When any discussion turns to used cars, it becomes easy to fall on the worn-out tropes that can make automotive blogging feel like some sort of Greatest Hits playlist on repeat.
We can do our best to dispel the stigma attached to used vehicles, by sharing the fact that many properly-maintained vehicles are lasting well beyond the 250,000-mile mark. We can talk about how an audit of car-buyers offering trade-ins has indicated that many of today’s drivers are keeping vehicles over 10 years, as a result of that longevity. We can even elaborate on the inherent value of various automakers’ Certified Pre-Owned programs, that help to provide added assurance to those customers who opt for a used vehicle, over a new model year offering.
But once those conversations grow redundant, and we’re not feeling particularly compelled to wax poetic on a particular make & model (which has been known to happen on a slow Thursday afternoon) we can always rely on a tried-and-true tension breaker…
That’s right. Let’s take a look at the inherent lunacy of used car television spots, as parodied across social media. A cheap, or over-the-top commercial can feel the beast of stereotypes, giving used cars a bad name.
Are these commercials real? Are they not? Who knows?
Here are 5 that brought a smile to our face.
Are you ready to get on the highway?
In this spot from Nelson Mazda, there’s only ONE highway (and it leads to the Danger Zone).
Maybe this spot from Floyd Pinkerton will be less painful to watch…
If you don’t ‘feel the love’, then meet Larry Love. Player…Salesman…
At J&P Automart, all you need is spray tan and a dream..
Finally, there’s this commercial from Pearson Nissan Ocala
(While the goal seems to have been to make fun of overzealous marketing, we have to admit…we kind of want to party with this guy…)
At the end of the day, each of these videos speaks to the kind of stereotypes that fuel people to second-guess buying used cars. All jokes aside, there is a lot of value to be enjoyed from the purchase of a pre-owned vehicle. It just comes down to finding the right dealership.
