Ford Ad Leads to Confusion

Perhaps you’ve seen the Ford ads that offer to “Swap Your Ride” with unwitting consumers who think they’re getting a new Ford for a limited amount of time for a market research study. As it turns out … no. They’re actually part of an elaborate ruse to get positive comments for advertising fodder. However, one Boston-area man thought the ad — which ties into a cash-back offer if you trade in your car for a new Ford — was saying anyone could trade in their old car for a new Ford for free.

That’s when he met a Boston-area Ford dealer who had to fill in the poor man about the intricacies of advertising.

Here's My Honda, Where's My Ford? (The Detroit News)

Comments

[Anon]

Wait... Who is that dumb?

You don't just get a free car. The idea is that you get cash back if you bring in a car that is not a ford. The commerical clearly states that.

The people used in the commerical are just there to sell the car by compaing it to another in its class.

[Andy]

Only in Boston!! And I am from Boston.

[Andy]

Only in Boston!! And I am from Boston.

[Dan]

No Andy, sadly there are people that stupid all over the place.

[Tom L]

Its true, there are dumb people everywhere.

I wonder if anyone actually thought that this was for real? I found it funny that while everyone in the automotive press has seemingly rated all current Ford models as "eh, its ok," that these consumers were SO TAKEN by the Ford. I actually read up on it online a while ago just to make sure it was an advertisement.

[woogie]

Really lets compare my 5 year old civic with the stained seats and cracked windshield, that is in need of a front end alignment and has 80,000 miles on it, with the new Ford Fusion.

Darned right it gets a positive review. The fair comparison would be against a 5 year old Fusion with the same mileage.

[sulli]

When I saw the commercial, they were comparing a Fusion to a new Camry.

[sulli]

When I saw the commercial, they were comparing a Fusion to a new Camry.

[J]

I can't wait to see what did they compared with their pathetic Focus which is "out of Focus".

[Ken L.]

"Swap Your Ride" sounds more like a test drive caught on camera. Didn't Ford use the awd Fusion to compare it against a fwd Camry and Accord and claimed better handling? Is confusion Ford's new strategy to get people into their showrooms?

[Spanky]

Thank you Ken L. I've been saying that for freaking ever!!!! Of course an awd is going to handle better than a Camry/Accord. Let's get some "I just know where to put the gas in" types to give their professional opinions on which one handles better. Which of these fruits tastes better...an apple or orange?

[sulli]

I am pretty sure that any awd car will handle better than a comparable fwd. . . but if you can have the awd for roughly the same price, or perhaps cheaper, why not?

I'm sure a fwd fusion would handle better than a camry anyway- its not exactly a sports sedan. I haven't driven an accord, so I won't comment about it(I bet that's a novel idea to most of you, lol)

[Dave T.]

While I agree about comparing AWD to FWD I think Ford's point in those commercials was that their Fusion AWD was comparable in price to the FWD Camry and Accord and which would you rather have etc. I can't tell you how many people ask for a list of available AWD cars on the site. It is a ton. I think Ford should push their AWD even more since there isn't as much competition there.

[J]

Dave,

How many times I have to bring this up? Does the Legacy show up in mind?

[Troy in Ft Walton Beach]

When I catch a whiff of advertisement trickery like this, it makes me wonder what kind of trickery is going on during the manufacturing process.