5k lb trailer, the ad itself doesn't do anything for me.
they need to put it up against a silverado and an F150, and show that the tundra can do something the others can't. otherwise, that ad has the same power as the H2 add with the "submarine" package. cute, but ultimately pointless.
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beanspants 1:11PM (4/05/2007)
though i don't have any particular problem with that tundra ad, and could really care less if it had a 10k lb trailer or a 5k lb trailer, the ad itself doesn't do anything for me.
they need to put it up against a silverado and an F150, and show that the tundra can do something the others can't. otherwise, that ad has the same power as the H2 add with the "submarine" package. cute, but ultimately pointless.
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Shawn 1:14PM (4/05/2007)
...Dear Mr. Tutor, in reality, many car salesmen/ads make claims to drum up publicity, not just GM. ...Okay, back to Autoblog world.
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stefan 1:20PM (4/05/2007)
GM knows toyota is gonna kick thear ass.
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CaliberSRT4 1:24PM (4/05/2007)
I hate those ads as well. I always mute the tv when they come on. They are totally staged anyways. Good Job for GM dealers!
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kyro 1:28PM (4/05/2007)
kick their ass? Really?? lol
GM outsells Toyota in North America 2 to 1
GM outsells Toyota in Europe 3 to 1
and GM kicks Toyota's ass in China big time
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mike 3:56PM (4/05/2007)
Hey, people only bash those that they fear... and GM along with Ford know that if somehow Toyota takes their truck market away, or even get 30% of it, they're done. The truck market is the American automakers last stand, lose that, and the fort is lost.
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Benjamin Levy 1:46PM (4/05/2007)
"They are totally staged anyways."
It's a commercial, not a reality show. It sounds to me that Toyota is doing a better job marketing the Tundra than GM is with the Silverado. I'm not surprised since Toyota is making so much money and putting so much of that into selling the Tundra. This doesn't affect me though, since I don't believe anything a dealer tells me.
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Silver 1:44PM (4/05/2007)
I smell the pungent aroma of desperation.
"Folks, the reality is Chevrolet is better for you, your pocketbook and America,"
Yeah, just wait until resale time. Ouch.
"GM outsells Toyota in North America 2 to 1"
Whose sales are dropping and whose sales are rising? Who's teetering on the edge of financial ruin and who isn't? Volume says nothing. Nice try.
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Dave-in-PA 3:55PM (4/05/2007)
kyro, I won't argue your stats because I don't know if they're true or not. But assuming they are, you still miss the underlying worry for GM and GM dealers, and that is continued market share erosion. GM operates on thin margins anyway and any erosion of market share in the higher profit margin trucks threatens more red ink. Even though GM will likely always sell more pick ups than Toyota, loss of market share will do serious damage to any hopes of a GM turn around and, by the way, this is true for Ford as well.
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John 1:50PM (4/05/2007)
If the Japanese government wasn't unfairly supporting Toyota with an undervalued yen they would still be a bit player in the auto industry. Wait till UAW unoinizes their factories here and the yen is fairly valued and Toyota will be a joke.
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MikeW 1:53PM (4/05/2007)
Do something about it.
Make a new V6, 4.5 liters, use the coaxial camshafts for variable intake/exhaust valve timing 315hp, 315ft-lbs 6L50 transmission.
Make that the base engine.
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The Ugly Truth 2:55PM (4/05/2007)
"GM outsells Toyota in North America 2 to 1"
Yeah, in cars and trucks people HAVE to drive (fleet, government agencies, and construction companies), not ones people actuall choose to drive and pay for with thier own hard earned money.
Looks like GM dealers are startin to get a little skeered. HAHA ::nelson voice::
Die GM, die... =)
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Bryan 1:52PM (4/05/2007)
Well if Toyota did lie (which they do quite often), then someone should find out for sure. GM, Ford, and Dodge have nothing to worry about. The Turdra has nothing on them. Did anyone else read about the two that were arrested for trying to post a banner about Toyota? Heres something interesting..check it out!
http://www.detroitnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070405/AUTO01/704050302/1148
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JT 1:53PM (4/05/2007)
GO CHEVY......TOYOTA HAS HAD A TON OF RECALLS.....AND THEY KEEP PILEING ON THE REBATES ON THERE CRAPPY PICKUP. TOYOTA MAY FOOL THE OLD LADIES AND YOUNG SKATER CROWD THAT THERE CARS ARE BETTER THAN DOMESTIC ONES.......BUT NO TRUCK GUY OR GAL WILL FALL FOR THAT SHIT WHEN IT COMES TO A REAL TRUCK! CHEVY/FORD/DODGE PICK ONE ALL ARE SUPERIOR THAN THE CAMRY WITH A BED THEY CALL TUNDRA!!!!!!!!!!
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Gale 2:08PM (4/05/2007)
This is the same Jim Ellis in Atlanta who owns a Porsche/Audi, Mazda and several other foreign make dealerships? LOL Whay a hypocrite!
Anything to sell a car.
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jg 1:55PM (4/05/2007)
I thought they were mad at the 'you asked for a six speed tranny, you asked for a bigger brakes, you asked for...., happy birthday' ads. Instead they're upset at the obviously staged bs ads. And the response, 'ouuuur countryyyyyyyyyyy'. Sad.
No truck owner who actually USES a truck will buy anyting but american, there's ne reason to go crazy.
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Josh Oliver 2:09PM (4/05/2007)
I can't believe Tutor said it's a shame to see Chevy dealers defending their products.
And, Terry Rhadigan also made some remarks about the ads. Rhadigan, mind you is Chevy's spokesman. When asked about the ads, Rhadigan said "I really can't disagree with the facts" or something to that affect.
The facts are...Toyota did recall more vehicles then it made last year. They are on pace to do about the same this year.
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