Why wasn’t the new GT advertised on TV?

[Pedro]

I watched Channel 7’s three day coverage of the Bathurst 1000 and was astounded that the new supercharged GT wasn’t advertised in any way shape or form.

Ford Australia took a couple of them to Bathurst for their first public showing but the only thing I saw was a two second glimpse of one in the “50 years of Falcon parade” with Allan Moffat driving.

Here was Ford’s best opportunity to thrust this leading edge car into the spotlight on the extensive TV coverage watched by enthusiasts ... but as we’ve come to expect from their advertising department (do they have one?) there was nothing ... not even a hint.

Opportunity lost.

[Windsor220]

Was probably a good thing they didnt after the result.

[5.4 GT]

Yeh I thought it was weak too. The Cobra coverage from a few years ago was much better.

[GTENVY]

Originally Posted by Pedro

I watched Channel 7’s three day coverage of the Bathurst 1000 and was astounded that the new supercharged GT wasn’t advertised in any way shape or form.

Ford Australia took a couple of them to Bathurst for their first public showing but the only thing I saw was a two second glimpse of one in the “50 years of Falcon parade” with Allan Moffat driving.

Here was Ford’s best opportunity to thrust this leading edge car into the spotlight on the extensive TV coverage watched by enthusiasts ... but as we’ve come to expect from their advertising department (do they have one?) there was nothing ... not even a hint.

Opportunity lost.

Yep, we unfortunately should be used to this....

[Fev]

I was just as surprised. Really didn't make any sense why they didn't do a thing but then again it may have been a good thing. Advertising "King of Every Mountain" during Bathurst when a Holden wins would be pretty embarassing.

They really should have put a few ads on though, atleast during the last race. HSV did heaps of them with the new E3 series

[Eleanor]

I think I saw some ads for the XR50 during the weekend but that was about it.

[CFOUR]

It was a shame really. Putting boss 335 adds on would have atleast given us blue boys a little ammo.

[GTP-814]

what was even more dissapointing was that they had a GTP (plus a range of XR6 turbo, Forus RS etc ) on display but at no time did they lift the bonnet to show off their pride & joy. That was very disappointing & might as well not even been there

[jpd80]

Australia's premier motor sport event and Ford is so low key you would miss GT and GS,
does anyone here think that Holden would have run the release of their new HSVs the same way?

[MOTORE]

If there was ever a time to run ads on TV for Ford, you'd think that it would be Bathurst wouldn't you? Even though Ford didn't win, they should still be running ads. The only ads I ever see for Fords on TV is the XY GT on the Shannon's insurance ad.

[GTP owner]

Why would you link the two? - There are no similarities between a v8sc and the new gt.

[smacxr8]

Very, very disappointing. Maybe Ford are playing 'the cool kid' as in, we know how good it is, Ford enthusiasts know how good it is going to be, we dont need to make a big deal of it, we'll let the performance figures do all the talking.
Still ridiculous though, Bathurst weekend was the perfect time to release such an awe inspiring car, but the opportunity has passed, and its not like Ford didnt have plenty of time to put an ad campaign together.

[smacxr8]

Originally Posted by GTP owner

Why would you link the two? - There are no similarities between a v8sc and the new gt.

Thats true but when else throughout the year would you get that many car enthusiasts watching tv at the same time.

[Molloy]

If u want 2 sell cars u need 2 advertise

[4Vman]

I guess because if someone went down to their local FPV dealer all excited to look at one they wouldn't have any yet...

Marketing 101, don't get people excited until you can deliver....

[T3ts50]

Is there even a new add yet for the new GT?

[fmc351]

How many are they making? Depends on how they plan to sell them in the first place.

[big_landau]

Originally Posted by GTP owner

Why would you link the two? - There are no similarities between a v8sc and the new gt.

most people on the street dont know that.

[csv8]

Originally Posted by jpd80

Australia's premier motor sport event and Ford is so low key you would miss GT and GS,
does anyone here think that Holden would have run the release of their new HSVs the same way?

HSV had ads during Bathurst

[ltd]

Originally Posted by Molloy

If u want 2 sell cars u need 2 advertise

Please, no text speak.

If you want to sell the car you first need to have it available, then you can advertise. Don't get people excited and ready with finance etc, only to find they have to wait 6 months. When people have the money but have to wait they'll find something else like a HSV.

[zdcol71]

Originally Posted by big_landau

most people on the street dont know that.

Would most people on the street be watching the coverage??

