Some insurance companies close track day loopholes
In the NY Times Oct 17th: NY Times article
Bad news for everybody – and of course the dunderheads at the insurance companies don’t realize that track days make most of us better drivers. Unfortunately, inevitably, we’ve seen a lot of kid stuff at track days. There are a certain class of kiddies whose poor judgment has caused them so many accidents on the street, dirt, and on the track that they are not insurable by mainline insurance companies. Inevitably, those people’s poor records (and their big whining mouths) are now taking track days from the rest of us.
Caveman commercials – the next step
The Caveman commercials have been extremely popular – and several were made since the original one. Perhaps more will be made yet, but in the meantime the team that brought them to the screen has now taken then to ABC, where the Cro-Magnon pre-humans will have their own show this fall. And they live in Atlanta.
Here’s an out-take from the pilot episode: http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid900723872/bclid900497044/bctid900576207
You can see that the caveman are again hip and modern – although their reference to a no-class rap song is something that the classy and sophisticated – intelligent- cavemen from the television commercials would never have done. It looks like the cavemen are de-volving into crude pre-humans again?
Reference:
- Cavemans Crib – Geico site showing the sophistication and class of the cavemen: http://www.drivingenthusiast.net/sec-blog/categories/autoIndustryAdvertising/2007/02/05.html#a1993
- Entire string of Cavemen commercials: http://www.drivingenthusiast.net/sec-blog/categories/autoIndustryAdvertising/2007/02/05.html#a1992
Industry Advertising Blog:
Caveman’s Crib!
While looking at the new Geico Caveman commercial – the best series of commercials in years – we came across the new Geico site Caveman’s Crib.
This is a tour of his “crib”, #1231. Move your mouse around the screen – note that things light up. You can also tour some rooms.
Note – there is something odd here: there are two websites which appear identical (the object ID of the flash is the same). But why two sites? There may be a clue in one of the magazines.
and http://www.cavemanscrib.com/
Note the reference to his roommate “T”, who is in the newest commercial and has a girlfriend (although there is a message on the answering machine to the contrary).
Be sure to see the 2nd Talia Shire commercial on his TV!
And guess who has a blog?
All in all, great (automotive) advertising!
Now when do we get to see his Mother, and when do we learn what he drives?
New Geico Caveman commercial!
If you’ve been following this series of ads - and an earlier post on my Auto Industry Advertising Blog has links to them all as well as to my commentary, then you’ll be glad to see not just one more commercial but two – and a new website as well.
The first is the next official commercial in the series. There is not much new here other than the appearance of the caveman roomate named “T”. But it does also set the stage for the second item below by showing us the caveman party. And that there is an issue between two of the cavemen – one has “cheated”.
And then there is a second commercial – with a link to an important site. Be sure to follow the link….
Follow-up: more Geico Caveman Car Insurance Commercials
This is great:
Now we have spoofs of the famous series!
This new GEICO caveman trailer features Eliot Lipp’s “Flashlight” from the upcoming Steele Street Scraps EP:
Creative Advertising: The Geico Caveman Commercials
Speaking of the great advertising that MINI creates, have you seen the brilliant Geico Caveman car insurance commercials?
In a staged ad, Geico manages to put its foot in its mouth by suggesting that their website is so easy to use a “Caveman could do it”. What Geico should have known is that cavemen still exist, and they were offended by this ad (how they somehow survived, or were unfrozen from Siberia – we don’t know).
For your viewing pleasure, here are the ads in the series to date:
The Offensive Ad (note that a member of the crew is a caveman – look at the hair on him!)
Apology to the Offensive Ad (cavemen are sophisticated)
At the Apartment (note that despite the metrosexual lifestyle, the painting on the wall is that of a beast being hunted. That’s why I believe he is conflicted, stuck in two ages)
At the Airport (note the tennis racket and preppy clothes)
Call to complain
The Talk Show (sendup of Fox News)
Getting Therapy
Now that they have referred to his Mom, they have to show us what she looks like! I had some initial ideas: that maybe she would wear perils and vacuum all day, like June Cleaver? Or maybe wears a set of Dame Edna eyeglasses? Falsetto voice aka Python? Or played by a guy in drag? Micro-manages his life? Already using Geico - why isn’t he? Maybe a tough dame who has been in the slammer? Or she has a boyfriend – but he is a human 21st-century human? Or maybe she is dating a Larry Fortenski type (to remind her of her base roots)? But does his Mom have to be an embarrassment? NO!
The 10 costliest cars to insure
The Highway Loss Data Institute has produced a list of the top ten cars to insure. The S2000 is prominently in the 7th place.
Note that insurance cost isn’t necessarily a reflection of safety. And, as the last sentence of the article points out, it’s important to keep your fun car as a second car – to be driven driven only on weekends. That will dramatically lower your insurance costs.