Toyota IQ

Tue 2008/11/04 06:00 JST
 54
 in Japan
1453 views

Folks visiting Ginza may want to pop round to the Sony building as they sometimes have performances like this one. This time round its a car stuck to the side of the building with performers hanging from a rope. Notice how there's no safety mat down below either.

I'd love to go skydiving again but not sure about trying something like this or bungee jumping either - anybody tried either?

Nearly forgot to mention that this promotion is part of Toyota's new iQ mini car - click on the main flash on that page for some cool music.
The low end model costs 1,400,000 yen. Cars are relatively cheap over here. I hear horror stories of how expensive the cost of cars and maintenance can be in other countries.

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  • amerikajin
    amerikajin in Hong Kong (Registered on 2008/10/09)
    Software Engineer
    http://amerikajin.net

    If you want to bungee go all out and jump off Macau Tower, “The Highest Bungee Jump from a Building” according to the Guinness World Records. Macau is only an hour ferry ride away from Hong Kong. That's a crazy performance by the way!

    Tue 2008/11/04 06:17:55 JST (ID #357859)
    reply to amerikajin's comment
    • Reyyn
      Reyyn in Massachusetts (Registered on 2009/05/03)
      College Student

      I didn't jump off the macau tower but i walked around the outside ring. It was during the summer of 07 and it was hot that day. A guide walked with me and he was asking me to do some poses and taking pictures of me.

      Tue 2008/11/04 07:04:12 JST (ID #357917)
      reply to Reyyn's comment
    • Freedom Gundam
      Freedom Gundam in United Kingdom (Registered on 2008/02/03)
      College Student

      Took me about an hour to get from Hong Kong to Macau. Didn't see the bungie jump but I wouldn't have dont it anyway lol ^_^

      Wed 2008/11/05 20:02:34 JST (ID #360219)
      reply to Freedom Gundam's comment
  • OtakuKing3
    OtakuKing3 in Chicago, Illinois (Registered on 2008/01/04)
    CyberStudent

    That would be so much fun. Well except the part of being up so high. And performing infront of all house people. And... On another thought, maybe not. hehe

    Interesting music though.

    Tue 2008/11/04 06:21:01 JST (ID #357861)
    reply to OtakuKing3's comment
  • BandAiD
    BandAiD in 米国 (Registered on 2008/01/08)
    C. Engineering Student
    http://otaku.baywords.com

    I have bungeed jump before, quite the experience.

    Tue 2008/11/04 06:23:06 JST (ID #357865)
    reply to BandAiD's comment
  • Kyle
    Kyle in Seattle, Washington (Registered on 2007/10/08)
    Student/Part-timer

    Oh man, that just makes me want to move to Japan even more, I'm so envious. The performance was nice and amusing, but the performers really don't look like they were particularly having a blast. Anyways, cars in the US range between average and dead expensive prices, and with the current economy, no one's even going to think about buying a car, no matter how cheap.

    Tue 2008/11/04 06:23:44 JST (ID #357866)
    reply to Kyle's comment
  • coffeebugg
    coffeebugg in coherently lucid (Registered on 2008/05/22)
    Otari Vader, Sith Lord for Hire, will fillet Makoto Itou for free
    http://coffeebugg.blogspot.com/

    Wow, I'd love to see that in person. Very effective marketing strategy. :)/

    Tue 2008/11/04 06:27:21 JST (ID #357872)
    reply to coffeebugg's comment
  • Andrei-kun
    Andrei-kun in California, USA (Registered on 2008/10/23)
    Student
    http://andreijournal.blogspot.com

    How mini is it? Like、no fat people are allowed? xd

    Tue 2008/11/04 06:29:04 JST (ID #357876)
    reply to Andrei-kun's comment
  • Ecchi Goshujin-sama
    Ecchi Goshujin-sama in Charlotte, NC (Registered on 2008/08/09)
    Ecchi Otaku
    http://aniverse.info/

    Zugoi! Very interesting performance. Its unique to use the vertical wall like that to promote a new car. Cars in the US are between average and expensive. But like Kyle said, with the current economy no one is going to buy a new car.

    I've never tried bungee jumping so I wont be able to give much advise on that. It would seem like fun but dangerous at the same time.

