# What's the point of these Nissan ads? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 10, 2012, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-point-of-these-nissan-ads/609086 "2012-01-10T21:58:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-point-of-these-nissan-ads/609086/1 "2012-01-10T21:58:47Z")
I’m not really sure what the point of these new Nissan truck ads is since they say up front (as well as it being obvious) that the truck really isn’t doing any of these things they show. The current one has some faux handy-cam footage of a guy in his Nissan truck driving down the side of a mountain and doing a barrel-roll jump. I think a previous one had the truck driving up an ultra steep steep sand dune to push a stuck dune buggy. What is supposed to be the takeaway here? “Wow, awesome imaginary scenario! I want the truck that pretended to do that stuff!” ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-point-of-these-nissan-ads/609086/2 "2012-01-10T22:10:13Z")
They’re amusing and they build a brand image - a tough truck who’s builders/owners don’t take things too seriously. And here we are talking about Nissan, _ching_! ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-point-of-these-nissan-ads/609086/3 "2012-01-10T22:25:43Z")
Hmm… to me they land the brand image of poseur truck. I need a new pickup and I need something bulit strong. Is Nissan strong. I have no idea. The ads show it doing imaginary things. I think I’ll go check out Ford/Chevy/Toyota now. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-point-of-these-nissan-ads/609086/4 "2012-01-10T22:29:13Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > Hmm.. to me they land the brand image of poseur truck. > > I need a new pickup and I need something bulit strong. Is Nissan strong. I have no idea. The ads show it doing imaginary things. I think I’ll go check out Ford/Chevy/Toyota now. But now Nissan is on your mental list of pickup truck manufacturers. It may make you stop by the Nissan dealer on the way back from checking out the trucks at the Ford dealer. If not you, at least a few people. ---
**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-point-of-these-nissan-ads/609086/5 "2012-01-10T23:06:44Z")
If you’re flipping through and miss the first few seconds you don’t see the disclaimer. All you see is a truck doing cool shit. And like you said, yeah, you know it’s probably fake, but it’s all about getting their name out there. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2012, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-point-of-these-nissan-ads/609086/6 "2012-01-11T01:53:23Z")
I like the one where the truck saves the airliner. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2012, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-point-of-these-nissan-ads/609086/7 "2012-01-11T13:59:27Z")
**load thread onto sporty Nissan truck for move from MPSIMS to Cafe Society** ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2012, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-point-of-these-nissan-ads/609086/8 "2012-01-11T14:02:17Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > The ads show it doing imaginary things. I had to smile when the little disclaimer popped up on the ad, something to the effect of “Fantasy: do not attempt.” ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2012, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-point-of-these-nissan-ads/609086/9 "2012-01-11T14:38:20Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > I like the one where the truck saves the airliner. I prefer [the original version](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tpx6o4gvmXE). ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2012, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-point-of-these-nissan-ads/609086/10 "2012-01-11T14:41:12Z")
I can’t YouTube but am thinking that was the meteorite impact? If so, yeah, awesome! ---
**Author:** ![tanstaafl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba8739/32.png) [@tanstaafl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanstaafl)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2012, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-point-of-these-nissan-ads/609086/11 "2012-01-11T18:39:43Z")
It’s all about brand recognition by getting you to stop fast-forwarding through the commercial on your DVR long enough to see what is going on and see the name of the product. Sort of like the [Toyota ad that took place inside of World of Warcraft](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u15HmEMp2Qc). ---
**Author:** ![milquetoast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@milquetoast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/milquetoast)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2012, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-point-of-these-nissan-ads/609086/12 "2012-01-11T19:23:47Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > **load thread onto sporty Nissan truck for move from MPSIMS to Cafe Society** You forgot your disclaimer: Professional moderator. Do not attempt. ---
**Author:** ![Kizarvexius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/da6949/32.png) [@Kizarvexius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kizarvexius)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2012, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-point-of-these-nissan-ads/609086/13 "2012-01-11T19:35:15Z")
I wonder if the whole ad is supposed to be a playful jab at the ubiquitous copperplate disclaimers. It seems to me that every damned car commercial I’ve seen over the past 2 years includes “Professional driver on closed course. Do not attempt” or some such idiotic verbiage, even when the car in question is seen simply cruising down the street. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2012, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-point-of-these-nissan-ads/609086/14 "2012-01-11T20:25:59Z")
> [@Kizarvexius](#): > > I wonder if the whole ad is supposed to be a playful jab at the ubiquitous copperplate disclaimers. It seems to me that every damned car commercial I’ve seen over the past 2 years includes “Professional driver on closed course. Do not attempt” or some such idiotic verbiage, even when the car in question is seen simply cruising down the street. They’re not the first company to use this in their ads. I’ve seen it on multiple TV commercials, and hear it more frequently in radio spots. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2012, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-point-of-these-nissan-ads/609086/15 "2012-01-11T20:51:34Z")
> [@Kizarvexius](#): > > It seems to me that every damned car commercial I’ve seen over the past 2 years includes “Professional driver on closed course. Do not attempt” or some such idiotic verbiage, even when the car in question is seen simply cruising down the street. Or doing something you would not possibly attempt. My favorite one being from the commercial where Astronauts go out hotrodding in their Moonbuggy. I was all set to go attempt that on the Moon until I read it. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2012, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-point-of-these-nissan-ads/609086/16 "2012-01-11T21:14:49Z")
Well, the point is to get people talking about their brand. So… mission accomplished, yeah?