Have You Surfed For A Ford, Lately?
The idea behind Ford loaning 100 Ford vehicles to young people, only asking them to post videos/twitter tweets/etc is actually one of the smartest things Ford has done in decades. Let me explain why. First, Ford needs to do better at attracting younger drivers. And thus, this means being willing to embrace social media the RIGHT way. Not just posting up a bunch of company created junk, but being willing to put test users into the driver’s seat…literally.
The real challenge, as the above linked article highlights, is making sure the young drivers selected are not going to end up backfiring on the Ford team that opted to put this plan into action in the first place. Truth be told, I suspect that this will work out quite well as Ford does make some great cards and trucks. The trick however, is matching the right people with the right vehicle.
More interesting in how Ford is going to allow 100 drivers to use their cars for free, is the model selected and the method used for choosing these people. The model is an unknown here in the states called the Fiesta. The method of selection, was done by a video contest where the winners chosen had the best audition video.
8 Comments
Can You Describe Yourself Using Only One Word? | Chris Pirillo
April 9th, 2009
at 3:57am
[...] Have you surfed for a Ford lately? [...]
Twittrblog
April 9th, 2009
at 5:24am
How can I get in on this? I’ll drive a frekkin ford for free…. if all I have to do is tweet/youtube some photos.videos… I’ll even blog it on my own site
Phillip
April 9th, 2009
at 6:36am
The Fiesta has been in the US at least since the early eighties. Maybe they quit selling it here for a bit, but it is definitely not an unknown vehicle here.
In the eighties the Fiesta was a crappy, plasticky, little, cheap sub-compact. Liken it to the Chevy Chevette or Ford Pinto. In fact, I think it was the less-blowuppy versionof the Pinto.
craig
April 9th, 2009
at 7:09am
Fiesta, was (is) an import and has been sold here in the USA on and off for the past 30 years, give or take a few breaks in attempts to sell them. In the UK they have and remain a popular car.
The Fiesta sold in the USA will no doubt be the ones made in Mexico, however the car is also built in Venezuela, China, India, Europe, Brazil, Argentina, and South Africa.
I would hold off buying ANY car that was not built here in the USA IMHO
If you have liquid assets or real cash buy NOW but do not borrow the money.
Detroit Chrysler Guy
April 9th, 2009
at 7:14am
So I’ve had 2generations of Chrysler employees before me, so I’ve grown up in a car family. Ford, that is one of the best marketing “schemes” I have seen in a long time, but 100 cars? That doesn’t seem much seeing how there are more an more teens driving every day. I would figure at least 250. Like I said, good idea, let’s just see if you can survive in the economy
Likaholix Ford ~ Windows Fanatics
April 9th, 2009
at 1:55pm
[...] Have you surfed for a Ford lately? [...]
gypkap
April 9th, 2009
at 8:23pm
I’ve only surfed a ford when it was flooded.
Oh wait–you mean the Ford car? Nope, just Toyotas and Subarus in the last 20 years.
masterofmadness
April 12th, 2009
at 2:26pm
I’m not much a fan for Ford cars, but I can testify that their trucks are surely built “Ford Tough”!
For over 15 years I owned a commercial contractor business, burning thru a fleet of Ford Ranger’s, both 2WD & 4WD, replacing each one after 3-year lease’s. Covering a 3-state region. All of those trucks worked great, with only one needing to visit the service bay – the CD player would jam. Called service, they had one in stock, in and out in 20 minutes. I’d like to have had “F-series” too, but I spent a lot of time in underground parking, with ladder racks, too tight most of the time.
On the other hand – My BMW has seen more time in the service bay than any car I’ve owned in my 40-some years of driving. True, they are the “Ultimate Driving Machine” – When they are happy. There’s nothing like driving 90-100 mph on some mountain twisty roads, in total control and comfort in a BMW, but for the first 2-years, I spent more time driving loaner BMW’s while they fixed mine. Granted, they were all minor, odd things, but still frustrating.
I’d talk up Ford truck’s for a Free ride no problem! Shoot, I just did it for free right here!