Omni Automotive Advertising Blog

Using social media networks is the big trend for companies trying to gain a greater foothold in their marketing campaigns. A prime example of this is Ford’s Digital Snippets site, ford.digitalsnippets.com.

All you need to do is subscribe to their RSS feeds for individual SMPRs, and you’ll be instantly updated with the latest digital snippets related to that story. The snippets include copy, photos, video or audio, optimized for the Internet. As a subscriber you can use any of the snippets in your blogs, social media networks or online news, as long as you give credit back to the site.

I wonder how long it will take  until the other automakers have similar sites.

Here is a video about the upcoming Ford Taurus’ ability to take a hit.

Here’s another great video review by Justin from motorguru.com. This around, the 2010 Audi S4.

Le Mans 2009 Audi S4 lap and Alan McNish interview from Justin Bell on Vimeo.

Ok, so it seems Payment Insurance is the hottest thing going on right now. Everyone from Hyundai to GM to Ford is offering it. Even the dealers are jumping on the bandwagon.

So how does the Payment Insurance Big 3 stack up?

Chart from Jalopnik.

Now as you can see, Ford offers more payment assistance, larger payments and a bigger maximum payout. But, Hyundai is the manufacturer that truly covers the consumer’s negative equity. But the benefit of covering negative equity is a difficult thing to explain to a consumer.

To be fair to GM, this is only part of their Total Confidence program.

Now let’s look how the manufacturers tried to convey this complicated message in a 30 second ad.

Hyundai Assurance Plus

GM Total Confidence

Ford Advantage Plan

Placed back to back to back the messages look very different. While Hyundai and GM try to relate to the viewer, Ford dives right into their message. Hyundai adopts a plus sign in their ad, GM uses a rally cap and Ford just uses straight figures.

The problem with Ford’s direction is what will the viewer ultimately remember. After a few minutes do you remember the figures from the Ford ad? Do you remember the backwards hat? How about the plus sign?

Hyundai and GM went soft with their sale, Ford took the hard road with theirs. Ultimately time will decide which direction was the best.

In the midst of the economic tumble and massive job layoffs, Hyundai is now offering assurance to their customers. In the above ad and the ad after the jump, Hyundai declares that if you lose your income, within a year after buying a new Hyundai, you can simply return the car. According to the Hyundai website, the program covers up to $7,500 in negative equity and lets the buyer off the hook for further payments without any negative impact to his/her credit.

In these uncertain times, there are two huge factors that worry consumers when buying a new vehicle:

1. Financial security. Why would I want to make a huge investment if I might lose my job in the next 6 months?

2. The security of the manufacturers. If these Auto Companies need a bailout to survive, how long will they still be able offer such amenities as long warranties and leases if they start running out of money again?

Hyundai addresses both concerns in both the ads.

I would not be surprised to see some major dealer groups offer this same kind of program. A car’s depreciation once it drives off the lot is an bloated lie. If a customer puts a minimum down and makes at least two payments, the negative equity should be minimal. But the confidence you give the consumer would be unmeasurable.

See the 2nd ad after the jump.

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Thinking of buying a new car this weekend. The current Honda Finance specials are due to expire on July 7th. Honda vehicles like the 2008 Honda Civic Hybrid (45/40 mpg) is #1 when it comes to going green! Honda vehicles are The GREENEST and one of the most FUEL EFFICIENT CAR COMPANIES IN AMERICA. Take this holiday weekend and get down to your local Honda Dealer for great specials on Honda vehicles like:

• 2008 Element Special AHFC A.P.R. Financing – 0.9% APR for 36 months or 2.9% APR for 60 months
• 2008 Odyssey Featured Special Lease – $259.00 per month for 36 months. $2,499.00 total due at signing.
• 2008 S2000 Featured Special Lease – $349.00 per month for 36 months. $2,499.00 total due at signing.
• 2008 Accord Sedan 4-Cylinder LX Featured Special Lease – $219.00 per month for 36 months. $2,599.00 total due at signing.
• 2008 Civic Coupe Featured Special Lease – $199.00 per month for 36 months. $1,999.00 total due at signing.
• 2008 Civic Sedan Featured Special Lease – $199.00 per month for 36 months. $1,999.00 total due at signing.
• 2008 Accord Sedan Special AHFC A.P.R. Financing – 0.9% APR for 36 months or 2.9% APR for 60 months
• 2008 Civic Special AHFC A.P.R. Financing – 1.9% APR for 36 months or 2.9% APR for 60 months
• 2008 Element Special AHFC A.P.R. Financing – 0.9% APR for 36 months or 2.9% APR for 60 months
• 2008 Odyssey Special AHFC A.P.R. Financing – 0.9% APR for 24 – 36 months or 2.9% APR for 37 – 60 months
• 2008 Pilot Special AHFC A.P.R. Financing – 0.9% APR for 36 months or 2.9% APR for 60 months
• 2008 Ridgeline Special AHFC A.P.R. Financing – 0.9% APR for 36 months or 2.9% APR for 60 months
• 2008 S2000 Special AHFC A.P.R. Financing – 0.9% APR for 36 months or 2.9% APR for 60 months
• 2008/2009 All Honda Model Graduate Special AHFC A.P.R. Financing – 4.99% APR for 24-60 months or 5.49% APR for 61-72 months.

For more information, visit your local Honda Dealer:

Central Florida Honda Dealers – Orlando to Daytona FL
Gateway Honda Dealers – St Louis MO
Gulf Coast Honda Dealers – Tampa FL
Hampton Roads Honda Dealers – Richmond VA
North Georgia Honda Dealers – Atlanta G
Northern Ohio Honda Dealers – Cleveland OH
South Florida Honda Dealers – Miami to West Palm FL