Prius Campaign - Early Returns

[Tech_Guy]

Originally Posted by nwprius

Doug and Prius Team,

Hope you are still reading. Like the the other poster who is waiting for a specific Prius, I too, want a Prius that seems to be on the "we don't make many of these" list. It appears there are more buyers that Toyota thought for the Prius V with Tech models. So please pass on to the decision makers that many of are waiting for those Prius V Tech versions. In Blizzard Pearl, Please.

Please don't put everything in Bold letters. It hurts my ears...

Keith

[khowardrn]

Exactly.... I think toyota should spend less on advertising and more on production. They can't keep up with the demand as it is. I want a winter gray prius V with Nav and it can't be found. I've had a deposit for almost three weeks sitting with a dealer who can't find one. The bottom line with advertising is that you have to actually have something to sell, and right now, toyota doesn't.

I walked into a honda dealer a week after the insite launch and they had about 15 to 20 cars on the lot ready to sell. I haven't seen a toyota dealer with more than 1 or 2 cars and the prius launched over a month a go.

As far as the ads, I think they could've been done alot better. They definitely bend left/tree hugger, etc. There are plenty of folks on the right, like me, who see a great many positives with the car; but the ads will not show it. It's a great 4 person, semi-luxury, efficient way to transport folks around. That appeals to everyone.

[wvgasguy]

Originally Posted by khowardrn

Exactly.... I think toyota should spend less on advertising and more on production. They can't keep up with the demand as it is.

The bottom line with advertising is that you have to actually have something to sell, and right now, toyota doesn't.

I walked into a honda dealer a week after the insite launch and they had about 15 to 20 cars on the lot ready to sell. I haven't seen a toyota dealer with more than 1 or 2 cars and the prius launched over a month a go.

I hope the advertising manpower are not the same people running the assembly line so if they are out selling the cars that's OK by me.

I would love to be marketing a car where people are standing in line and complaining they can't get what they want. My poor chevy dealer is sitting on a lot full of cars and trucks and they are not even getting anything new until Sept.

Your point? Honda's launch might have had adequate cars or it simply can't sell the cars it launched with. Two ways of looking at that

[wvgasguy]

Well for me the commercials were a little embarrasing, I catch enough grief at work since I announced my decision, but the commercial just add fuel to the fire.

I wonder, will there be a set of green tights and a flower headpiece in my trunk when delivered? I might have to go out and buy a Prius suit.

[nineinchnail1024]

I can't stand the new commercials, but to each his own. I feel like I'm watching a munchkin scene from the wizard of oz. Toyota really needs a commercial that stresses the starting price of the prius and its interior space. The facorite go-to arguments of prius bashers are its small size (which is a misconception) and its high price (which is also a misconception). There are plenty of mid-size cars with much less interior space than a prius, and there are plenty of gas only cars that are cost comparable with the prius, despite the common claim that the gas savings you get with a prius will never make up for its "hybrid premium" cost.

In short: Stop the naysayers in their tracks.

[CenVal]

Originally Posted by nineinchnail1024

I feel like I'm watching a munchkin scene from the wizard of oz.

That's a good description of what I see in the commercials and the message gets lost in my opinion... Great looking new design, sportier and more sophisticated, great technical advances, best fuel economy, and reasonable pricing.

That's great for Toyota that people like the commercials but will they lead people to buy a Prius?

[Runabout]

I like the Prius commercials as they are entertaining and different from most other car commercials. Congrats PriusTeam for 2 out of the top 3 spots!

[TonyPSchaefer]

You're advertising the what?

[SageBrush]

I am unconvinced, mostly because everyone in my greenie, yuppyish, disney loving family thought they were awful. OTOH, we watch very little TV, and don't have that medium's other commercial fare for comparison.

[Tideland Prius]

Originally Posted by khowardrn

Exactly.... I think toyota should spend less on advertising and more on production. They can't keep up with the demand as it is. I want a winter gray prius V with Nav and it can't be found. I've had a deposit for almost three weeks sitting with a dealer who can't find one. The bottom line with advertising is that you have to actually have something to sell, and right now, toyota doesn't.

I walked into a honda dealer a week after the insite launch and they had about 15 to 20 cars on the lot ready to sell. I haven't seen a toyota dealer with more than 1 or 2 cars and the prius launched over a month a go.

As far as the ads, I think they could've been done alot better. They definitely bend left/tree hugger, etc. There are plenty of folks on the right, like me, who see a great many positives with the car; but the ads will not show it. It's a great 4 person, semi-luxury, efficient way to transport folks around. That appeals to everyone.

Spend less on advertising and more on production. Like what?? Do you have a solution? Cause the last time I checked, a new plant is hella expensive.


Maybe cause nobody's buying the Insight? and everyone pre-ordered a Prius (or has ordered one) so why would there be any on the lot? They would've all been spoken for.