By Brett Gottdener on Saturday, September 29, 2001 - 08:07 pm: Edit

I believe that Chevy is conveying an inappropriate depiction of off-roading. There is a new commercial which features the Chevy Avalanche driving through the desert. The commercial is part of their "change" series, where the truck goes from closed back to open. This is a really stupid commercial line-up, but that is beside the point.
I believe that their commercial goes against some of the opinions held by the Tread Lightly program. Where the truck seems to be running aimlessly through the desert. The truck is airborne at one point and could have sustained damage from the severity of the impact. Not to say that driving like this is directly unresponsible, but it conveys a message to the public. This message is quite clear. I know that there are people who enjoy the outdoors without the use of a vehicle. From their perspective, it must be very frustrating and rude to see a vehicle being drivin in such a manner. I know that we all get carried away sometimes and do spray a little dirt, but this should not be the feature of a commercial. Any thoughts?

Brett Gottdener
94 RRClassic LWB

By Moe (Moe) on Sunday, September 30, 2001 - 04:54 am: Edit

I think you are asking too much of advertising to produce public spirited or responsible messages. They just want to sell cars and make money! Who cares about the environment--certainly not Chevy. Anyway, I saw one of the Avalanches yesterday and I am sure if it went off-road it would live up to its name and all that plastic shit would avalanche of the rig and onto the dirt. Flimsy looking POS.

By Rob Davison (Pokerob) on Sunday, September 30, 2001 - 05:23 am: Edit

yeah, LR used to have commercials with camel trophy trucks beating the hell out of the land and the trucks. it's partly the reason i like landrovers. few manufacturers have the balls to show thier vehicle being "used"

i dont know about this avalanche in the desert (wont it melt.)

but x-terra is flying around in the desert now too, and frankly it's pretty cool. treading lightly doesn't have to mean everywhere. a sand dune for instance, what the hell are you going to mess uo there? in a few days it will all blow over...

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Quote:

This message is quite clear. I know that there are people who enjoy the outdoors without the use of a vehicle. From their perspective, it must be very frustrating and rude to see a vehicle being drivin in such a manner. I know that we all get carried away sometimes and do spray a little dirt, but this should not be the feature of a commercial. Any thoughts?

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By Brett Gottdener on Sunday, September 30, 2001 - 06:43 am: Edit

Ok, I see your points. But Rob, I do not understand why you made this statement-

"what i find annoying is people like yourself trying to dumb down a commercial. i guess you don't think the rest of society can figure out the hidden adgenda nissan is sending us... destroy the earth!"

I can understand the first sentence, because that is your opinion. But your second sentence is an accusation, and is a misunderstanding of the direction my original comment was coming from. I simply wanted to know what other people felt when they saw the commercial. are you mocking me.

If you (general sense) were out mountain biking or backpaking, and saw a truck, how would you like to see it drivin? Simply cruising through the desert in a controlled manner, or charging everything in sight?

Think of the environmentalists and politicians trying to close down trails. What kind of thoughts do you think the commercial provokes. Do you think it makes them want to keep the trails open.

I think there are many ways to show off a trucks capabilities. Such as the Nissan Xterra charging up the sand dunes, which stresses the useability of the vehicle but still shows it's capabilities.

Brett Gottdener

By Anonymous on Sunday, September 30, 2001 - 06:58 am: Edit

How about the Land Rover commercial with the Trek Discos doing some off-roading. If somebody(a tree-hugger) saw that, they would think the same way you did. It's the way you look at things, I guess.

By Rob Davison (Pokerob) on Sunday, September 30, 2001 - 05:13 pm: Edit

brett,

yes i was mocking you.

if i were out hiking and didn't want to see a truck i'd go somewhere where they couldn't go.

mountain biking???? they rip up the walking paths!

i havent seen the avalanche commercial, maybe it is rediculous. i thought you were talking about the x-terra commercial which i found nothing wrong with.

sometimes i just feel like bitching, you know....


rd

By Erik Olson (Jon) on Monday, October 01, 2001 - 07:19 pm: Edit

I think the original point was well made - the advertisment endorses a spirited jaunt in a POS American SUV over pristine land (no trail in sight).

While our crowd seems to tread lightly, others who off-road recreationally do not. A militant (Berkeley residents in my area) tree-hugger with little better to do than worry about my recreational activities may misconstrue this commercial as an endorsement for ripping it up on virgin land.

The Sierra Club is a terrific example of an organization that pursued mountain bikers for years, closing miles of trials to scores of enthusiasts.

At the same time, the SC folks run their dogs and ride their 15 hand horses (and the fifty pounds-per-ride worth of shit each one makes) on the same trail without any consideration for others and how they may feel about having to step aside to allow them by, and dodge the twenty foot-long pile of crap their horses leave behind.

The original post has a valid point in light of all the closures in Southern California to off-road enthusiasts. A few do-gooders decide for all of us (tread-lightly's and hard-core rock-crawlers) how or if we get to use public space for our hobby.

I think he was playing devil's advocate, so let's not get too excited.

