F150 Rattler

[K223]

This pretty much confirms that Avalanche is going to be offered on the raptor for MY 2023. There's no way in hell they slap it on this budget F150 and not their halo truck.

My fingers are still crossed for Eruption Green.

A lot of folks may jump on a MY23 Rap based on that color alone. It’s been absent for years.

I’d prefer a Sig “Rattler” over the F-150 version personally!

 

[GordoJay]

Yeah let's name a trim level after a complaint people commonly give for bringing their vehicle in for service (It's making a rattle!). Greatest idea since the Chevy Nova (means "no go" in Spanish).

It's really odd that this one made it out of the marketing department. On top of the shake, rattle, and squeak association, there's the little issue that rattler is short for rattlesnake in many parts of the country where they are generally hated and feared. Those are not exactly the emotions you want to evoke in your customers first reaction to the name. Is it possible that the entire marketing department consists of clueless city kids? It's about the most generous assumption I can make that squares with the stuff they've been doing lately. The less generous guess is that they outsourced marketing to China.

Aside: I don't hate rattlesnakes. I do respect them and do fear stepping on one by accident. I've run across hundreds over the years and have never felt the need to kill one.

 

[melvimbe]

It's really odd that this one made it out of the marketing department. On top of the shake, rattle, and squeak association, there's the little issue that rattler is short for rattlesnake in many parts of the country where they are generally hated and feared. Those are not exactly the emotions you want to evoke in your customers first reaction to the name. Is it possible that the entire marketing department consists of clueless city kids? It's about the most generous assumption I can make that squares with the stuff they've been doing lately. The less generous guess is that they outsourced marketing to China.

Aside: I don't hate rattlesnakes. I do respect them and do fear stepping on one by accident. I've run across hundreds over the years and have never felt the need to kill one.

Perhaps, I don't have a good grasp on the emotions you're talking about based on my own location and experiences, but I can't really agree with that. They are calling it rattler intentionally because it's short for rattlesnake. It's because it sounds dangerous and something to be feared that Ford gave it that name. Naming something after something else that's feared by some or many in different parts of the world is very common and generally isn't going to make people fear or have a distaste for the thing.

I mean, do Tremors sell poorly in San Francisco because it reminds them of Earthquakes? People and dogs fear lighting, but no one is complaining that it's the name of Ford's EV truck (for that reason anyway). Florida certainly sees it's share of hurricanes, but no one complains that Hurricanes is the school mascot.

 

[K223]

Perhaps, I don't have a good grasp on the emotions you're talking about based on my own location and experiences, but I can't really agree with that. They are calling it rattler intentionally because it's short for rattlesnake. It's because it sounds dangerous and something to be feared that Ford gave it that name. Naming something after something else that's feared by some or many in different parts of the world is very common and generally isn't going to make people fear or have a distaste for the thing.

I mean, do Tremors sell poorly in San Francisco because it reminds them of Earthquakes? People and dogs fear lighting, but no one is complaining that it's the name of Ford's EV truck (for that reason anyway). Florida certainly sees it's share of hurricanes, but no one complains that Hurricanes is the school mascot.

That’s all quite true. A Raptor was a vicious dinosaur. An F-22 is something to be feared of if your going against it as well.

And it’s all about the “U” baby! Lol

 

[fordfreek]

I read the title to this thread yesterday and passed it up cuz I figured it was another cam phaser story/rant, lol. Then a coworker asked me if I heard about later in the day. I literally burst out laughing. I think I would have picked a different name. So if you bring it in for a warranty complaint of any type of rattle, they'll say that's normal, lol!
Probably sell faster than they can produce them......oh wait.....

 

[GordoJay]

Perhaps, I don't have a good grasp on the emotions you're talking about based on my own location and experiences, but I can't really agree with that. They are calling it rattler intentionally because it's short for rattlesnake. It's because it sounds dangerous and something to be feared that Ford gave it that name. Naming something after something else that's feared by some or many in different parts of the world is very common and generally isn't going to make people fear or have a distaste for the thing.

I mean, do Tremors sell poorly in San Francisco because it reminds them of Earthquakes? People and dogs fear lighting, but no one is complaining that it's the name of Ford's EV truck (for that reason anyway). Florida certainly sees it's share of hurricanes, but no one complains that Hurricanes is the school mascot.

