Last week Acura dropped some details about the reborn Integra. We can debate the merits of the car itself, and we have, but the thing about the launch that left us appalled was the fact that Acura was offering buyers an Integra NFT to drum up excitement. Almost a year ago we made automotive NFTs our April Fool’s post, but since then classic car NFTs have become an actual thing. So has destroying a real car and offering its demise an an NFT — thankfully it’s not an irreplaceable classic, as we joked, but that’s probably only a matter of time.
Anyway, we didn’t mean for this to be a rant about NFTs. Car companies have been offering other dumb things long before the digital age. We once received a Nissan USA-branded promotional tool kit — with all standard unit tools. Years ago we came across a neat diecast car in BRE livery, except it was a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. Also, everything offered in the official Ferrari store.
What’s the dumbest thing a car company has offered?
The best comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What vehicle would you use to escape a war-torn hellscape?”
To escape a desperate situation you can take two routes that are seemingly on opposite ends of the vehicular spectrum. Either you go big like FG, who recommended the Toyota Mega Cruiser, and brute-force your way out of danger, or use a more nimble option, like Tygerleo‘s Honda dirt bike. Both make a lot of sense, but this week it was Jim Daniels who gave the most practical advice:
I feel confident in my daily driver. It is not a world distributed vehicle as it is produced in and for distribution in the USA. It is larger than the vehicles mentioned and has a larger pay load and towing capacity. There is comfortable seating for five in the cabin. There is a 5.6 foot bed for hauling gear or people as needed in an emergency. There is a Snug Top XTR shell on the bed with roof rack.
Inside the bed is lined with MOLLY racks, supporting Roto-Pac fuel and water cans, shovels, axes, ice axes, fire extinguisher, recovery straps chains and hardware. It it powered by a supercharged 5.7 L making 550 HP and 550Tq.with a Borla exaust supplying power to the front and rear axles with 4.30 gears and ARB air Lockers front and rear turning a set of 34 inch diameter BFG T/A KO2 and a front 3 inch and rear 1 inch lift keeping it low enough for good weight distribution with plenty of ground clearance. Apex Rock sliders for harry situations and an ARB air compressor for airing up tires and such.
These vehicles are documented to have a million plus miles on them. I present to you my 2010 TOYOTA Tundra. It is not a mall crawler it’s the real deal and has spent countless hours in the rocky deserts and forested mountains in temps of -20 to 120.
Omedetou, your comment has earned you a set of decals from the JNC Shop!
When I scrolled thru vintage car brochures i was always wondering why they are offering brand singned trouser belts, wallets or umbrellas? Isn’t the fact that i’m driving a car of given marque enough support for them? Should i make a living brand-banner of myself too?
Well, seems so. Today almost every car manufacturer offers various types of clothing and gear. Mercedes fleece’s, Ferrari shoes, Toyota jackets, Chevrolet caps, Ford underwear, Subaru mugs, Renault socks… It’s plainly ridicioulous…
I’d say the actual new Integra qualifies.
I second this. Not sure why Honda decided to bring back that legendary name for a Civic Si with CVT :/
I was gonna say this. XD
The nissan murano convertible.
A tradition among _some_ auto companies is to supply a “special” watch with a new car.
Kinda says,”look, we know you’ll get bored with the car and probably sell it, but you can keep the watch as a souvenir.”
Special keepsake or constant reminder of deep regret?
Pontiac Aztec
In terms of style, I think it’s pretty lame how some car companies try to make a certain car more sporty by adding fake vents. You look a little closer and you see nothing more than some black plastic.
I thought the Chevy Avalanche and Cadillac Escalade EXT were pretty pointless, even if they sold a lot. The Escalade, fyi, is a Sport Luxury Utility Truck, and its acronym means something as well. The Subaru Baja doesn’t make sense either. Wouldn’t a station wagon just suffice?
I think, of all the possible pointless things, Infiniti might be the most pointless. It was a premium brand without a purpose, which never had logic behind it at first, and never found one after that. The cars flowing from that never had a logic behind them either, as it was simply a dumping ground of oddities that had cost too much to develop for only the Japanese domestic market.
30 years, no direction, and no love. If it disappeared tomorrow, no one would care. All it means at this point is that you spent too much on a Nissan when you could have bought something better.
Acura is offering a car… in NFT form?
That’s the dumbest thing a car company has ever offered!
…
Anyways, what was this week’s question again?
Datsun F-10? Well, not dumb, but definitely funky.
By far the dumbest thing a car company has ever offered is fake engine sounds. Whatever you call it, BMW Active Sound Design or VW Soundaktor or Acura Sound Control or any number of branded systems for fake engine noise. It’s dumb, takes extra effort to create and makes things just worse overall. I knew the ICE jumped the shark when automakers started putting this lying software in cars. The worst part is because BMW started it all the other luxury car brands had to copy it. Would you want your wife to fake an orgasm? Then why would you want your car to fake rev?