This summer marks the 25th anniversary of Nike’s “Just Do It” slogan.
A recent article in USA Today recalls how legendary advertising agency Wieden+Kennedy tweaked the original slogan, “Let’s Do It,” to fit the Nike brand. Nike has never been the same as “Just Do It” has become synonymous with the brand–and vice versa.
This got us thinking about some of the best (and worst) slogans in the automotive world. There have been some good ones. There have been some really bad ones. And worst of all, there have been hundreds of forgettable ones. Here are our ten faves, along with our five most hated. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section (we’re sure we missed some good ones).
Our 10 Best Automotive Slogans of All Time
10. Have You Driven a Ford Lately?
Brand: Ford
Comment: If they had to ask the question, apparently not many people had, in fact, driven a Ford lately. Still, one of the most memorable of Ford’s many slogans.
9. Fahrvergnugen!
Brand: Volkswagen
Comment: Not sure what it means, but we sure remember the slogan. Hope it means something good.
8. We’re Driving Excitement!
Brand: Pontiac
Comment: “Pontiac Excitement” is a phrase that stuck with the company for a long time–right up until its demise.
7. Zoom Zoom
Brand: Mazda
Comment: Confession: We actually hate this slogan, but it gets stuck in your head–exactly what an advertising slogan is supposed to do.
6. This is Not Your Father’s Oldsmobile
Brand: Oldsmobile
Comment: Apparently, your dad’s Olds was much slower and stodgier than the late-60s cars this slogan represented.
5. Oh, What a Feeling!
Brand: Toyota
Comment: It was part slogan, part jingle. And we can still see the 1980s commercials that featured it.
4. See the USA in Your Chevrolet
Brand: Chevrolet
Comment: The Chevy brand was always good at appealing to your patriotic side with its slogans–and this one rhymes. It’s the simple things that make us happy.
3. There’s a Rocket to Fit Your Pocket
Brand: Oldsmobile
Comment: Get your mind out of the gutter and enjoy this 1950s slogan pushing Oldsmobile’s mass appeal. Did we mention we like rhymes?
2. The Ultimate Driving Machine
Brand: BMW
Comment: It’s not a car, it’s a machine. And this slogan makes us want to own one.
1. The Heartbeat of America
Brand: Chevrolet
Comment: Chevrolet has had many slogan over the year, but this one sticks with us the most.
Our 5 Worst Automotive Slogans of All Time
5. Relieves Gas Pains.
Brand: Volkswagen
Comment: So does Gas-X and Bean-O. Does it actually run?
4. Drive One.
Brand: Ford
Comment: Just one?
3. Hi.
Brand: Dodge Neon
Comment: Some called this slogan cute. We called it annoying. We said “hi” to a Neon once, and then said “hello” to a new transmission shortly thereafter. But we’re not bitter.
2. When Better Automobiles are Built, Buick Will Build Them.
Brand: Buick
Comment: Translation: “We’ll get around to making a better vehicle when we feel like it.” Or something like that. Right?
1. Isn’t That the Kind of Car America Wants?
Brand: Plymouth
Comment: Be careful what you ask. In some cases, you might not like the answer.
The quality of the car is seen how much cost it. It depends on the price, because a real good car will be expensive, I mean the car deserves this money to be paid for. I suggest it can be seen in most of auctions websites, like http://repokar.com/ There you can differ the prices if it is new or used.
I was once a ford only guy but now all of them are the same to me now
“3. Hi.
Brand: Dodge Neon
Comment: Some called this slogan cute. We called it annoying. We said “hi” to a Neon once, and then said “hello” to a new transmission shortly thereafter. But we’re not bitter.”
^^^This*** just made my night. LMAO
“HI” David Fuller. Just so you know I “still” have my 1995 Dodge Neon that I bought back in April 1994 .. 22 years later and it runs like the day I bought it and I “still ” love it. Your article needs to be re-editied…
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1084012462074.13354.1279243663&type=3
MG Your mother wouldn’t like it
ford should take a look at youtube,type in,what ford really stands for
This ‘Could Have Been’ a great sales slogan!
In the 1965 Car & Driver road test of Shelby’s new GT-350 Mustang, the author offered the following summation: “Not a woman’s car by any means, nor perhaps a gentleman’s car, but surely a man’s car, in the tradition of the Blower Bentley or the Cad-Allard. And in this day and age, any car one’s wife would refuse to drive is a pearl beyond price”!
“9. Fahvergnugen!
Brand: Volkswagen
Comment: Not sure what it means, but we sure remember the slogan. Hope it means something good.”
Correct spelling is Fahrvergnügen and it means “Driving Pleasure”.
Fukngruvin.
“Fahrfromlëgal: It’s what makes a car a Volkswagen.” !
“HI” David Fuller. Just so you know I “still” have my 1995 Dodge Neon that I bought back in April 1994 .. 22 years later and it runs like the day I bought it and I “still ” love it. Your article needs to be re-editied…
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1084012462074.13354.1279243663&type=3
Lucky you. It was cute – and…it’s probably the only one still on the road…. Mine – same year required a new head gasket like clockwork every 30k miles – $700ish each time +. Then… when the paint started peeling off the hood… NEVER EVER EVER BUYING THAT BRAND AGAIN!!!!! SMH!!!!!
“This is not you father’s Oldsmobile” was an ad campaign in the late 1980’s not the 60’s. It turned off many Oldsmobile owners who had bought and driven Olds for years. The 1988 cars they were pushing were crap compared to the 50’s through ‘70’s Olds. This should truly be on the worst list. It helped kill a great American Marque
I had been to,d my grandmother Elizabeth Ore won a contest for Buick with the slogan When better automobiles are built Buick will build them. I have searched the internet for this info but have not found it, interesting. I remember hearing this when I was a little girl from my family,