# New Coke v's Classic Coke: A question for US Dopers **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 19, 2003, 8:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-coke-vs-classic-coke-a-question-for-us-dopers/219938 "2003-12-19T08:55:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BIH\_Boy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/49beb7/32.png) [@BIH\_Boy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BIH_Boy)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 8:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-coke-vs-classic-coke-a-question-for-us-dopers/219938/1 "2003-12-19T08:55:46Z")
I watched a documentary last night on the whole “New Coke” debacle that happened a while back (missed the year as I only caught the last half of the doc). Can any US dopers tell me more about this? Was the “New Coke” really as bad as the protests made out it was? What difference was there in taste? I prefer Pepsi Cola so would I be more or less inclined to like the New Coke? How long were “Classic Coke” and “New Coke” side by side before the original took precedence again and the new one disappeared for ever? Does anyone have any of the new bottles still? Is it worth anything in the retro market? I need to know more… Cheers ---
**Author:** ![thumbupmybum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/df788c/32.png) [@thumbupmybum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thumbupmybum)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-coke-vs-classic-coke-a-question-for-us-dopers/219938/2 "2003-12-19T09:24:35Z")
I remember New Coke very vaguely - I was, like, ten or something when it came out. It didn’t last long - I remember Coke Classic (which is all there is, now) coming out very quickly, sharing shelf space with new Coke, and then new Coke disappearing. Bill Cosby was in the New Coke commercials, looking like he really enjoyed it. Where’s Bairnsville? ---
**Author:** ![Schnitte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/schnitte/32/9033_2.png) [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-coke-vs-classic-coke-a-question-for-us-dopers/219938/3 "2003-12-19T11:26:01Z")
Snopes ran a lengthy article of the whole New Coke story. See [http://www.snopes.com/cokelore/newcoke.asp](http://www.snopes.com/cokelore/newcoke.asp) Summary: Blind tests showed that most people preffered the New Coke taste over the Classic one. New Coke taste was closer to Pepsi’s than to Classic Coke flavor, and the reason for the fiasco was that NewCoke did not benefit as much from the Coca-Cola myth as Classic did. At least that’s what Snopes says. ---
**Author:** ![NoGoodNamesLeft](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/8797f3/32.png) [@NoGoodNamesLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoGoodNamesLeft)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-coke-vs-classic-coke-a-question-for-us-dopers/219938/4 "2003-12-19T12:21:11Z")
Screw that…anybody remember ‘Clear Coke’ (and it’s counterpart ‘Crystal Pepsi’)?? ---
**Author:** ![BIH\_Boy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/49beb7/32.png) [@BIH\_Boy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BIH_Boy)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-coke-vs-classic-coke-a-question-for-us-dopers/219938/5 "2003-12-19T12:46:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by thumbupmybum \* > \*\* > Where’s Bairnsville? \*\* It’s not anywhere at all (as far as I know). It’s a sort of joke. The people that are born in my town are nicknamed “Bairns” (as is the local football team). So it’s a play on that. It’s in Scotland. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Tiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Mama\_Tiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Tiger)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-coke-vs-classic-coke-a-question-for-us-dopers/219938/6 "2003-12-19T13:05:25Z")
I remember New Coke. There were lots and lots of us who did NOT like Pepsi and were mightily offended that Coke took a good thing and changed it for _no_ discernible reason – it’s not like they were having trouble selling their product! Fortunately, I was far from in the minority. Coke figured out real fast that they’d made one of the major marketing blunders of all time – forgetting about “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” on a colossal scale – and pretended that they were doing us a favor by bringing back Classic Coke. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-coke-vs-classic-coke-a-question-for-us-dopers/219938/7 "2003-12-19T13:12:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by NoGoodNamesLeft \* > \*\*Screw that…anybody remember ‘Clear Coke’ (and it’s counterpart ‘Crystal Pepsi’)?? \*\* I do. I thought they were nasty. Right around the same time, 7-Up released _7-Up Gold_, their attempt at a cola. All three failed miserably IIRC. ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-coke-vs-classic-coke-a-question-for-us-dopers/219938/8 "2003-12-19T13:55:30Z")