Erik (I pick up my dog's shit) Olson

By artt on Tuesday, October 02, 2001 - 12:17 am: Edit

Sigh..., I'm planning to buy a disco for my new hobby, but I kept on hearing about the dread trail closure, especially in socal. By the time I get a truck, the only sanctioned off-roading probably would be in some 4x4 adventure park..., well, maybe not that bad. Even if the only environmental damage on a trail is dirt disruption, someone will still think you're raping mother Earth.

When I first saw that commercial, my concern was, Chevy actually advertise driving their truck like that? I didn't notice any of those caption, "professional driver; do not attempt" for legal protection--maybe it ll come up soon.

The x-terra commercial is my favorite. Why can't LR make more ads like that instead of some boring informercial? Obviously they're aiming at different demograph. Does anyone know where the x-terra commerical is made? Is it Pismo beach?

Art (I step on dog shit) Tsai

By gp (Garrett) on Tuesday, October 02, 2001 - 02:49 am: Edit

i am an avid mt. biker and have found it more and more frustrating to see more trail closures all over the country.....ranging from downtown Philly to wide open spaces out west. but what has happened is that the sport has gotten a bad rap due to a part of the sport infested by some dip shits who go off marked trails in heavily riden areas.(among other things) this does not take long for the environ people to take note of this (which they should) and start closing trails (which shouldn't) for mt. bikers. but what many local and national groups are doing to make good with the locals and environ groups is having 'trail days' where we as riders get out there on the weekends and maintain the trails we use. cleaning up trash, creating water bars, clearing logs, bridges, relocating heavy use trails, etc. this helps the bad image riding gets immensely. but what i had found while living in Bucks Co. (horse capital of the N.E) is that mt. bikers had to take the short bus while equestrians rode where the hell they wanted to and whenever. i was threatened on a weekly basis by fat ass park police riding overpriced Cannondale's that if they caught me (like they could have...hehe) they would slap a $500 fine on me for riding any trails in a specific park. now no offence to Karen or any other horse lovers. i love horses too......use to have a Bavarian Dutch Warmblood for years. but they have the $ and the mt. bikers didn't and it was that simple in Bucks Co. but just as the mt. bikers have to do a little more ass kissing i think we as a group of off road enthusists we have to do the same from time to time to keep a good image. especially among all the other groups out there getting to a trail heads and just going balls out with no trail in site, while leaving a trail of bud light along the way. i mean at least drink good beer. (after getting to your camping spot!!)

i will get off my overpriced soap box now.

By Erik Olson (Jon) on Tuesday, October 02, 2001 - 11:55 am: Edit

Garrett,

You're right about making an effort in helping to maintain trails - this does create good PR, and has obvious merit environmentally.

Northern California Rover Club routinely works as a group on Mendocino National Forest land doing clean-up and maintenance. They also recently participated in a big weekend job along the famous Rubicon. Still, powerful lobbying groups (e.g. Sierra Club) have succeeded in shutting down vast areas of open space to decent people who know the importance of acting responsibly and doing their part to keep the land from suffering in the name of recreation.

Erik

By Another anon ahole on Tuesday, October 02, 2001 - 01:13 pm: Edit

I heard that Chevy used 2 Avalanches in that commercial. Apparenrly the first one broke down after that first hill jumping/descending scene.

By Bluegill (Bluegill) on Tuesday, October 02, 2001 - 01:31 pm: Edit

does that mean you get 2 when they sell you one?

By KJ on Tuesday, October 02, 2001 - 04:37 pm: Edit

gp,

No offense taken, though if you've owned a horse you should know you can have ONE, but not the other. Choose: Horses, or MONEY! LOL!

Karen ;)

P.S. I hope that was a warmblood cross you owned, because Bavarians and Dutch Warmbloods are two different breeds. Kinda like the Toyota Land Rovers we all drive.

By gp (Garrett) on Wednesday, October 03, 2001 - 02:37 am: Edit

karen~ yeah.....meant to put a / between the two names. i personally did not breed them. but a great horse nevertheless. a gentle giant to say the least. but my ex was into horses in a big way. use to compete at Devon for 20 years. won nationals there once. but we just kept this horse at the University of Vermont stables while living there. that is all done with.

ps: i am not familiar with the Bavanian breed, but i am guessing that one would be the TOYota and Dutch Warmblood would be the Rover. i have my truck 'fixed' anyhow!! kept driving off on its own......i think you know the feeling. hehe

By KJ on Wednesday, October 03, 2001 - 04:06 am: Edit

LOL! gp, where do I look to see if my Rover needs "fixing"???? A discrete check under.....where? Is that the real reason for hi-lifts?

Karen, takin' it's keys away right NOW! ;)

By gp (Garrett) on Wednesday, October 03, 2001 - 04:49 am: Edit

well for a good year my truck would find itself lodged and stuck on fallen trees, ravines and the occasional rock. it was pretty obvious that he was getting a little ornary and something needed to be done.
therefore beginning with minor modifications and promising many more, he has not wandered off and been getting 'stuck' as often. this not only helps with his ego, but his ability as he enters manhood.
with the mention of new 'sliders' and biggers 'tires' he only gains more confidence everyday.
so keep up with the upgrades and make sure you consider getting your feet bound!!! makes it easier to keep the foot on JUST the brake.



ps: i hear that removing the harmonic balancer is a start with having your truck 'fixed'.