You might be right. I think Cobra works because we don't actually have cobras here. So it sounds dangerous and exotic, but safely distant. The last time I ran across a live dinosaur? Again, dangerous and exotic and safely distant. Besides, when I hear "raptor" I picture birds. Tremor? I grew up in earthquake country and all that reminds me of is a stupid movie. And jello. Lighting? Why would I fear lighting? Is it as scary as indoor plumbing? LOL Lightning is rare and generally not feared because it's usually viewed from inside shelter. I've been caught out in it a few times and it scared me. The name still works for me because the first association in my mind is that it's effing fast. And as a force of nature, it's in a different category than an animal, especially an animal that many consider vermin. School mascot is a whole different category of product and I don't see how it applies.

It's also weak from the sound perspective. Good names have a minimum of one hard consonant in them. Raptor has one. Cobra has two. Rattler has none and turns to mush in my mouth.

No matter what name you choose, some people will hate it and some will love it. It's a percentage game and you want a name that lots of people like and few dislike. With not one, but two strong negative connotations and a weak sound, I think Rattler is a poor choice. An obvious poor choice. Your liking it is just fine. Lots of other people will also like it. But that doesn't make it a smart play. I'd put it on a par with Asp, another dangerous snake that's safely exotic and has a hard consonant in it. Maybe that's their next model name.

 

[K223]

You might be right. I think Cobra works because we don't actually have cobras here. So it sounds dangerous and exotic, but safely distant. The last time I ran across a live dinosaur? Again, dangerous and exotic and safely distant. Besides, when I hear "raptor" I picture birds. Tremor? I grew up in earthquake country and all that reminds me of is a stupid movie. And jello. Lighting? Why would I fear lighting? Is it as scary as indoor plumbing? LOL Lightning is rare and generally not feared because it's usually viewed from inside shelter. I've been caught out in it a few times and it scared me. The name still works for me because the first association in my mind is that it's effing fast. And as a force of nature, it's in a different category than an animal, especially an animal that many consider vermin. School mascot is a whole different category of product and I don't see how it applies.

It's also weak from the sound perspective. Good names have a minimum of one hard consonant in them. Raptor has one. Cobra has two. Rattler has none and turns to mush in my mouth.

No matter what name you choose, some people will hate it and some will love it. It's a percentage game and you want a name that lots of people like and few dislike. With not one, but two strong negative connotations and a weak sound, I think Rattler is a poor choice. An obvious poor choice. Your liking it is just fine. Lots of other people will also like it. But that doesn't make it a smart play. I'd put it on a par with Asp, another dangerous snake that's safely exotic and has a hard consonant in it. Maybe that's their next model name.

Don’t lose any sleep brother pondering this Ford naming convention. I’m sure they will still sell all of them. Can’t even Find a new F-150 on a lot down here.

 

[GordoJay]

Don’t lose any sleep brother pondering this Ford naming convention. I’m sure they will still sell all of them. Can’t even Find a new F-150 on a lot down here.

Ford reminds me of HP. Back in the day they were great at tech and terrible at marketing. If your product is good enough, you can still succeed, but it's like running a race with a steamer in your shorts. In a competitive market, names matter more than you would think.

 

[K223]

Ford reminds me of HP. Back in the day they were great at tech and terrible at marketing. If your product is good enough, you can still succeed, but it's like running a race with a steamer in your shorts. In a competitive market, names matter more than you would think.

True it’s the first thing you hear and it sets the tone and expectations.

 

[melvimbe]

Ford reminds me of HP. Back in the day they were great at tech and terrible at marketing. If your product is good enough, you can still succeed, but it's like running a race with a steamer in your shorts. In a competitive market, names matter more than you would think.

True, and I would not be good at marketing, that's for sure. I am not terribly fond of 'F150' to be honest, but at least there is some logic behind it and it's organized, give the F250 etc. And it so much better than 'Silverado'. The name just screams "you must wear a cowboy hat and boots to drive this truck". Ram probably is the best of name.

To be fair though, organized naming conventions get you into trouble too. One problem is that you don't want people thinking they are buying the lowest/worst version of a vehicle. I mean, it makes no sense that the lowest trim of the F150 is 'XL', but no one wants a trim called 'Standard' or 'Regular'. And of course, you can get trapped in a corner when you run out of room for growth in your convention. Xbox had that problem. They went from xbox->xbox360->xbox one -> xbox series one? No sense. Where do they go from there?

And I guess Ford F150 off road package is Rattler -> FX4 -> Tremor -> Raptor...I guess. Ranger has FX4 and will have Raptor, nothing else. F250 has FX4 and Tremor, nothing else. Bronco will not be FX4, but everything is 4WD, has Raptor, nothing else. I bet Ford marketing would love to be able to just start from scratch.