Lexus using dubstep on TV commercials. Why?

[LKellerIII]

The "hipness" of an auto brand is just possibly the most useless and worst measure of how to value a purchase - even if you could quantify it. The days when the brand of car you drive determines your self-worth are long gone. It does seem certain people try to fill out their self-worth suits with brand names but the most that accomplishes is telling others how frivolous and insecure you are.

While there are good reasons for buying certain expensive and unique cars trying to impress others is not one of them.

Car buying is hard. Is a 2013 Audi going to be more reliable than a 2013 Lexus? More fun to drive? Better radio? Measuring hipness is easy by comparison because it is a personal judgment - and advertisers can influence personal judgments.

An Audi more reliable than a Toyota product? Not a chance. Call Toyota stodgy if you want, but their cars are basically bullet-proof. I know - I've owned a few...though never a Lexus.

When people buy cars for status, they're not as concerned with reliability. If that were the case, nobody would ever buy a Range Rover or a Jaguar.

I'm sure "hipness" is influenced by advertising. Those old enough to remember Rambler know why that car company went out of business - their cars were reliable and practical, but they were pegged as a stodgy "grandma" car, so people didn't like them. By the time American Motors sold out to Chrysler, their only popular product was Jeep, which WAS considered hip in the 80s.

In the mid 70s, I bought a used 67 Rambler Classic 770 station wagon. It was as ugly as s**t, but it was a good car - it had a big V8, and it was FAST, too.

 

[dhett]

I wish that were so, but I'm afraid those days are still with us. Only now it's the hybrid cars instead of the luxury cars - especially the Prius.

I dunno...... In my relatively affluent neighborhood there is only one hybrid can I can find and that is my next door neighbor who is an engineer (and excellent mechanic).

Not a lot of "greenies" in your neighborhood, or in mine, which is fairly close to yours, but in the Central Ave. corridor of Phoenix, you'll see plenty of Priuses (Prii ?). Along with the driver's smug satisfaction that he/she is saving the planet.

You see a lot on I-10, too, but they usually have California plates. ;D

 

[nomadcowatbk]

This is not your father's Toyota, this is the new generation of Toy

 

[LKellerIII]

I wish that were so, but I'm afraid those days are still with us. Only now it's the hybrid cars instead of the luxury cars - especially the Prius.

I dunno...... In my relatively affluent neighborhood there is only one hybrid can I can find and that is my next door neighbor who is an engineer (and excellent mechanic).

Not a lot of "greenies" in your neighborhood, or in mine, which is fairly close to yours, but in the Central Ave. corridor of Phoenix, you'll see plenty of Priuses (Prii ?). Along with the driver's smug satisfaction that he/she is saving the planet.

You see a lot on I-10, too, but they usually have California plates. ;D

There was an episode of South Park a few years ago, in which Prius drivers were causing severe "smug pollution." Full disclosure - we own a Prius, and yes, I am better than you... ;D

 

[landtuna]

I'm sure "hipness" is influenced by advertising. Those old enough to remember Rambler know why that car company went out of business - their cars were reliable and practical, but they were pegged as a stodgy "grandma" car, so people didn't like them. By the time American Motors sold out to Chrysler, their only popular product was Jeep, which WAS considered hip in the 80s.

American Motors did have a few "hip" cars during the Muscle Car Era of the late 60's. These included the Javelin (a two-door sport coupe in the Mustang genre), the AMX (a two-door, two-seat high performance coupe) and The Machine (a drag-race prepared sedan based on the Hornet chassis which had a large V-8, 4-speed manual transmission and a unique red-white-blue paint scheme). These cars had big 390-CID V-8's with dual 4-BBL carbs and went like jet stink although they did nothing to further AMC's emphasis upon fuel saving compact cars and were obviously not bought by families. They sure were fun though.

My parents bought their first brand new car in 1956 - a homely but efficient Rambler station wagon. It was the first car with automatic transmission and air conditioning we ever had and was a family favorite until T-boned at an intersection.

 

[JayR]

I still see a lot of Lexi in All-white-tukee...

Where??

 

[dhett]

I still see a lot of Lexi in All-white-tukee...

Where??

It's an upscale neighborhood of Phoenix, located south of, and separated from the rest of the city by, South Mountain. It's known as Ahwatukee, but is often called "All-white-tukee" due to its demographics - mostly white, non-Hispanic. Also known as "the world's largest cul-de-sac", because despite a population of roughly 100,000 people, the only access to the area is from the east due to mountains to the north, and Indian Reservation to the south and west.

 

[landtuna]

It's an upscale neighborhood of Phoenix, located south of, and separated from the rest of the city by, South Mountain. It's known as Ahwatukee, but is often called "All-white-tukee" due to its demographics - mostly white, non-Hispanic. Also known as "the world's largest cul-de-sac", because despite a population of roughly 100,000 people, the only access to the area is from the east due to mountains to the north, and Indian Reservation to the south and west.

And, like Snottsdale to the NE, it seems prices on everything rise by about 20% when you enter the "World's Largest Cul-de-Sac".

 

[PandoraLover]

I wish that were so, but I'm afraid those days are still with us. Only now it's the hybrid cars instead of the luxury cars - especially the Prius.

I dunno...... In my relatively affluent neighborhood there is only one hybrid can I can find and that is my next door neighbor who is an engineer (and excellent mechanic).

Not a lot of "greenies" in your neighborhood, or in mine, which is fairly close to yours, but in the Central Ave. corridor of Phoenix, you'll see plenty of Priuses (Prii ?). Along with the driver's smug satisfaction that he/she is saving the planet.

You see a lot on I-10, too, but they usually have California plates. ;D

There was an episode of South Park a few years ago, in which Prius drivers were causing severe "smug pollution." Full disclosure - we own a Prius, and yes, I am better than you... ;D

In New England The Subaru still rules in terms of smug satisfaction. The Prius is becoming a bit of a "normal" car around Boston and points north- not that exceptional anymore. When I went to Southern California recently, I was surprised how few Priuses I saw and how many so-called luxury cars (some gas guzzler SUVs) there were. Ostentatious beats out frugality and sensibility every time. Hence the commercial wars over the huge profits on suped-up Toyotas from the wannabee 1%ers and mid-life crisis types. Real 1%ers drive cars that aren't advertised.

 

[landtuna]

In New England The Subaru still rules in terms of smug satisfaction.

The Subaru is the new Saab for folks in snowy New England. Go visit any of the mountain towns in Colorado and you will see a ton of Subarus as well.

 

[dhett]

In New England The Subaru still rules in terms of smug satisfaction.

The Subaru is the new Saab for folks in snowy New England. Go visit any of the mountain towns in Colorado and you will see a ton of Subarus as well.

The Subaru has been a favored car in New England (esp. Vermont) since the 70s, and for the same reason as in Colorado: they're supposed to be great in snow.

@Lkeller: I must agree...you're a better man than I. ;D

 

[rnigma1]

Looks like Lexus is going for younger buyers - they are sponsoring an online game:
http://www.adweek.com/news/technology/lexus-goes-mobile-draw-something-143949

And a Lexus is prominently displayed in the opening titles for "Restaurant: Impossible" - yes, Lexus is one of the sponsors.