Hey! That New VW Facebook App Just Insulted Me
VW launched an interesting new Facebook Application. The basic premise is this: their application will “analyze” your Facebook profile, and then let you know which Volkswagen fits your “personality perfectly”. On the surface this seems like a great idea. Fun, simple, with a natural integration of the product (cars do tend to be an emotional purchase after all). Plus, it has the potential to spread virally once people start loading their news feeds with “I’m a CC” or “I’m A Jetta”. No guarantees that it would go viral, but in a day and age when those “Living Social” quizzes are seeing over 31 million monthly users, the potential is definitely there.
Then, I had the app “analyze” my profile and I got my results. My initial intrigue was quickly and soundly kicked aside as I learned that the VW that fits my “personality perfectly” is a Passat Wagon. This result was met by a resounding “WTF?”. Not even the regular Passat? But the Wagon??? Really? This app just told me I had the personality of a soccer-mom, and subsequently, I wanted to punch it right in the face. I’m not gonna lie, I’ve been called worse. But still, doesn’t exactly endear the VW brand to me.
So, maybe it’s my profile? Maybe it’s not a real representation of “me”? Well, let’s see: my profile clearly stats that I’m 32, single, male, live at the beach in LA, and work in advertising. In my opinion there’s nothing about that data that screams Passat Wagon. Right? There’s just no way I’m in VW’s target demo for a Passat Wagon. And if I am, then there are much bigger issues than just this application.
CP&B, guys, let’s work on that “algorithm” or this app may end up hurting the brand more than it helps it…
Tags: CP&B, Facebook Application, Living Social, Passat Wagon, Volkswagen
The Passat Wagon must be a default. I ran the app on my profile as well and got the Wagon and the CC. Looks as if you at least got the GTI; that is a sweet little hatchback. I am not even sure what the CC is — I’d rather have the GTI.
May 5th, 2009 at 3:12 pmI got the Touareg and the Passat Wagon. yeah….. not even close.
May 5th, 2009 at 5:20 pmI got the Touareg and the Passat Wagon too. Maybe they’re trying to push those models since no one is buying them! Although that would mean R32 should come up more often. It had a 89.6% drop since January last year. Ouch.
http://www.media.vw.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=10442
May 5th, 2009 at 5:36 pmHmmmmm “Strange things are afoot at the Circle K”. Hopefully it’s a crazy coincidence, but it appears as though they gamed their own system.
I tell you guys what, there’s no way I’m in the market for that Family Truckster…
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May 5th, 2009 at 8:38 pmYou all should be happy it matched you with the wagon! It went straight for the minivans when I tried it (the Routan and Tiguan). I don’t even have any kids!!
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