VIDEO: Chevrolet Traverse spots cause much ado about Howie
Click on the image above to watch video of Howie Long irking non-GM fans
Howie Long has set blogger keyboards ablaze with invective. The former footballer's starring role in Campbell-Ewald's latest spots for General Motors has some in a froth. We think the spots are funny – calling out the Ford F-150's "Man-Step," picking on a heated steering wheel, and pointing out that Chevrolet's new Traverse crossover holds a demonstration load that the Honda Pilot can't accommodate. BrandFreak's Kenneth Hein took particular exception with the Pilot spot, spouting off with a post about how his Pilot has tons of storage space. Yes, it does, Ken, but the Traverse has more (there's something about an extra 14 inches in length that leads to that sort of thing). The best part is when one of the actors shows up in BrandFreak's comments, telling it like it is. We expect this kind of fervor from Scion xB owners; but is it really necessary to call Howie Long an arrogant ass? Decide for yourself, spots posted after the jump.
[Source: BrandFreak]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
Hank Fidel 12:36PM (1/26/2009)
Talk about obnoxious.
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Victor 1:16PM (1/26/2009)
Obnoxious is pandering to the lowest common denominator in these commercials.
Jim 1:56PM (1/26/2009)
Talk about laying down the facts. Wake up!
notYou 2:43PM (1/26/2009)
Howie and the testosterone he represents is now passe since we've seated our first fully Metrosexual President.
That's a shame, but like Neil sang, Oh The Times, They Are A'Changin'! Men like Howie need to bend over and start grabbin' the ankles, or at least their heated steering wheels. And stop being so, well, masculine. It's practically offensive, don'tcha know?
SimbaDogg 3:12PM (1/26/2009)
the man step and heated steering wheel commercials are down right obnoxious. But as far as the traverse commercials, those were spot on. And its true about the tunrda, i dont know why so many people buy those as work trucks when they get piss poor mpg compared to domestics. Sure theres other reasons, but i know if i was driving 50-100 miles a day MPG would be a huge deciding factor for my purchase.
But that toyota commercial cracks me up, "real truckers truck, real trucker stuff...you know...for truckers" hahaha
Mobius_1 4:40PM (1/26/2009)
lol, the first two were kinda picking on little things, but the Tundra really isn't up to the level of the Det 3 trucks. After all, that is what they do best.
firstplace 4:55PM (1/26/2009)
that was great. people need to lighten up. the man step was hilarious. If you really get upset about this stuff you must have penis envy...lol
Lee 5:44PM (1/26/2009)
In the first two they're just chiding the other manufacturers for features GM didn't think about adding. I'm sorry but just because I'm a man doesn't mean I don't like to have my hands warm (especially after working outside in this winter's fridged temps), or be assured I'm not going to bust my ass getting out of the bed of a picku up. How many of you are in the military? LMTV's come w/ ladders and you can step on the bumper of the HMMWV. So is GM calling the military little sissies that get manacures?
Judy Zik 9:24PM (1/26/2009)
Okay the Traverse ads are well done.
The others were dumb. Pointing out features and since they don't have them making it look like you don't need them because they are for sissy's. I guess you can tell your Chevy dealer you are going to pass on the power windows and locks and that all those other profitable add on packages. In fact what we need is a truck with no a/c or heat too since real men are so tough they don't need luxuries like that. Give me a break. The car companies jump up and down for joy everytime someone decides to spend a fortune tricking out a truck.
Kevin 1:50PM (1/26/2009)
He used to pimp Radio Shack ha ha
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ack154 12:41PM (1/26/2009)
What the hell does the xB have to do with any of this?
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jinsei888 12:48PM (1/26/2009)
where the hell did you see/hear of an xB in these commercials?
brain fail
Seminole 1:04PM (1/26/2009)
You both fail. Scion owners are, compared to other owner groups, very into their cars. So Dan was merely stating he would expect the kind of hostile defense and name calling the Pilot fans are doing from Scion owners (because of their passion about their cars) not Honda Pilot fans of all people. And that is how Scion fits into the story.
caddy-v 1:18PM (1/26/2009)
The 66 year old saleslady that came to our home to sell us carpeting just loves her xB. Of course she has a hearing problem and the road noise is not an issue with her.
Maybe that's why seniors are buying xB's.
ack154 1:40PM (1/26/2009)
Thank you Seminole for the elaboration.
jinsei: reading fail
Upthewazzu 12:41PM (1/26/2009)
I fail to see why they are "obnoxious". The commercials humorously point out the obvious. Every thing said in them is true, and they are funny. The Traverse is an excellent SUV, much better than most people give it credit for.
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Gonzo 2:29PM (1/26/2009)
The commercials only further the ridiculous amount of negative name dropping that has suddenly emerged in advertising over the last year. It doesn't do much of anything besides attract the attention of the common uninformed consumer. They're not good commercials, they just play towards people's insecurities, i.e. implying you're not manly unless you get a Chevy Silverado. These commercials just yell out that Cheverolet is getting desperate to have more drivers and also, yes, they are obnoxious.
Also, the Traverse is a mediocre CUV (Crossover Utility Vehicle, not Sport Utility Vehicle)
zamafir 1:52PM (1/26/2009)
I'm with you. The point of marketing is to highlight where your products excel or to simply gloss over their shortcomings, by highlighting the areas where they're more competitive Chevy's doing a good job of attempting to sway potential buyers.
Jim 1:55PM (1/26/2009)
If Honda or Toyota does it's true but if GM does it, it's obnoxious. Wake up America!!!
Nellydesign 3:29PM (1/26/2009)
The step one just seems especially stupid. Making fun of a very useful feature that they didn't happen to think of first. And then trying to gloss over that fact by calling out their warranty. Are they really stupid enough to point out a great feature and ridicule it as if it isn't one? And of course the obligatory fat oaf using it, like normal people just LOVE to clamor in and out of their truck bed on their hands and knees.