Give me an effing break

[SVT666]

VW SELF-CENSORS TO APPEASE PRESSURE GROUPS
By Mark Kleis

Each day, the legal system in America becomes progressively more invasive, more absurd and more dangerous, both to companies and to private citizens. Through the fear of liability, pressure groups are able to curtail free speech in a way that no U.S. administration could ever dream of doing ? yet.

Even comedy must be prefaced by a small essay of legal jargon to ensure viewers don?t attempt to apply the absurdities therein to their lives. There was a time when one could watch a commercial or read a newsprint ad and realize that the advertisement was exactly that ? an advertisement. When the ads were clearly satirical or completely outrageous, they were viewed as such.

Those days appear to be gone. The latest victim of of the trigger-happy legal climate is Volkswagen. The company?s latest advertisement, ?Shoot the Gap,? was felled without a single legal shot being fired. All it took was a
Facebook group with a few hundred crybabies to scare VW into pulling the ad.

The 30 second spot features a young couple test-driving a new Jetta with the guidance of a VW salesman. The self-proclaimed ?conservative drivers? show little interest in the car?s Autobahn roots, until they?re presented with an opportunity to ?shoot the gap? between a pair of semis on the freeway. Oh, the horror!

[hotrodalex]

What was even wrong with it? Should we pull all the sports car commercials that show them doing donuts and drifting? What about that BFGoodrich commercial where they were drifting around a track just inches from the wall? OMG that's dangerous it will teach our kids to do that!!!!1!!

[sportyaccordy]

What was even wrong with it? Should we pull all the sports car commercials that show them doing donuts and drifting? What about that BFGoodrich commercial where they were drifting around a track just inches from the wall? OMG that's dangerous it will teach our kids to do that!!!!1!!

Those are next, now that you mention it. However, violent movies are still fair game.

[Jon?]

If I don't see a 'Do Not Attempt' disclaimer at some point in the commerical, I AM FUCKING ATTEMPTING IT!!!!!

[Tave]

If I don't see a 'Do Not Attempt' disclaimer at some point in the commerical, I AM FUCKING ATTEMPTING IT!!!!!

I'll represent you in your suit against VW after the semi trucks turn you into a human taco. We'll make millions.

[Jon?]

I'll represent you in your suit against VW after the semi trucks turn you into a human taco. We'll make millions.

You can shove my cash through my breathing tube.

[sportyaccordy]

I'll represent you in your suit against VW after the semi trucks turn you into a human taco. We'll make millions.

Then Jon can finally carry out his dream...

[Jon?]

'Loose one turn'.  I missed that the first time I saw it.  Awesome.

[SVT32V]

I found the other VW commercial talking about he autobahn to be hilarious, at first I thought they were seriously trying to sell people that VWs are some kind of autobahn monsters. Then I realized they are probably making fun of themselves or the fools that would actually think autobahn and VWs.

[AltinD]

I found the other VW commercial talking about he autobahn to be hilarious, at first I thought they were seriously trying to sell people that VWs are some kind of autobahn monsters. Then I realized they are probably making fun of themselves or the fools that would actually think autobahn and VWs.

Yeah, what a German car has to do with Autobahns? Autobahn is for Civics, Corollas, Camrys and Crapalliers

[SVT32V]

Yeah, what a German car has to do with Autobahns? Autobahn is for Civics, Corollas, Camrys and Crapalliers

double

Obviously any car can go on the autobahn, but the insinuation is that VWs are cruising the autobahn at a 190 mph like a porsche 997 GT2.

Look VWs are nice cars, nicer than your avg plebeian car, but nonetheless they are still fwd based cars for the proletariat and not supercars or even exceptional performing cars.

Save for the phantom phateon, there isn't much from VW that I would want to cruise at 140 mph or more.

[2o6]

Solid steering, suspension tuned for high speeds......

[Cookie Monster]

Solid steering, suspension tuned for high speeds......

Drum brakes, beam suspension....

[2o6]

Drum brakes, beam suspension....

Huh?

[Cookie Monster]

Huh?

You said that VW's had stiff steering and suspension suited for high speeds.

I (jokingly) pointed out that the new Jetta has some craptastic features.

[MX793]

Drum brakes, beam suspension....

Every Jetta (and Golf) made prior to the MkV has had a torsion beam rear end.  The Fiesta uses a torsion beam.  The Euro Civic Type R uses a torsion beam.  The Astra uses a torsion beam (even in VXR trim).  It is far from the worst suspension setup out there.  No, it's not "sophisticated" and yes, it's cheap and technically inferior to the multilink setup in the MkV, but it's not like they reverted to a stick axle and leaf springs.

[2o6]

You said that VW's had stiff steering and suspension suited for high speeds.

I (jokingly) pointed out that the new Jetta has some craptastic features.

Every Jetta (and Golf) made prior to the MkV has had a torsion beam rear end.  The Fiesta uses a torsion beam.  The Euro Civic Type R uses a torsion beam.  The Astra uses a torsion beam (even in VXR trim).  It is far from the worst suspension setup out there.  No, it's not "sophisticated" and yes, it's cheap and technically inferior to the multilink setup in the MkV, but it's not like they reverted to a stick axle and leaf springs.

Euro Jetta retains multilink rear.


