How the Lesbaru thing got started

[XXX-er]

"All Subaru did was notice a group of customers who often felt unwelcome and invisible, and create ads for them. "

"Subaru was not the first company to create advertisements for gay and lesbian consumers, but it was the first major company in the United States to do it so transparently and consistently."

https://www.theatlantic.com/business...sbians/488042/

apparently not by accident

[Core Shot]

When one Subaru ad man … proposed the gay-targeting ads in talks with Japanese executives, the executives hurriedly looked up “gay” in their dictionaries. Upon reading the definition, they nodded at the idea enthusiastically. Who wouldn’t want happy or joyous advertising?


For its first Subaru ads, Mulryan/Nash hired women to portray lesbian couples. But the ads didn’t get good reactions from lesbian audiences. What worked were winks and nudges. One campaign showed Subaru cars that had license plates that said “Xena LVR” (a reference to Xena: Warrior Princess, a TV show whose female protagonists seemed to be lovers) or “P-TOWN” (a moniker for Provincetown, Massachusetts, a popular LGBT vacation spot). Many ads had taglines with double meanings. “Get Out. And Stay Out” could refer to exploring the outdoors in a Subaru—or coming out as gay. “It's Not a Choice. It's the Way We're Built” could refer to all Subarus coming with all-wheel-drive—or LGBT identity. “Each year we've done this, we've learned more about our target audience,” John Nash, the creative director of the ad agency told the website AdRespect. “We've found that playful coding is really, really appreciated by our consumers. They like deciphering it.”

[plugboots]

It’s brilliant. I assume other agencies and companies are marketing to other narrowly focused groups and it goes directly over my head because I’m not in that group. Cool. At least I hope so.
Cadillac is doing this right now but they don’t seem to be hiding at all.

[jamal]

Here's an actual commercial

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91_LT2EQOJ8

[XXX-er]

I seem to remember hearing the term "Lesbaru" for the 1st time about 10-12 yars ago from a local who was gay and slightly out, at the same time he was also dissing Lesbians to some extent and so I said well aren't you folks kind of on the same team fighting the good fight so to speak?

to which he replied well yeah but really butch Lesbians really don't like effeminate gay men

[Benny Profane]

I seem to remember hearing the term "Lesbaru" for the 1st time about 10-12 yars ago from a local who was gay and slightly out, at the same time he was also dissing Lesbians to some extent and so I said well aren't you folks kind of on the same team fighting the good fight so to speak?

to which he replied well yeah but really butch Lesbians really don't like effeminate gay men

Oh, dude, that's like asking a black guy why he isn't buddy buddy with Puerto Ricans. Same team, indeed.

[XXX-er]

Good point, so drawing another parallel

does that mean all you dentists hate the doctors ?

duno much about blacks or the pr either

its pretty cold & white up here

[Kenny Satch]

Subaru.
"A car you can drive coming out of the closet"

[plugboots]

does that mean all you dentists hate the doctors ?

Prolly not, but cops think firemen are homos.


Also:

[Kenny Satch]

Starting with the Top 10 Lesbian Cars, based on a non-scientific poll

10. Chevy S10

9. Volvo Wagon

8. Ford Ranger

7. Nissan X-Terra

6. Geo Tracker

5. Honda CR-V

4. Ford F-150

3. Jeep Wrangler

2. Subaru Forester

1. Subaru Outback

[Dromond]

It was a smart move. Money is money.

I used to live in Northampton, MA which might have the highest per-capita lesbian population in the country. The late 90's Legacy wagon I had at the time fit right in. The only difference was that I didn't have any golden retrievers in the back.

[XXX-er]

Back in PG when the teachers went on strike the owner of the suby dealer brought Tim Hortons coffee and donuts to the teachers on the picket line ...good customer relations eh

[warthog]

It’s brilliant. I assume other agencies and companies are marketing to other narrowly focused groups and it goes directly over my head because I’m not in that group. Cool.

So who the fuck is Chevy advertising to? Those ads blow.

Best ads out there right now are the Snowbird ones on Facebook.
If they don't win an Ad Age award, it will be a crime.

[plugboots]

So who the fuck is Chevy advertising to?

Beats me.

But a hatchback is “Business in the front and party in the back”


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

[irul&ublo]

[XXX-er]

I bought a new wagon in 83 which was WAY cheaper than owning fixing the Westphalia it replaced

AND well before the cultural appropriation of the product by those lesbians

[hutash]

The real question, does driving one make you gay?

[plugboots]

What did you replace your TT with, BTW?

[Kenny Satch]

The real question, does driving one make you gay?

Yes but it only brought out the Lesbian in me.

[Norseman]

I got laid a few times in highschool in the back of my Subaru DL wagon.

Currently own the "most lesbian" Subaru possible: first (fist) generation Legacy wagon in the color "Winestone" (eggplant). Laid in that thing, too.

Not gay. I think.

[XXX-er]

Yes but it only brought out the Lesbian in me.

I'm pretty sure its all on a continuum ... not absolute either way

[frorider]

Starting with the Top 10 Lesbian Cars, based on a non-scientific poll

10. Chevy S10

9. Volvo Wagon

8. Ford Ranger

7. Nissan X-Terra

6. Geo Tracker

5. Honda CR-V

4. Ford F-150

3. Jeep Wrangler

2. Subaru Forester

1. Subaru Outback

List is invalid. 100% of Tahoe lesbians drive a Tacoma. Fact.

Meanwhile 100% of chubby pothead dudes blasting Phish drive either a two-tone older Outback or a Forester.

[Skihiker]

By first generation, are you speaking of an early '90's wagon?
If so, how many miles you got on that baby?
Sold mine with 270,000 and a dying tranny. Guy was happy as shit to buy it for $700, and said he'd rebuild the tranny!

I got laid a few times in highschool in the back of my Subaru DL wagon.

Currently own the "most lesbian" Subaru possible: first (fist) generation Legacy wagon in the color "Winestone" (eggplant). Laid in that thing, too.

Not gay. I think.

[Norseman]

305k. Rebuilt the motor in December.

[uglymoney]

List is invalid. 100% of Tahoe lesbians drive a Tacoma. Fact.

Meanwhile 100% of chubby pothead dudes blasting Phish drive either a two-tone older Outback or a Forester.

Married lesbian couple 3 houses up from me have a beautiful newer Tacoma TRD. Friendly couple and they gave out hella good candy to the kiddo on halloween.