How about these little know facts: “New” Coke is still available in limited markets-as “Coke II”, IIRC. “Classic” Coke isn’t classic at all-it uses corn syrup instead of sugar like it’s supposed to. Buy Kosher for Passover Coke next Spring or get some from Canada where they still use sugar-you CAN taste the difference. I would kill everyone on this message board with a cheese grater ( one of those new electric [Gizmo](http://www.comforthouse.com/comfort/cheesegrater.html) ones, probably ) for a bottle of Coke made with sugar and served ice cold _in a glass bottle_. Mmmmmmmmm… ---
**Author:** ![Agent\_Foxtrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@Agent\_Foxtrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Foxtrot)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-coke-vs-classic-coke-a-question-for-us-dopers/219938/9 "2003-12-19T14:09:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mama Tiger \* > \*\*Coke figured out real fast that they’d made one of the major marketing blunders of all time – forgetting about “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” on a colossal scale – and pretended that they were doing us a favor by bringing back Classic Coke. \*\* I beg to differ! I have a theory in which the New Coke “blunder” was one of the most brilliant marketing ideas in the history of American business. Imagine: Coke Classic sales are falling to Pepsi’s market share. The marketers at Coca-Cola decide that if they bring in a “new and improved” but worse-tasting beverage that is slated to replace Coke Classic, people will rush to the stores to buy the old stuff in hopes that Coca-Cola will change its mind. Well, it worked brilliantly. Coke Classic sales go back up, and New Coke fades into obscurity. Of course, I have no sales figures or other research to back up my theory, so feel free to pick it apart as you will. - Adam ---
**Author:** ![Tansu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/67e7ee/32.png) [@Tansu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tansu)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-coke-vs-classic-coke-a-question-for-us-dopers/219938/10 "2003-12-19T14:16:13Z")
The very Snopes article linked by Schnitte a few posts up says “false” to that theory, FoamFighter. ---
**Author:** ![Agent\_Foxtrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@Agent\_Foxtrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Foxtrot)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-coke-vs-classic-coke-a-question-for-us-dopers/219938/11 "2003-12-19T14:24:23Z")
I didn’t read the Snopes article until just now. Didn’t know my theory was a “legend.” - Adam ---
**Author:** ![BIH\_Boy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/49beb7/32.png) [@BIH\_Boy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BIH_Boy)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-coke-vs-classic-coke-a-question-for-us-dopers/219938/12 "2003-12-19T14:48:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Weirddave \* > \*\*How about these little know facts: > > “New” Coke is still available in limited markets-as “Coke II”, IIRC. > > “Classic” Coke isn’t classic at all-it uses corn syrup instead of sugar like it’s supposed to. Buy Kosher for Passover Coke next Spring or get some from Canada where they still use sugar-you CAN taste the difference. > \*\* I assume in Britain we have the corn syrup variety? I also take it there is little chance of me getting my hands on a sugar one or even a Coke II? Damn this living in Britain with its lack of choice. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Carnage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/max_carnage/32/12775_2.png) [@Max\_Carnage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Carnage)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-coke-vs-classic-coke-a-question-for-us-dopers/219938/13 "2003-12-19T17:47:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by BIH Boy \* > \*\* > > Damn this living in Britain with its lack of choice. \*\* Gawd Bless 'Mericka! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Sweet\_Sota\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@Sweet\_Sota\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sweet_Sota_Girl)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-coke-vs-classic-coke-a-question-for-us-dopers/219938/14 "2003-12-19T18:14:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tansu \* > \*\*The very Snopes article linked by Schnitte a few posts up says “false” to that theory, FoamFighter. \*\* Was it actually proved up, or was Snopes simply taking Coke representatives’ word for it that it really was a blunder, not a master-mind marketing technique? I do remember that Coke sales were slipping and Pepsi did begin to take over as “most popular cola” and that was the reason they made Coke. It was supposed to taste more like Pepsi. On a related note… does any remember The Pop Shoppe? We used to go there all the time for our pop. It was similar to Shasta in that they had every flavor under the sun, but it tasted better. And it was all in glass returnable bottles. We used to get so excited on “Pop Shoppe Day!” ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-coke-vs-classic-coke-a-question-for-us-dopers/219938/15 "2003-12-19T18:21:41Z")
You had Pop Shoppes in Minnesota? They were common in Southern Ontario–usually in refurbished gas stations, for some reason–and I thought they were purely a Toronto-based chain. ---
**Author:** ![Anamorphic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/anamorphic/32/3057_2.png) [@Anamorphic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anamorphic)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-coke-vs-classic-coke-a-question-for-us-dopers/219938/16 "2003-12-19T18:25:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Weirddave \* > \*\*I would kill everyone on this message board with a cheese grater ( one of those new electric [Gizmo](http://www.comforthouse.com/comfort/cheesegrater.html) ones, probably ) for a bottle of Coke made with sugar and served ice cold _in a glass bottle_. Mmmmmmmmm… \*\* No need for the cheese grater, Dave. [This place](http://www.sodapopstop.com/products/detail.cfm?link=36) isn’t too far from me; I coulda picked some up for you before I came to Baltimore a few days ago, had I known. Luckily, you can also order online from them. ---
**Author:** ![Sweet\_Sota\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@Sweet\_Sota\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sweet_Sota_Girl)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-coke-vs-classic-coke-a-question-for-us-dopers/219938/17 "2003-12-19T18:50:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sunspace \* > \*\*You had Pop Shoppes in Minnesota? They were common in Southern Ontario–usually in refurbished gas stations, for some reason–and I thought they were purely a Toronto-based chain. \*\* Sure did! At least in the Twin Cities Metro anyway. I don’t know how far spread they were. Of course, since so many people think Minnesota is part of Canada, that may have had something to do with it. 😃😕 ---
**Author:** ![Cerowyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/82dd89/32.png) [@Cerowyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cerowyn)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-coke-vs-classic-coke-a-question-for-us-dopers/219938/18 "2003-12-19T23:05:09Z")
As a fan of Coca-Cola, I can confirm that the Canadian sugar-based version is [subjectively, obviously] superior to the the corn-syrup based recipe. And, **Weirddave** , somehow I thought you’d have _connections_ for getting Canadian Coke. 😃 Drop me a line, and I’ll hook you up, if need be. And, if you’re interested, [here](http://www.pww.on.ca/shoppe.htm) is a little history on the Pop Shoppe. ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2003, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-coke-vs-classic-coke-a-question-for-us-dopers/219938/19 "2003-12-20T01:39:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Cerowyn \* > \*\*As a fan of Coca-Cola, I can confirm that the Canadian sugar-based version is [subjectively, obviously] superior to the the corn-syrup based recipe. And, **Weirddave** , somehow I thought you’d have _connections_ for getting Canadian Coke. 😃 Drop me a line, and I’ll hook you up, if need be. > > \*\* Are you kidding? We have half a case downstairs right now. Unfortunately, Ginger “can’t”(won’t) drink any Coke but Canadian Coke and since it IS a bit awkward to get ( although most of our friends do bring some when they come down ), I’m not allowed to touch it. As she drinks maybe one a month, if that, it just sits there, taunting me, teasing me with it’s seductive sugary goodness. Oh, the pain, the pain of it all! ---
**Author:** ![thumbupmybum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/df788c/32.png) [@thumbupmybum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thumbupmybum)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2003, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-coke-vs-classic-coke-a-question-for-us-dopers/219938/20 "2003-12-20T02:31:17Z")
Thank you, Little Miss Attitude, for reminding me about Pop Shoppe. There was totally a Pop Shoppe in Fort McMurray, Alberta when I lived there 15 year ago, and I totally fucking loved it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-coke-vs-classic-coke-a-question-for-us-dopers/219938.md?page=2)