Naughty Nissan

[Daniel]

From the Nissan website: RE 'The Run'

News September 2, 2003

Nissan denies breach

NISSAN Australia has maintained it did not breach the car industry’s voluntary code of practice with a cinema spot featuring a high-speed car drive that has had complaints against it upheld by the Advertising Standards Board.

It is the second car commercial to have been found to breach the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) Motor Vehicle Code of Practices which was introduced six months ago.

Nissan says the spot—which shows a Nissan 350Z driving at high speed though Prague city streets—is actually a promotional trailer for a short film called The Run which is being sold on DVD through its dealerships and website, and as such is not an ad for the 350Z and therefore not subject to the FCAI Code of Practices.

However, the ASB determined the material drew attention to a “product”, the Nissan 350Z “in a manner calculated to promote… that product”.

It held that the material served two purposes—as an ad for the Nissan 350Z and also an ad for the DVD.

The ASB said the advertisement included an indication of the car reaching speeds of up to 123mph and skidding around bends in a manner that would be illegal in Australia.

The ASB also said Nissan had withdrawn the commercial and had advised that it would not be screened again in its current form.

Nissan director of sales and marketing Paul Stead told the Advertising Standards Board that he was convinced the company had not breached the FCAI Code.

10 July 2003

[rowdytoot]

I think it's about time the ASB and the FCAI got their heads out of each others arts's (?!?)

Wonder if they'll take ads for The Italian Job off, mmm maybe we should ban the movie too... cos it promotes both the movie and the Mini,and driving in an 'illegal manner" ..

Like the stupid furkers up and run em over with a.. something.. I don't care what, as long as it's being driven at the posted speed limit in a "safe" manner.. that'll learn em.. ..

Rowds

[Tweety]

Originally posted by Daniel
The ASB said the advertisement included an indication of the car reaching speeds of up to 123mph and skidding around bends in a manner that would be illegal in Australia.

The phrase 'skidding around bends' to me implies out of control, the media also seem to like the word 'skid', but does anyone who actually competes in any form of motorsport use it? I mean, I would have said sliding or drifting even. Is the implication meant to be that the car must be out of control? .

Then there's the part about 'in a manner that would be illegal in Australia'. I guess they're talking about something similar happening in the Sydney CBD, but to say that it's altogether illegal in Australia... perhaps they should have qualified the comment - it's not like people don't drive like that around race tracks.

I guess I'm just picking holes because I thought it was a really good bit of film .

[Spac]

No, I disagree. The bit where the car is 'skidded' was awful - way after the apex and all wrong.
I wanted to prosecute Nissan as soon as I saw that - you're supposed to be sideways BEFORE the corner kids!

[Tweety]

Originally posted by Spac
No, I disagree. The bit where the car is 'skidded' was awful - way after the apex and all wrong.
I wanted to prosecute Nissan as soon as I saw that - you're supposed to be sideways BEFORE the corner kids!

I must have fallen asleep during that bit - it was fairly long for a lil' tacker like me

[AV1611]

"Skidding in a manner that would be illegal in Australia" indeed.

The following statement should not be read as legal advice and I take no responsibility with what you do with it. I'm simply telling you all an interesting story.

I was once 'busted' for sliding a V6 Commodore wagon (hire car!) around a corner at an intersection. It was after midnight, the road was empty, there were no pedestrians. The policeman just down the road booked me for "Negligent Driving" on the basis that sliding a vehicle is negligent.

I won the case with my defensive argument being that :
1. Whilst the vehicle was sliding, it was under my control at all times.
2. The Police officer could not prove that I wasn't capable of controlling the vehicle in a sliding motion.
3. The Police officer was not aware of my extensive experience controlling sliding vehicles in a safe and controlled environment.
4. I had checked down the road for traffic and/or pedestrians before placing the vehicle into a slide.
5. Technically, I was not in breach of any laws. I maintained my lane, used my indicators etc etc.
6. BUT... the best bit is this. I was charged for "Negligent Driving". The Police officer was unable to prove that I had neglected to do anything that I should have done, and I further added weight to that by pointing out that what I did was done with WILFULL INTENT, and therefore could in no way be described as NEGLIGENT.

I won. Needless to say, but the Police in the courthouse were less than impressed.

If anyone can show me the relevant regulations that says you can't slide a vehicle on a public road, I'd like to know exactly where that regulation can be found and what it says.

Oh, and Spac, you'll be pleased to know that I "backed it in" so to speak. None of this sliding on the way OUT of the corner!

[jem]

haha... that's hilarious.



Not that I condone that sort of behaviour on public streets