Toyota's "Saved By Zero" Flub: A Lesson in (Honda) Civics?

This autumn, America is standing united. Democrat or Republican, vegan or cattle rancher, yuppie or hipster, three words are binding the country tighter than duct tape on a college student’s wallet: “Saaaaa-ved by Zeeee-ro!”

Toyota’s current ad campaign, featuring a remake of the refrain of the 1983 hit by The Fixx, combined with the commercial’s heavy airtime, has inspired media critics and the public to cry for change (of the channel).

Zero-percent financing on 12 different Toyota models may indeed speak to some looking for a vehicle during this credit crunch. Yet several Facebook groups have joined thousands in rank against the commercial, calling for its demise.

But while Toyota’s “Saved by Zero” ad campaign is uniting America for change, some car dealerships have cut out that intermediary grassroots campaign phase and gone right to the source.

Earlier this year, a spokesperson sharing more than a few mannerisms with President-elect Barack Obama rallied the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metroplex with a “Yes You Can!”—be approved at Central Kia.

Incoming presidents aren’t the only political figures to declare that citizens only need small change for a down payment on 2009 models. Even the most avid Revolutionary War buff is likely unaware that the Founding Fathers once took rap lessons from the likes of Vanilla Ice in order to inform the Tri-State viewing area of great Presidents Day leasing deals at New York-Long Island Honda.

That’s history I can believe in.

Anne Szustek
Senior Writer

For the full story behind Toyota’s ad campaign, see the findingDulcinea story “Viewers Fed Up with Toyota’s ‘Saved by Zero’ Ad.”

Comments

[auto detailing in vancouver]

This is a very nice program. Other nations whose car industry is experiencing a downswing should apply this too to lessen the burden.