Fords, Razors, and Laps, oh my!
Quick update on a totally random day…
Got an email a few days ago from Kristin Foster on behalf of the Ford Motor Company, asking me if I’d like to take a test-drive of the new Ford Fiesta, this cute little European-type “small” car that Ford is bringing in to the US in 2011. Long story short, Ford has recruited 100 “agents” nationwide to drive the new Ford Fiesta for six months as a part of the vehicle’s North American launch. Agents were selected from video submissions and will be completing a variety of challenges over the next six months, testing out the Ford Fiesta and giving feedback on it leading up to the US launch.
I didn’t have the time to grab a car for six months (based on when I’m home, I’d have what, three days to drive it?) but that didn’t stop Ford’s Head of Social Media, Scott Monty, from getting one into my hands anyway. I told him the only time I’d have would be early this morning, and I could drive it to the NY Health and Racquet Club for a swim workout. It’d be early enough to test out the car and see what it could do on relatively empty NYC streets. I never expected him to get up that early, but shockingly, he agreed, and at 6:02am, a Ford Fiesta with a somewhat sleepy Scott was dropped off in front of my apartment!
I gotta say – it’s a cute little car! I was hoping for a manual transmission, (which is really driving, as opposed to an automatic) but no luck – but that didn’t stop me from hitting 11th Avenue and seeing what this cute little 140 horsepower car could do, and I gotta tell you – it was slick! I liked it! I asked Scott all sorts of questions about it, most specifically, did he think the little Europe “small car thing” would ever take off in America. He thinks it will – I’m kind of agreeing with him there – fact is, at $2.00 a gallon, we’re happy to buy SUVs again. But what happens when we’re back at $4? or $5? Or $6, like Europe? There’s a reason the small cars are huge there. (And here, according to CNN, and my quote.)
It's a cute little Ford Fiesta! In Magenta!
Saying goodbye to Scott, I made my way into NY Health and Racquet Club, and 30 laps later, walked back out. Big ups to J. Travis, PR and Brand Manager for NYHRC, who convinced me to give the club another chance. Forgot how good the pool was!
Next stop was The New York Shaving Company – Thanks to John Scala, who donated a prize for the HARO one-year anniversary, I was getting a free shave! And I’ve gotta tell you – I can never shave with a boring old Bic again. Wow. It was awesome.
You know why I don't murder people? It's bad for business.
Finally, back home to work on HARO, ads, and my next few speaking gigs. Typical Tuesday.
April 7th, 2009 at 5:18 pm
Peter:
You missed the climax of your driving story….where did you park? You could have found a great $11 Early Bird Special deal with the Park It! NYC 2009: Complete Guide to Parking Garages book.
Or, you could have used our wonderful new NYC Highway Entrances & Exits Map to get out of the city, and then driven directly to one of Manhattan’s 47 gas stations (you would have known where to find the closest one with our brand new NYC Gas Station Map).
April 7th, 2009 at 5:23 pm
I had a Ford Festiva, back in 1988 after graduating high school (Go Falcons!). I got into a minor fender bender and found out there was STYROFOAM in the bumper! Seriously! I hope 20 years later that they’ve at least upgraded to something a little safer. Perhaps they’re using those packing bags that get blown up with air that protect my office supplies in transit.
Peter, get a hold of that car again and pull back the bumper!
April 7th, 2009 at 11:37 pm
The new Ford Fiesta looks cute. America has tried the Fiesta before, but they never worked and were kind of ugly. The European version was always much nicer and I hope it’ll do well!
April 8th, 2009 at 8:36 am
How is our lunch obviously absent from your day??
April 8th, 2009 at 11:26 am
Ford’s “100 agents” program is a brilliant way to create an online groundswell for the Fiesta. Bravo!
But after chatting with a friend about it (a friend who owns 2 Fords) I wonder how many who worship at the shrine on transparency and authenticity have considered how this campaign co-opts those who participate in it. While Ford places no stipulations on what the users may say about the car, will those who accept this sizable freebie be willing to bite the hand that feeds?
It’s fairly common wisdom in public relations circles that the the best way to build blogger relations is to offer them free stuff. But in fairness, I hear great things about the Fiesta, and wish Ford nothing but the best. Good news from Detroit is too rare these days!
April 9th, 2009 at 3:36 pm
It’s amazing…the Fiesta has been around in Europe for so long. I had my first Fiesta when I was 18, uhm, which is like, uhm, you know, 15 years ago…..it was always a really fuel efficient fun small car….and I always wondered why they would meddle around with the piece of crap “Aspire” in the US….yay for the Fiesta.
April 10th, 2009 at 12:12 pm
Let me know how long it takes you for bic to follow up with a year’s supply of Comfort 3 Advances.
April 16th, 2009 at 10:37 am
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