More to the point, why don't we get the really cool names they use in foreign/home markets like the Mazda Friendlee Bongo or the Geely King Kong?�
�
Stephen

--- On Fri, 6/18/10, Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM> wrote:

From: Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: NVC vehicle model names? WT_ were they thinking?
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Date: Friday, June 18, 2010, 12:08 PM

� When car and truck companies name a vehicle it's supposed to evoke an
image, right?� Get you, as a prospective buyer thinking about
"the...Whatever.." and how cool it sounds, so you'll be more likely to buy
one of them, right?� Well sometimes that might work.....a little, but most
of the model designations are pretty lame and some are downright
laughable...� Anybody care to cite a few and what they bring to your mind?

� How bout the SUVs?� (I am not dissin anyone's ride here, just commenting
on the Names)���the Yukon, the Armada?���The Tundra?....Brings to my mind
those huge open pit mining trucks driving across a fragile landscape
crushing all kinds of delicate plants and leaving frozen ruts for All of
Time..
� The Range Rover....back in the day that may have been kinda appropriate as
a name forthe very adequate off road vehicles that they were... but now the
name evokes a couple of snobby wanna-be adventure tourists dressed up headed
to a play, driving on the freeway.
Toyota Tercel...does that evoke a small falcon swooping along?� Nope...not
to me anyhow...I think "generic little car" with a dumb name.\
� "Hummer"...nuff said.� Dodge Magnum...that one sort of fits the
vehicle..and Powerstroke Diesel Ford...good description, I guess...But
"Excursion" for the SUV?� Or Tahoe?� I don't think 'beautiful alpine lake'
when I see one of those oversized tanks rolling along with Mom in it, headed
to the supermarket..

� Here's a couple of 're-badge' suggestions:� The old Air cooled vans from
VW should have been called "Antartics" maybe..or "Glaciers"� Aztecs coulda
been called Upchucks.� Land Cruisers could be Land Crushers.� Prius' could
be Prissys.���Pontiac Vibe?...no comment.

� I dunno...I was creeping through Portland, Or. rush hour recently amusing
myself looking at the Marketeers names on all the vehicles and just
chuckling at some of them...Motorhomes are� further out..Even Porsche got
into it recently...with the Cayenne, the Cayman, the Boxster...maybe they
shoulda stuck with the numbers. ..
� Don Hanson