Ford ad - Don't call it a comeback!

[Bubba1]

The main idea behind the video is pretty obvious to me. It says very explicitly in large white letters "We never left", which means its referring to the bankruptcy of its two American competitors. There's nothing subtle about it. And GM technically ceased to exist when an entirely new business entity was created and old assets and liabilities were discarded.

"We never left" is a different message from "The Topaz was awesome". You have negative memories and associations, probably justifiable, but you're incorrectly attributing them to the video, which makes its meaning very clear.

And a car ad is going to show cars, not Ken Burns-style pictures of Bill Ford.


Irony: Ford ran several ads with Bill Ford. They were terrible.

You're right. The bad experiences that millions of us had with Ford vehicles during that 40 year span does influence us. I really don't have an issue with the authors "we never left" slogan in the context that Ford did not declare bankruptcy. It's just I don't see the video supporting that point. If the author wanted to make a video about Ford's recent prudent fiscal management in comparison to the other two, perhaps he could have filmed some bankruptcy lawyers, a courtroom or at least something, anything, that had to do with the topic of their fiscal management.The video's heavy use of new vehicles and popular ones from Ford's distant past alters the meaning of "we've never left" to imply that they've been making good cars all along

[heliochrome85]

how quickly we forgot the ford aspire!

[Bubba1]

That is one sick a** video, should be on the air ASAP, the other two won't know what to do.

Not likely to happen. Mulally was there in DC to support bailouts and concessions for Chrysler and GM.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28159257/ns/business-autos/

If I recall, Mulally also flew to/from Washington DC in a private jet (as well as the other two CEO's) in the first government bailout hearings.

[sbird1]

This thread got way too serious. I liked it better when we were making fun of American units of measure.

[Jesda]

The video's heavy use of new vehicles and popular ones from Ford's distant past alters the meaning of "we've never left" to imply that they've been making good cars all along

I'm not getting that impression from the video at all. "We never left" is directly preceded by "Welcome back". The song is a direct jab at the competition's defeat -- "I'm gonna knock you out"

The Model T, F-150, and Mustang stuck around for decades. They seem to fit appropriately with the video's theme of corporate longevity. If the primary theme was Ford's product renaissance, you wouldn't see so many cars from so long ago, especially when the span of time was only 30 seconds. Instead, you would only see newer cars like the Fusion, Taurus, and Edge.

[Jesda]

If I recall, Mulally also flew to/from Washington DC in a private jet (as well as the other two CEO's) in the first government bailout hearings.

I didnt understand the criticism of that.

[Bubba1]

I didnt understand the criticism of that.

This author praises Fords fiscal management, yet many found Mulally as fiscally wasteful as the other two CEO's. An example of which was each one travelling via most expensive, wasteful mode of transportation possible to look for goverment financial assistance. 3 company jets to/from the same cities. You don't see any irony in that?

[Bubba1]

The video's heavy use of new vehicles and popular ones from Ford's distant past alters the meaning of "we've never left" to imply that they've been making good cars all along

I'm not getting that impression from the video at all. "We never left" is directly preceded by "Welcome back". The song is a direct jab at the competition's defeat -- "I'm gonna knock you out"

The Model T, F-150, and Mustang stuck around for decades. They seem to fit appropriately with the video's theme of corporate longevity. If the primary theme was Ford's product renaissance, you wouldn't see so many cars from so long ago, especially when the span of time was only 30 seconds. Instead, you would only see newer cars like the Fusion, Taurus, and Edge.

Looks like we viewed the vid from very different perspectives. That's cool.

[Jesda]

I didnt understand the criticism of that.

This author praises Fords fiscal management, yet many found Mulally as fiscally wasteful as the other two CEO's. An example of which was each one travelling via most expensive, wasteful mode of transportation possible to look for goverment financial assistance. 3 company jets to/from the same cities. You don't see any irony in that?

How is that wasteful? I know Bill Oreilly and other pinhead populists made a sitnk about this, and it doesn't make any sense.

If you're in charge of an global industrial giant, getting to meetings on time (like the meeting that could decide the fate of your company) is critically important. "OH SORRY SENATOR! Delta was waiting for clearance from the tower! Can I still have that 60 billion dollars?"

Arriving refreshed, prepared, and on time matters more than a display of feel-good nonsense for Joe The Plumber. Private aviation can be an indulgence (I worked for a software company that owned a helicopter used only to reward the employee of the month with a ride over the city), but its often essential, even critical.

Egalitarians get butt-hurt over the idea of someone else being more important. The cold truth is that some people are.

[Jesda]

This thread got way too serious. I liked it better when we were making fun of American units of measure.

THIS IS HOW NERDS HAVE FUN OKAY

[heliochrome85]

[

Egalitarians get butt-hurt over the idea of someone else being more important. The cold truth is that some people are.

someone wore his smartypants today.