    Tue 2008/11/04 06:30:27 JST (ID #357880)
    reply to Ecchi Goshujin-sama's comment
  • ZoidsPilot100
    ZoidsPilot100 in New Jersey, USA (Registered on 2007/09/01)
    Student

    Ah, I remember this building. Last time I was in Tokyo (over two years ago), there was a robot stuck to the building. Also Toyota branding, if I believe. Not sure what the robot had to do with the object being sold, though...

    Tue 2008/11/04 06:41:10 JST (ID #357894)
    reply to ZoidsPilot100's comment
  • wbd
    wbd in Canada (Registered on 2008/07/05)
    Worker
    http://wbd.deviantart.com/

    Prices are pretty variable in Canada, but manufacturers still have a habit of giving us the cruddier models or fewer options than the States. In the fifties, it was even worse- they'd do things like sending shoddier upholstry, or less QC'd autos.

    Honda is better for this sort of thing, fortunately. Toyota is pretty good, but they leave out some nice options that the US get.

    Tue 2008/11/04 06:43:38 JST (ID #357897)
    reply to wbd's comment
  • lostandfound
    lostandfound in Singapore (Registered on 2007/10/21)
    Hikikomori in the making
    http://supermariabros.deviantart.com/

    Woah, that's so cool... Since they're wearing safety lines, I don;t think a safety mat is needed...

    Tue 2008/11/04 06:44:25 JST (ID #357898)
    reply to lostandfound's comment
  • Jotham
    Jotham in Los Angeles, CA (Registered on 2008/03/08)
    Student
    http://yellowguy89.blogspot.com/

    thats pretty intriguing, i like the site, the music is pretty..uh how should I say this, cloppy. (classy+poppy)

    Tue 2008/11/04 07:20:34 JST (ID #357951)
    reply to Jotham's comment
  • NobuMinekun
    NobuMinekun in UNESCO World Heritage Site Penang,Malaysia (Registered on 2008/07/18)
    Gundam

    Malaysia has the most expensive price on car in the
    South East Asia..u noe why?Only Malaysia have own country-made car...local car P****a
    Wan buy Toyota Vios here RM 70k-90k..
    Go Singapore buy a Vios RM40k-60k..FTW?!

    Tue 2008/11/04 07:23:07 JST (ID #357960)
    reply to NobuMinekun's comment
    • tintin-san
      tintin-san in シンガポオル Singapore (Registered on 2008/05/11)
      大学生

      Cars that expensive in Malaysia???
      Thought would be more expensive over here since we have so much less roads than yall.

      I know Honda Jazz, Kia Picanto, Nissan March goes round the SGD 40,000 - 60,000 range.

      Cars in Japan are cheap but the upkeep and parking is damn expensive right?

      Tue 2008/11/04 18:07:21 JST (ID #358815)
      reply to tintin-san's comment
  • Koji98
    Koji98 in Arlington, Texas (Registered on 2007/11/04)
    Your local Otaku Cashier.

    I would love to see more companies do this. New York City is a great place to do something like this.

    Tue 2008/11/04 07:26:18 JST (ID #357967)
    reply to Koji98's comment
  • Hidden Oasis
    Hidden Oasis in California, United Sates (Registered on 2008/10/28)
    College Freshmen

    Part of me wants to bungee jump and sky dive, but another part of me is scared that I'll be the one in a million person who has some mistake with the line/parachute. Cars around here are probably around 20K (USD) or more.

    Tue 2008/11/04 07:28:36 JST (ID #357973)
    reply to Hidden Oasis's comment
  • Mimi
    Mimi in MIT (Registered on 2008/03/11)
    Student
    http://anime.scripts.mit.edu/miteiru/

    Anyone know what the music is called? Sounds Vienna-like and makes me want to clap ^o^

    Tue 2008/11/04 07:30:46 JST (ID #357979)
    reply to Mimi's comment
    • Mimi
      Mimi in MIT (Registered on 2008/03/11)
      Student
      http://anime.scripts.mit.edu/miteiru/

      Btw cars here are dirt cheap.. mine was about 2.5k and they give away a car at every high school each year too :']

      Tue 2008/11/04 07:32:07 JST (ID #357982)
      reply to Mimi's comment
  • XSportSeeker
    XSportSeeker in Brazil (Registered on 2007/08/22)
    Dropping computers, starting all over again at Journalism
    http://xspblog.com

    LOL nice.
    Cars range from average price to dead expensive here in Brazil.
    So, some people will buy cars and pay it like in 3 years or more.
    And just about every city has these major used automobile fairs...

