Classified Follies: Reader spots Dodge concept in Avenger ad
Click above for high-res image gallery of the ACTUAL 2003 Dodge Avenger Concept
There's nothing unusual about seeing a product in an advertisement that doesn't look anything like the real thing. Have you ever gotten a Big Mac that looks like the one in commercials? Classified ads for cars are no exception and are usually assembled by low paid copy editors using stock photos. One of our readers spotted this ad for WestBorn Chrysler in the Detroit Auto Mart. The ad for a 2008 Dodge Avenger features at least two major flaws. The pictured vehicle is a Dodge Avenger of sorts, but is actually the concept version that was unveiled at the 2003 Detroit Auto Show (as seen on the right). The copy editor obviously just took the Chrysler press photo, removed the background and mirrored it without checking whether it was even a production car. Chrysler has also never built an Avenger that gets 36 miles per gallon! If they did, perhaps more customers would willing to overlook its interior. Thanks to Jed for the tip!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Azael 12:08PM (12/19/2008)
Bad press is good press. Maybe it was deliberate?
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SteveRB 12:52PM (12/19/2008)
where is ashton kutcher? i think we are getting punked here. that thing is hideous.
LMBVette 1:36PM (12/19/2008)
Actually...isn't that the BMW X6? ;-)
lgrunauer1 12:09PM (12/19/2008)
I wonder if they could be sued for false advertising....... not that they would have any money to pay anyway...
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Torrent 12:10PM (12/19/2008)
lmao. stupid dealer just went out and made my day.
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Sparkster 12:26PM (12/19/2008)
Kinda cool actually, I wonder why they never put it into production? Selling too many Hemi"s?
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ack154 12:16PM (12/19/2008)
Is it possible?! Could I actually like the look of a Dodge vehicle??
That concept really isn't that bad. I'd probably take that ad to the advertising dealer and say "I want this one" and see what he does.
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geo.stewart 1:53PM (12/19/2008)
their concepts are usually terrific.
its the production that the union and bean counters screw.
"Real fabric costs too much. Leather? HAH! hard palstic all around"
" those panels would be too hard to screw together! Have you seen the panel gaps we deal with now!?"
We'll use 70's interiors and body styles and call it retro or return to basics.
I STILL say they should be marketing this stuff to 3rd world countries. these designs would be great there. build a couple of factories...
PumaGTO 5:48PM (12/19/2008)
Not realy. Here in Brazil, they wouldn´t sell anything.
Here the most expensive car you'll see out of a millionairs hands is an Accord or Camry(very well stabished brands). The import and "luxury car" tax is just too high and and noboy on it´s sane mind would give something about US$60.000 for a chrisler(NOT very well stablished brand). Their only chance would be to develop a good diesel engine for their SUVs(gasoline SUVs around here are just as popular as satanism) and compete with the other imports on it´s class.
To sell cars in Brazil you either need to already have a very, and I mean VERY prestigeous name on the market(wich chrisler doesen´t) or play whitchcraft to create your image, build your factories, make your marketing, study your customers and adapt your designes to them. The japanese did it in the early 90's and now the koreans did too, but I doubt Chrisler have conditions to do it now.
Perphaps China and India would be their salvation, since their population is so huge that even if only 0,1% of the market buys their cars, it still quite a lot of people. Still I´m not sure if that could save them, though.
garlinski 12:19PM (12/19/2008)
that became the Caliper, right? God that is ugly.
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garlinski 12:19PM (12/19/2008)
Caliper/Caliber... still ugly
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FRANK DUKES 12:24PM (12/19/2008)
MAN THAT IS ONE UGLY PIECE!!!!
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jaynyc27 12:25PM (12/19/2008)
Reminds me of the "GMC Soltice" a dealer advertised in the Memphis paper for several weeks. I assume it was Pontiac Solstice, but who can be sure.
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Max 12:26PM (12/19/2008)
Weekly payments? This dealer has quality written all over it.
We have some less than honest dealers here that are advertising the upper end of the EPA estimated mileage too. The key words are "up to," which should read "when you are drafting behind a tractor trailer downhill"
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Erik Tomlinson 12:29PM (12/19/2008)
Hey, get the fuel shutoff to work its magic and you get infinity miles per gallon, as long as you have a big enough hill.
Wes 12:31PM (12/19/2008)
Govt. Seized vehicles??
Maybe Chrysler turned over some concept cars as part of a Title Pawn bailout scheme.....
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AZMike 12:41PM (12/19/2008)
actually, blame Chrysler (and the dealer) for this one.
every year, Chrysler (and all other manufacturers) send an advertising book to the dealers. there are hundreds of little teeny black and white pictures of the vehicle line-up. you're supposed to (obviously) the right photo for the right advertisement.
I'm sure Chrysler inserted the wrong photo, and the dealer picked it, too.
AZMike
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JF 1:00PM (12/19/2008)
Oh look, a wonderful SAV with the dynamics of a truck and practicality of a car. A true X6 competitor.
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Psipwrd 1:19PM (12/19/2008)
I like it! They should have made that with street and off-road ride heights.
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AZMike 1:12PM (12/19/2008)
...and a couple more comments...
there is no need to laugh at "weekly payments". the credit market is so tight right now that many new car dealers are having to provide in-house financing (read: the dealer's own money) in order to get any cars off the lot. weekly payments assure no delinquencies get too serious.
first and foremost, remember that Chrysler does NOT sponsor dealer advertising, and silly things like "Government vehicle surplus selloffs" are NOT factory sponsored.
programs like that and similar ones like "Repo Joe" are just meant to increase dealer business. and don't blame the dealers, but rather the customers, as they just eat this crap up. things like this, the "Government surplus selloff", "bank disposition sale", and any of this other junk are put on by outside companies who take a percentage of the dealer's take during the sale.
along with this, add all the high pressure sales tactics, "what would you like the monthly payment to be.., etc." IF THESE STUPID THINGS DID NOT WORK, THEY WOULDN'T DO THEM.
this is sad but true. I can't tell you how many folks had come into my dealership and said "I can afford $500 per month" (this is especially true of guys when they buy trucks, as the thought of that 4X4 sitting in their driveway gets them all excited), and I'm staring at a computer screen that shows a $350 payment, including a warranty. we never bought into the chance to screw someone (that's why I sleep at night), but it's rather hard to miss the temptation for someone who didn't have a conscience.
if you want to skip the circus when you buy a car there is one very simple answer: the fleet department. they are paid on how many they sell, not on how much they make on each one. in a good dealer, you can be all done in less than 30 minutes.
AZMike
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