Dumbest marketing ploy ever

[scourge]

These new Volkswagens with the guitar that plugs into the stereo is about the stupidest idea I've heard in a long time.

Who do they think is going to buy a car just to have a cheap guitar (First Act)and a worthless amp? Just go to WalMart, buy a First Act guitar and amp for about $200 and save the price of a new Jetta.

What's pricelees is the disclaimer that warns against playing while driving. Jeeez.

 

[Bayou_Brawler]

"Everthing they do is so dramatic and flamboyant, it makes me want to... set myself on fire!"
.

haha. shame that show was cancelled...

but yeah that's a dumb idea....kids under 14 probabaly think it's rad....but they can't drive....

 

[i_got_a_mohawk]

First act make some nice guitars tho

 

[Jotaro]

Heard about this on the radio yesterday and... don't know what to say

 

[scourge]

Im willing to admit the tv ads with Slash and Nigel Tufnel are cool.

 

[scourge]

haha. shame that show was cancelled...

True. One of the best ever.

 

[jive1]

Something tells me that there's going to be a bunch of VW guitars on E-bay soon.........

 

[mrpackerguy]

Is it big enough to haul your gear in, though?

 

[Siggy_Bass]

I wouldnt mind a Bergantino car though..:/

 

[All_¥our_Bass]

"Now introducing, the new Volkswagon Alto"

 

[Kosko]

In the Volkswagon BoardRoom:

"You know, nearly everyday a customer comes in telling us how ever since they purchased one of our cars; they have this insaitable urge to f'ing Rock. Boys, its time to cater to customers"

 

[superbassman2000]

although i think the car/guitar is kind of a stretch, i was happy to see Nigel Tufnel

 

[tplyons]

I think it's interesting. VW marketing lately has really taken a spin on making the vehicles more personable. Since Crispin Porter + Bogusky took over, they suggested changing the Golf back to the Rabbit (to return the personal relations people have with their cars, the Rabbit, the Beast, the Beetle, etc.) and frankly, this just takes it one step farther.

On the other hand, First Act makes quality instruments as well as junk. Unfortunately, their relationship with Walmart really watered down their brand name.

I'd love to check out one of those guitars, they add a unique relationship between the owner and the car... onboard preamp, VW emblems, lights to match the dash, pickguard to match the exterior color. Great idea IMO.

 

[jive1]

I wonder how many of the folks who buy VWs are musicians?

It's obvious they are targeting people in their 30s and early 40s. The type of folks who are about to hit mid-life crisis and would like to capture a part of their youth. Slash was huge during my teens, compared to now, and Spinal Tap was a movie from the 80s.

Oddly enough, image based advertising is more effective for cheaper products, while information based advertising is more effective for high priced products. Now, VW is offering a unique option in their cars, but I wonder how many people would pay the extra cash to get a guitar and features that allow someone to plug in a guitar and jam through the stereo. Personally, I wouldn't pay for it. It would be much cheaper to buy a battery powered amp.

On a business perspective, I don't really like their strategy. I could see having something like this when I was younger and would like to impress the ladies with my mediocre guitar chops in the high school parking lot, but at my age it doesn't seem practical, or necessary. Maybe impress the kids with your mediocre guitar chops in the soccer field??? Do 30-40 years olds really want to be like a rock star?? I dunno. On the other hand, I'm quite comfortable with my age.

Also, how many VW owners and potential buyers are into hard rock music? Does this advertising exclude guys who are into Euro-Synth or Jazz? Sorry VW, but VW hatchback doesn't scream rock and roll no matter how many times you play this commercial during my favorite football games. Now if they brought back the VW bus, and put something like this into it, they would be onto something.

 

[canopener]

Didn't Jettas or Golfs (Golves?) have a package that came with a Trek mountain bike? It's kind of the same thing, but targeting a different demographic.

 

[RWP]

Bring back the "Thing".

 

[Komakino]

You say it's the dumbest advertising campaign ever...but it's got you (and now others) talking about it. No publicity is bad publicity, etc...

...so really, it worked on you. Whether you buy one or (more likely) not, you have at least spread the word for VW. Those advertisers have outsmarted you

 

[hartke20g]

Bring back the "Thing".

oh god yes.

Now if they brought back the VW bus, and put something like this into it, they would be onto something.

now that's an idea. it'd be like the '60s, only now instead of acoustics and hippies, there'll be electrics and metalheads. and we've got a controversial war going on at the same time coincidence? i think not.

also, i'm guessing the speakers wouldn't be able to handle a bass, unfortunately. that would be so cool.

 

[SnoMan]

I think it's interesting. VW marketing lately has really taken a spin on making the vehicles more personable. Since Crispin Porter + Bogusky took over, they suggested changing the Golf back to the Rabbit (to return the personal relations people have with their cars, the Rabbit, the Beast, the Beetle, etc.) and frankly, this just takes it one step farther.

That's what they really need. Every model aside from the beetle have far too much of a luxury feel IMO. The phaeton and Taureg were built to be luxury and I would rather see models like the Jetta and rabbit go more back to their roots.

I'd love to see a new verion of the bus, but I see that being very difficult. Building an updated version to meet safety standards but still have any of the feeling that the originals carried would be very difficult.

 

[courderoy guy]

I actually think it's kinda cool, in a dorky way (is that possible?) Here's the deal, though:

How does the guitar plug into the stereo? If it's a quarter inch jack interface, that would be a huge bonus. I could plug my iPod directly into the stereo, or a computer with a music hard drive, or a turntable, or many things that can plug into a quarter inch jack. That would be a cool thing.