Car ads often look similar because all they do, in some form or another, is tap into a common desire: that of freedom and independence, bringing to mind the classic one-hand-on-the-steering wheel imagery American road trips are noted for.
But what about ads for used cars? Does the same advertising logic for them still apply? Well, absolutely — and one guy just proved it.
Guy Uploads Ad For Used Car And The Internet Goes Crazy
The internet was aflame shortly after writer and director Max Lanman uploaded a video on YouTube. It was an ad for his girlfriend's used 1996 Honda Accord, to help her sell it. The video is just a little over a minute long, but it feels oddly recognizable, thanks in part to its uncanny similarity to common car ads seen on TV.
More striking is the fact that the ad doesn't appear to be mocking, condescending, or even poking fun at the hamstrung format of car ads — it's poking fun at itself, putting together ideas of luxury, independence, and glamour with a not-so-glamorous car. It's fun, it has a bite to it, and it's effective.
The ad begins with an actress hopping on the car then setting out toward a majestic cliffside landscape — a common motif in these ads. "You. You're different," a narrator says. "You do things your way. That's what makes you one of a kind."
It helps that the ad looks superbly shot, edited, and lit, making it essentially indistinguishable from the real ones it's trying to parodize. But then this line comes:
"Introducing a used 1996 Honda Accord — a car for people who have life figured out and just need a way to get somewhere."
As if that wasn't funny enough, a fitting tagline ends the video, landing like a punchline.
"Luxury is a state of mind."
The Used Car's Price Is Way, Way Higher Now
The Honda Accord, Greenie, is currently being sold on eBay. The original price was an absolute steal at $499, but because of the incredibly well-made ad, a bidding war just put the price at $20,000.
Lanman was shook.
"We had high hopes for it; we could dream it would go viral or serve as a calling card for commercial or comedy work, but this has completely shattered expectations," he told SFGate.
At the time of writing, the bid currently sits at $50,269.69, and it could possibly be even higher by the time this article is published.
What do you think of the ad? Feel free to sound off in the comments section below!
