What's in a Car Name

[DREDger]

Read a funny article today about car names.

Chevy Nova turns out had abysmal sales in Spain and Latin America.  The reason being is that 'no va' as two words essentially means, 'does not go' in Spanish.  No one in the Spanish speaking world wanted to drive a car that the company itself named 'does not go'

Rolls-Royce blew it when they launched the Silver Mist in Germany.  Turns out that 'mist' in German means manure. 

[sluggish]

Fail.

http://www.snopes.com/business/misxlate/nova.asp

[Lusche]

One thing that made me smile was the introduction of the Ford Probe here in Germany. 
In German, the word "Probe" means a "try" or "test" 

But nothing seems to indicate it sold less just because of that name.

[LYNX]

In the EU Toyota have a small sports car called  M. R. 2.  Say MR2 in french.  M R deux.  Now say it faster and faster.  Murde   

[DREDger]

Fail.

http://www.snopes.com/business/misxlate/nova.asp

So you found a website that refutes that claim.  I read this article in the Wall Street Journal.  Tell me which on is more credible?

No in Spanish means no.  Va in spanish is dirived from the verb 'Ir', which means 'to go'.  Of that there is no debate.

Whether it 'really' adversly affected car sales, who knows, probably the car company has the figures.  

At the verly least it is a fauxpas, and from what I understand is referenced in business lectures and textbooks as well.

[sluggish]

So you found a website that refutes that claim.  I read this article in the Wall Street Journal.  Tell me which on is more credible?

At the verly least it is a fauxpas, and from what I understand is referenced in business lectures and textbooks as well.

This "fauxpas" has been incorrectly stated as fact for years...  In business lectures and textbooks and even major news outlets...  Doesn't make it any less wrong.

[Masherbrum]

Snopes FTW!   

[DREDger]

This "fauxpas" has been incorrectly stated as fact for years...  In business lectures and textbooks and even major news outlets...  Doesn't make it any less wrong.

Still seems funny to me, that a car name translates into 'does not go'.

Or that a Rolls could be translated in German to "silver manure"

[Masherbrum]

The "Urban Legend" of the Nova has been debunked since the late 70's.   Most of us from the Detroit area know this as they were built at the GM Hydromatic Plant at Willow Run.   

It is sort of funny, but around here is worn out.   It's just not true.

[sluggish]

Still seems funny to me, that a car name translates into 'does not go'.

Or that a Rolls could be translated in German to "silver manure"

"No Va" translates to "will not"...  Nova, on the other hand, was a economy car produced by Chevrolet...

[DREDger]

It is sort of funny, but around here is worn out. 

Oh....sorry then.  I should have checked with you first.

When you say debunked though, do you mean the name did not actually affect sales in the spanish market.  Or do you mean that 'no va' does not mean, 'does not go'?

[CAP1]

In the EU Toyota have a small sports car called  M. R. 2.  Say MR2 in french.  M R deux.  Now say it faster and faster.  Murde   

they used to sell the mr2 here in the us too......it's a piece of trash..it rates right up there with the renault fuego.

[Masherbrum]

Oh....sorry then.  I should have checked with you first.

When you say debunked though, do you mean the name did not actually affect sales in the spanish market.  Or do you mean that 'no va' does not mean, 'does not go'?

It sold EXCEPTIONALLY WELL in the Spanish Market.   Nova isn't a Spanish word.   "No Va" is.    But it was still debunked in the Late 70's.  

As for your intended jab, you missed your intended target.   I live near Detroit, I've heard all of this ad nauseum.   I was merely pointing that out, Sluggish is near Detroit as well and would agree.   The only funny ones for me nowadays are IROC and FIAT.   Those two were never "over used" and still manage laughs.  

[Masherbrum]

they used to sell the mr2 here in the us too......it's a piece of trash..it rates right up there with the renault fuego.

One of the models wasn't trash though.   Lotus did the Suspension.       But you forgot the Subaru Justy and Brat.   Or do I bring up the Le Car.   

[john9001]

le car fall on le roof.