[Bubba1]

How is that wasteful? I know Bill Oreilly and other pinhead populists made a sitnk about this, and it doesn't make any sense.

If you're in charge of an global industrial giant, getting to meetings on time (like the meeting that could decide the fate of your company) is critically important. "OH SORRY SENATOR! Delta was waiting for clearance from the tower! Can I still have that 60 billion dollars?"

Arriving refreshed, prepared, and on time matters more than a display of feel-good nonsense for Joe The Plumber. Private aviation can be an indulgence (I worked for a software company that owned a helicopter used only to reward the employee of the month with a ride over the city), but its often essential, even critical.

Egalitarians get butt-hurt over the idea of someone else being more important. The cold truth is that some people are.

No, It's an purely issue of perception, and Congress took notice of it. To the point that all 3 CEO's attended their next hearings by car. It might shock you, but most people can make important meetings by flying...gasp... commercially. Most would fly down the day before ifthey're worried about missing it. And if your company is teetering on bankruptcy you're asking for a tax payer bailout, it seems shortsighted to show up in not one but 3 separate large private jets originating from the same city. It's wasteful and extravagant no matter how you spin it.

[heliochrome85]

How is that wasteful? I know Bill Oreilly and other pinhead populists made a sitnk about this, and it doesn't make any sense.

If you're in charge of an global industrial giant, getting to meetings on time (like the meeting that could decide the fate of your company) is critically important. "OH SORRY SENATOR! Delta was waiting for clearance from the tower! Can I still have that 60 billion dollars?"

Arriving refreshed, prepared, and on time matters more than a display of feel-good nonsense for Joe The Plumber. Private aviation can be an indulgence (I worked for a software company that owned a helicopter used only to reward the employee of the month with a ride over the city), but its often essential, even critical.

Egalitarians get butt-hurt over the idea of someone else being more important. The cold truth is that some people are.

No, It's an purely issue of perception, and Congress took notice of it. To the point that all 3 CEO's attended their next hearings by car. It might shock you, but most people can make important meetings by flying...gasp... commercially. Most would fly down the day before ifthey're worried about missing it. And if your company is teetering on bankruptcy you're asking for a tax payer bailout, it seems shortsighted to show up in not one but 3 separate large private jets originating from the same city. It's wasteful and extravagant no matter how you spin it.

are you saying they should have carpooled?
also private jets are pricey if you fly alone. but at some point, the retinue you fly with as a ceo is large enough that the per person cost is basically commercial. the argument is dumb no matter how you spin it.

[Bubba1]

are you saying they should have carpooled?
also private jets are pricey if you fly alone. but at some point, the retinue you fly with as a ceo is large enough that the per person cost is basically commercial. the argument is dumb no matter how you spin it.

They would not have raised the ire of Congress as much had they simply flown commercial. I suggest that had they all taken one jet and all flew together, it would have lessened the bad perception. They clearly did not think it was dumb as all 3 CEO's drove to the next hearing.

[heliochrome85]

are you saying they should have carpooled?
also private jets are pricey if you fly alone. but at some point, the retinue you fly with as a ceo is large enough that the per person cost is basically commercial. the argument is dumb no matter how you spin it.

They would not have raised the ire of Congress as much had they simply flown commercial. I suggest that had they all taken one jet and all flew together, it would have lessened the bad perception. They clearly did not think it was dumb as all 3 CEO's drove to the next hearing.

if we are going to use congressional whining/ire as a barometer for what is and isnt appropriate, then boy are we screwed. you forget how often members of congress use their position to exploit non issues on the national stage. eg. "Obama is a Muslim." or "gays hurt the family more than my mistresses"

[Jesda]

Looks like we viewed the vid from very different perspectives. That's cool.

I was kind of hoping for an eventual slap fight.

[MinisterofDOOM]

This author praises Fords fiscal management, yet many found Mulally as fiscally wasteful as the other two CEO's. An example of which was each one travelling via most expensive, wasteful mode of transportation possible to look for goverment financial assistance. 3 company jets to/from the same cities. You don't see any irony in that?

How is that wasteful? I know Bill Oreilly and other pinhead populists made a sitnk about this, and it doesn't make any sense.

Absolutely agreed. I never understood why anyone made a big deal about it.

They clearly did not think it was dumb as all 3 CEO's drove to the next hearing.

One does not imply the other. It's very likely that they all thought it was dumb as Hell, but decided to minimize negative publicity by going along with the dog and pony show anyway. There's a big difference between doing something because you agree with it, and doing something because you're trapped by it.

[Jesda]

We should start a betting pool on which of the big three will be gone in 2030 (sooner?).

[Ace2cool]

Chrysler. Yeah, I'll be the first.

[darens13]

i want ford to sell this in the us!

[dre1507]

Yo Jesda. I really love your website. Good job.