There's something really wonderful about even the grainiest, lowest-quality video of someone hooning their old car that you just can't find in even the most well-shot car ad.
It takes a lot for a big brand to convey real heart and soul (running vintage Ferraris through metropolises in HD works well), and it's so easy for a carmaker to almost suck the life out of one of their models, as Mkolabin pointed out while we were talking about the new VW diesel economy record.
That is phenomenal.
Now, VW's Advertizing Gurus will turn this into an Ad Campaign which will tell prospective buyers that they, too, could have this kind of fuel mileage... which totally neglects variables such as the driver, how he or she drives, the conditions of both road and traffic etc etc etc...
Clearly these two individuals had a plan, they knew what they were doing. Now it's down to VeeDub to spin it and make it look like anyone, nay, everyone who buys a diesel will be breaking fuel consumption records.
I respect the achievement.
I disapprove of the profiteering, corporate prostitution that these two folks are going to be involved in from now on. On the plus side, they'll probably never have to pay for a car again.
Now, I want to see someone set the exact opposite record; most fuel consumed over minimal distance by an unmodified, production street vehicle. And then when asked how they did it, the drivers will point to their bald tires, massive displacement and third pedal.