It's not necessarily a bad thing, (I mean, VW practically invented torsion beams) but the wording in the press release IMO made VW sound like they look down on the American market in general.

[AltinD]

double

Obviously any car can go on the autobahn, but the insinuation is that VWs are cruising the autobahn at a 190 mph like a porsche 997 GT2.

Look VWs are nice cars, nicer than your avg plebeian car, but nonetheless they are still fwd based cars for the proletariat and not supercars or even exceptional performing cars.

Save for the phantom phateon, there isn't much from VW that I would want to cruise at 140 mph or more.

How often do people drive 190 mph on Autobahns?

And then I rather drive 140+ on a VW Passat then something else of the same class, same with the Golf.

[The Phantom]

Yeah that new Corvette commercial with the ZR-1 makes me want to go out and do burnouts.



It actually does.    But I'm not going to start a Failbook group to try to get it pulled.

[sportyaccordy]

With better brakes & spring+shocks, an Accord/Camry can be made to handle on the Autobahn. It's not exactly rocket science.

[AltinD]

With better brakes & spring+shocks, an Accord/Camry can be made to handle on the Autobahn. It's not exactly rocket science.

Where do you guys get the idea that the Autobahn is a racing circuit? It's a freaking highway where you can drive fast. Driving constantly at a excessive speed doesn't have much to do with how a car handles, but how it sticks at the tarmac, how well it is build to avoid rattles and shaking, how good the brakes are and of course how aligned the body panels are.

The Mitsu EVO might be a fast car but remember some years back Top Gear episode that it started undressing self of panels and trim pieces under excessive high speed driving?

[SVT666]

I've been on the Autobahn a few times and people are generally travelling around 90-110 mph.  Most of the Autobahns have speed limits now anyway.  I've seen cars travelling at well over 200 km/h, but they are few. 

[AutobahnSHO]

I've been on the Autobahn a few times and people are generally travelling around 90-110 mph.  Most of the Autobahns have speed limits now anyway.  I've seen cars travelling at well over 200 km/h, but they are few. 

I only had enough open road to get my car to the max 140mph a couple times in the 2 years I drove the SHO. The wifey's speed limit was 90mph when she was in the car, we were still passing about 85% of cars out there.

[SVT_Power]

Where do you guys get the idea that the Autobahn is a racing circuit? It's a freaking highway where you can drive fast. Driving constantly at a excessive speed doesn't have much to do with how a car handles, but how it sticks at the tarmac, how well it is build to avoid rattles and shaking, how good the brakes are and of course how aligned the body panels are.

The Mitsu EVO might be a fast car but remember some years back Top Gear episode that it started undressing self of panels and trim pieces under excessive high speed driving?

I think he's just talking about high speed handling/stability in general. Most cars at triple digits speeds get pretty scary.

[SVT_Power]

I only had enough open road to get my car to the max 140mph a couple times in the 2 years I drove the SHO. The wifey's speed limit was 90mph when she was in the car, we were still passing about 85% of cars out there.

If I had a chance, I'd go out at like 3-4am so I could try to hit top speed every once in a while 

[GoCougs]

   on VW being more Autobahn "worthy" than any other plebeian brand...

But I agree - when I first saw the commercial I thought it was not a good idea.

[AutobahnSHO]

If I had a chance, I'd go out at like 3-4am so I could try to hit top speed every once in a while 

Dangerous.
Germany is the size of Montana. Most Autobahn has forest on both sides of it. Deer live in forests. Lots of deer live in Montana. (Not as much in Germany because lots more peoples live there than Montana.)

Why did the deer cross the road? Because there was a car coming.

Also, curiously enough, there are NO STREETLIGHTS on the majority of the Autobahn, even for exits.
And most exits are "cloverleaf" style, and the vast majority have guardrail that's been replaced, with skidmarks marking the replaced sections.

Plus they don't warn about "lower speed limit ahead". They put a speed limit sign and you should be going that speed as you pass it.

[SVT_Power]

Dangerous.
Germany is the size of Montana. Most Autobahn has forest on both sides of it. Deer live in forests. Lots of deer live in Montana. (Not as much in Germany because lots more peoples live there than Montana.)

Why did the deer cross the road? Because there was a car coming.

Also, curiously enough, there are NO STREETLIGHTS on the majority of the Autobahn, even for exits.
And most exits are "cloverleaf" style, and the vast majority have guardrail that's been replaced, with skidmarks marking the replaced sections.

Plus they don't warn about "lower speed limit ahead". They put a speed limit sign and you should be going that speed as you pass it.

Oh man. I'd definitely go for top speed runs. I love wooded roads. Especially ones without much of a shoulder. I refuse to go on rollercoasters yet I get off on (speeding on) roads like that.

But the no warning for speed limits is not cool.

[CALL_911]

Oh man. I'd definitely go for top speed runs. I love wooded roads. Especially ones without much of a shoulder. I refuse to go on rollercoasters yet I get off on (speeding on) roads like that.

But the no warning for speed limits is not cool.

+1

[MX793]

Oh man. I'd definitely go for top speed runs. I love wooded roads. Especially ones without much of a shoulder. I refuse to go on rollercoasters yet I get off on (speeding on) roads like that.

Ever see what happens when a car hits a deer at high speed?