Whenever we see those shows on TV about new houses or remodels or whatever they always use the word “spacious” when describing a room. It bugs the crap out of me. Nobody has the balls to just say “big”. The same goes for car ads though. Everyone is always using the words “like new”, “rust free”, “original”, or “solid”. It’s not that these words aren’t perfectly good descriptors, but people should really revisit their meanings before using them in an ad. Case in point, the Chevy Van below.
The Craigslist ad for this 1966 Chevrolet Van includes several photos, which is good. It contains very little text, which would lead you to believe that there isn’t much info needed so it’s a short ad. You know, something like, “Missing engine and transmission, little rust, straight sheetmetal, new tires, clean title in hand.”
Notice that I didn’t use any of those descriptors we were talking about earlier. Here is the text from the ad for the Van below.
“1966 Chevy Van no motor or trans very solid classic rolling billboard for your business. Frankie.”
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1.firm and stable in shape; not liquid or fluid.“the stream was frozen solid”
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strongly built or made of strong materials; not flimsy or slender.“a solid door with good, secure locks”
synonyms: well-built, sound, substantial, strong, sturdy, durable More “solid houses”antonyms: flimsy -
having three dimensions.“a solid figure with six plane faces”
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concerned with objects having three dimensions.“solid geometry”
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2.not hollow or containing spaces or gaps.“a sculpture made out of solid rock”
We’re fairly certain this guy could use some help in understanding the term solid. Our question now is what other words are overused in ads? We’ve seen them all a million times, but what do you think is the most overused word in car ads, new or old?
New car ads – All new
Used car ads – Like new
in used car ads original miles
what are non original miles ??
Someone turning the speedometer back. They used to do that back in the day. That why they have the odometer reading laws today.
“non original miles” is a way of staying out of trouble in states which require odometer certifications.
There are many potential reasons why a seller would be unable to certify mileage (or wouldn’t want to) . . . not just illegal roll-backs (which still occur with shocking frequency).
Truthful rewrite: 1966 Chevy Van. No motor or trans . . . Worth at least $200/ton . . . Derelict rust-bucket for your new “med pot”/”vapes” business. . . . Smell the reefer smoke! Cheech.
Easy Resto…makes me want to stab a bitch.
Around here it’s “mint”, as is “mint condition”.
No, your greasy transmission with 100,000 miles on it is not mint.
Barn Find. Half these people wouldn’t know what a barn looks like, even if it fell on them.
This.
And chicken coupes don’t count as a barn either.
“Rat Rod” for anything painted flat black. Here in the south on used car lots, you’ll see “Sharp” or “Sporty on a car. I also read “make a great hunting truck”, as held together with baling wire and rust.
“Cherry” does not include Chinese aftermarket chrome parts, that fact that some knuckle-dragger removed half the a/c system and left the other half, removed the AIR injection pump and pinched closed the tubes that lead into the exhaust manifolds, or that the interior has been replaced with some designer label fabric that looks like crap but costs a fortune.
This car is a cream puff, driven like a baby.
Survivor.
Yeah, except for the Earl Schieb paint job, the J. C. Whitney interior accessories and “super rare SS 307 motor”
All hail the mighty 307/Powerglide with a “rare” Holley Double Pumper (on a “Corvette” iron two-plane, of course)
Mine ” Lady driven ” !!
that in it self says it. To me it has never seen an oil change or any other maintenance. ” but it might smell nice ”
I have seen that so often. RED LIGHT !
“breaks” – You all know what I mean if you ever shopped craigslist
“Gently driven” ?? by whom
The valet guy in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
“excellent shape”, “garaged” when there is rust peaking through rockers and cab corners, then there is the “just needs put back together” as the pictures show primer, exposed body filler, no glass, some black spray bomb action on the wheel wells but not even the whole frame, the heads and intake are on the floor board and the front clip is off
take your pick…..”rare”—-“clone”—the phrase,”i know what it’s worth” (with no price listed)—the phrase,”just testing the waters”(really? do you want to sell the pos,or not?)—just the general ass-hattery that seems to go with clist ads in general…..
oh,yeah,i forgot—-“hot rod” as applied to pretty much any car that isn’t….
Ran when parked
Always crack me up when that quote! I bought a few cars that “ran when parked”. Surprised that none ran after they were parked. NOT!
“Has a mild cam” – well, the factory cam could be considered mild. How about specifics.
Very little rust
No lowballers
1. Needs minor tune
2. 99% complete
3. My favorite…..A/C needs a recharge
A “Built” engine or transmission. As in it has a built 350 in it. I assume this to mean rebuilt with some performance goodies. My other peeve is “Highway Miles”. This truck 230,000 miles, but they are all highway miles. Like that magically makes a high mileage vehicle all better.
I missed this one when new so hardly anybody will see this.
“six-pack rods” — Almost every six-pack engine Ma Mopar built had the same rods as the non-six-pack engines.