[4Vman]

Originally Posted by fmc351

How many are they making? Depends on how they plan to sell them in the first place.

I think you'll find FPV will be at capacity for some time meeting pipe-fill and early demand.
A few points;

There are no cars in dealers yet, so advertising would be a fairly pointless exercise until at-least there's decent showroom stock.

You could argue its a waste of money advertising a product they're selling out of already...

Most companies don't bother advertising if they can't meet demand anyway...

HSV may do some marketing now to try to counter the New Motor.. I'm sure they'll be concerned.

[flappist]

To me it would be very foolish to run some VERY expensive advertising only to have potential buyers turn up at their local FPV dealer and see a lot of discounted BOSS vehicles and salesmen very keen to sell them.

[HSE2]

If you order your car now, different to dealer allocation and you weren't prepared to change you order to suit, guess how long you have to wait?

[ltd]

Originally Posted by flappist

To me it would be very foolish to run some VERY expensive advertising only to have potential buyers turn up at their local FPV dealer and see a lot of discounted BOSS vehicles and salesmen very keen to sell them.

That's another very valid explanation.
The old stock would be incredibly hard to move with the newer car sitting next to it, they'd have to knock atleast 10% out of the new car price on the superseded model just to get someone interested.

[Polyal]

I think the OP makes a good point..it was prime time

Originally Posted by GTP owner

Why would you link the two? - There are no similarities between a v8sc and the new gt.

True, BUT...FPR have a big bloody GT 335 sign on the sides and rear of the car AND they have a GT badge on the grill IIRC.

4vman agreed that you shouldn't go to hard when its not even on display on the showroom for but they should have atleast run a teaser during Bathurst.

Something very quick, very stealth and straight to the point, a bit like the coming soon stuff on their website. Its in my head but hard to explain...

Think a black background, a GT with a silk cloth over it, that horny exhaust note with a bit of s/c whine...flash in and out and have the FPV BOSS 335 showing...and right at the end something like "vengeance" or "history is about to be rewritten"....I dont know, something like that, thats 1 minute of brainstorming.

Its not the end of the world but if they go to the trouble of getting Moffatt lapping the car then follow it up with something so people actually remember.

And theres another idea....Moffatt GT ad during bathurst would have been gold.

[Jason[98.EL]]

I heard it was 5-6 months but could be wrong

[big_landau]

Originally Posted by zdcol71

Would most people on the street be watching the coverage??

i know heaps of people who watch bathurst that know very little about cars.

[HULK EF]

dissapointed, and yes noted that while not being able to purchase or recieve a new GT just yet through a back log of orders and just havent been delivered yet i see no reason to not atleast drive the point home about just how great this muscle car will be.

Couldnt watch the ad's.. played WII sports "tennis" during the ad's.. Was sick of E3 HSV ad's.

[Elks]

Originally Posted by 4Vman

I think you'll find FPV will be at capacity for some time meeting pipe-fill and early demand.
A few points;

There are no cars in dealers yet, so advertising would be a fairly pointless exercise until at-least there's decent showroom stock.

You could argue its a waste of money advertising a product they're selling out of already...

Most companies don't bother advertising if they can't meet demand anyway...

HSV may do some marketing now to try to counter the New Motor.. I'm sure they'll be concerned.

100% wrong.

Toyota have been very successful and made there dealers strong and profitable by managing the stock level just below that of the demand.

At any one time less than 1% of the population is looking to buy a car yet auto adds are everywhere. Consumers over time build a short list of 2 or 3 vehicles from which they will choose. Often years before. You often hear people say "I've always wanted one". And buy that same car 3 models later.

Using the 4x4 example. Toyota keep pushing the Prado despite the fact you have to wait months for the popular models, why? To be on the consumers short list. If a consumer has in their head their next vehicle will be either a Prado, Territory, or Captiva. Instantly the Mitsubishi dealer is not getting a sale, because the customer didn't even walk into his dealership. Forget the specification and pricing and relative merits of the vehicles, in the end the consumer must want the vehicle and walk into a dealership.

It is true today's consumer is much better informed via the internet, and friends and media, but in the end the sale happens, in the dealership.

The moral of the story, they should have advertised to plant seed for all the people who are not only buying now but buying next year. Continuous brand building is critical to success.

It would be a lovely situation for FPV to have a wait list. No discounting. Although the current build and dump stock philosophy suits me as a consumer.

For the record, my short list consists of an FPV or a 2nd hand FPV. So you would have wasted your money on me. LOL

My 2c