Wow! - Unfunny pranks

Shortly after a 3-year old boy was thrown into a crocodile enclosure by a man with learning difficulties, voucher site Wowcher thought it  would be funny to send out a marketing email titled, "Snap up these deals quicker than a croc can catch a kid!"

The boy received critical injuries after being attacked by the reptiles.  He is no longer critical.

Wowcher had no choice but to apologise and stated that they were instigating an urgent review of their processes.

The BBC story is here.

Today's BBC story is more car related and shows the same lack of insight/common sense of two other companies.

Both indoor golf venue Golf Fang Liverpool, and car parking app Parc, decided to use fake parking tickets to advertise themselves.

I don't think that's very funny and neither did the Advertising Standards Authority, the ASA.

The ASA ruled the adverts, which were all wrapped in yellow and black plastic and placed on windscreens in Liverpool and Manchester, risked causing "unjustifiable distress".

I know if someone put one on my windscreen I would be very annoyed.  I'd probably report them to the ASA and also do what I do if I get electioneering letters from Reform and send them back where they came from with no stamp on the envelope.  Did you know Reform Wirral are based in Millbank in London?

Anyway, while looking for a suitable picture of a parking ticket I found this one:

Apparently Diggerland Theme Parks sell them in packs of 5 including the cellophane packaging so that you can prank people.

What lovely people must visit Diggerland.

And no - I have never ever received a parking ticket.

Topless Models

I've done a search.

Since I started my Blog, I've never used the word "topless" before.

And yet, I've definitely mentioned convertibles.

Including unintentional ones.

And more conventional ones:

But, apparently, they are on their way out.

BBC Business tell us that "over the past 20 years, sales of new open-tops have fallen by nearly 90%, from 109,171 in 2005 to just 11,484 last year, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders."

Their very interesting story is here.

They, like me, blame the rise of the SUV.

It has already seen off the Mondeo class of car, The Fiesta and the Focus.  And threatens the saloon and estate.

I mean, why enjoy the thrill of open-top motoring with the thrum of the engine and wind in your ears when you can sit in a huge box that isn't designed to go around corners properly?

The rise in popularity of Electric cars is also being blamed with only two electric convertibles currently on sale in the UK - the MG Cyberster (which does seem funky) and the Mini electric convertible (reviewed here by Carwow) which is coming over in VERY small numbers and costs £52,500!

The Cyberster is a bit more than that again.

Even non-electric convertibles are relatively few and far between - our American cousins seem to have a bit more choice.

But overall (or not overall because they don't have a roof) - it's looking bleak for those that enjoy a bit of topless fun.

Chatanooga Ooh Ooh

Our local council use to put on a free firework display on bonfire night before the Tories cut the budgets to help out the bankers.

Looks like the good people of Chatanooga got their own free display last week.

The BBC have the story and video here.

Feeling the Buzz

If I said, "Toy Story Porker", you'd probably think of Hamm, the toy piggy bank voiced by Cliffy from Cheers.

Seen here with the annoying dinosaur from the Argos adverts.

Although not as annoying as the doll from the Argos adverts.

But that's besides the point.

Now, if I said Buzz car, and I hadn't already put Toy Story into your head, you'd probably think of the VW ID Buzz.

And if I said Woody car, and I hadn't already put Toy Story into your head, you'd probably think of something, probably American, like this:

But you'd be wrong.

Because the Porker in question is Porsche.  They are cashing in on the latest Toy Story movie by producing 3 new special edition 911s based on Toy Story characters:

Car+Driver have the story here.

The Buzz Lightyear 911 is a GT3 RS in white, green, and purple color scheme.

The Jessie one is a Targa 4 GTS with cow-print floor mats and a paint job that mimics her outfit.

The Woody one, a Carrera T, seems a bit of a stretch though (which is apparently a purple octopus toy voiced by Whoopie Goldberg) because its paintwork is meant to look like his jeans.

Actually, I'm being uncharitable saying that they are cashing in, because these are actually one-offs to be sold off in aid of charities.

But my favourite Woody is this one:

Cheers!

Have Ferrari Seen The "Light?"

Or "Luce" 

Possibly not. 

I gave my view on Tuesday together with the reactions of Autocar and Auto Express and their readers.

Since then there has been a lot more reaction.

Described (quite accurately) by the BBC as "backlash." 

This backlash is Worldwide.  Including one of my favourite YouTube Channels, Gas Monkey Garage, with Shorts such as this and this.

There was a third one that seems to have disappeared now in which Richard Rawlings reminded us of his version of an electric Ferrari...

...which actually looks like a Ferrari (because it was built from one) but more importantly keeps the ethos of one.

There is much speculation that because the Luce most defintely DOES NOT follow the Ferrari ethos and DOES NOT look like a Ferrari that it will not sell.

I am pleased that Ferrari are not insisting that buyers have to purchase one of these in order to join the waiting lists for other future cars - this would have been a way to ensure sales.

Personally, I thought the Purosangue was more of a affront but that seems to have slipped under the radar as it is not electric despite being an SUV - which you may have noticed I hate more than electric cars. 

However, I think the Luce WILL sell.  It is a very good car.  Speculators will see a profit eventually and a new breed of rich weirdos will like this product.  It just won't sell to your average (and affluent) Ferrari fan.

And definitely won't sell to your average non-affluent Ferrari fan. 

I think the mistake is that it has the Ferrari name on it - they should have just called it The Luce.

Remember the Dino?  Lots of people do.