    As for skydiving and bungee jumping... skydiving yes, bungee nope.
    We did something similar to bungee jumping though... it's called pendulum, and it's something we did with rappeling equipment.

    Maybe someday I'll make a post on those.
    It's been more than 6 years I don't do anything like that anymore though... dunno if my current shape would allow me to go back to those.

    But I do miss, though they are very expensive sports.
    I made 13 jumps total... and practiced rappeling almost every weekend for almost 2 years. Good ol' times.

    Tue 2008/11/04 07:37:11 JST (ID #357991)
    reply to XSportSeeker's comment
  • SilentCiel
    SilentCiel in the all so tiny Singapore (Registered on 2008/10/11)
    Things to do with the kitchen
    http://yujodomeicosplay2008.blogspot.com/

    Nothing is cheap here in Singapore, buying a standard family car here is about the same price as buying a small appartment.....not forgetting there is still the road tax and the petrol to pay.

    Tue 2008/11/04 08:11:14 JST (ID #358038)
    reply to SilentCiel's comment
    • Lazy Fiend
      Lazy Fiend in Small dot on Earth (Registered on 2007/01/08)
      Jalop-er

      As well as the piece of paper which puts the vehicle on the road - that doesn't come cheap either

      Tue 2008/11/04 16:53:30 JST (ID #358752)
      reply to Lazy Fiend's comment
  • ale/pepino
    ale/pepino in Fukuoka (Registered on 2008/03/17)
    Webdev, internet contents, music
    http://www.pepinismo.net/

    First time ever! YouTube has better quality than a photo.
    No offence, just found it funny :)

    Tue 2008/11/04 08:14:23 JST (ID #358045)
    reply to ale/pepino's comment
  • Patrick Barron
    Patrick Barron in Michigan, United States of America (Registered on 2008/02/09)
    Grocery Store Clerk

    Ford, GM, and Cryster should learn to be more like Toyata. They are going to be #1 in no time.

    Plus Demning an American business consult was rejected in America but when he went to Japan he helped an already prospering business sky-rocket.

    Tue 2008/11/04 08:18:36 JST (ID #358054)
    reply to Patrick Barron's comment
  • kona.kona
    kona.kona in Singapore (Registered on 2008/10/15)
    Student
    http://konadora.wordpress.com

    Cars here in Singapore are I think the most expensive in the world (for standard cars), due to Import Tax, Goods and Services Tax, Quota Tax, cost of 'Certificate of Entitlement' that you need to bid in order to be able to drive on the roads (these can reach up to tens of thousands of dollars), as well as insurance, road taxes, etc. Dead expensive.

    Tue 2008/11/04 09:01:51 JST (ID #358137)
    reply to kona.kona's comment
    • Kabuklu
      Kabuklu in Istanbul, Turkey (Registered on 2008/06/18)
      Student

      Same here, cars here are actually average but if we start adding up all the taxes it just makes a fortune.

      Tue 2008/11/04 12:47:57 JST (ID #358482)
      reply to Kabuklu's comment
  • Harts
    Harts in Estonia (Registered on 2008/06/02)
    Student

    Those performers are quit amazing!

    Tue 2008/11/04 09:55:58 JST (ID #358218)
    reply to Harts's comment
  • Bazooka
    Bazooka in Canada (Registered on 2008/10/10)

    Somehow, I thought the performers were going to drive the car away.

    Tue 2008/11/04 10:32:17 JST (ID #358263)
    reply to Bazooka's comment
  • detoroito
    detoroito in singapore (Registered on 2008/10/15)
    student

    woahh that's awesome..! also scary

    Tue 2008/11/04 10:43:39 JST (ID #358280)
    reply to detoroito's comment
  • Daemonseed
    Daemonseed in Britland (Registered on 2008/05/06)
    Moe Hunter
    http://moehunter.wordpress.com/

    I'd love to sky dive Danny whats it like? Perhaps a news article about somewhere?

    Tue 2008/11/04 11:24:48 JST (ID #358333)
    reply to Daemonseed's comment
  • suki
    suki in Cape Town, South Africa (Registered on 2007/08/22)
    Graphic Design student | Receptionist | Otaku
    http://sukidesho.blogspot.com/

    I'd love to sky dive but, all I've done is abseiling. Bungee jumping is far to scary for me though, the thought of being suspended by your ankles freaks me out O_O;;;

    Tue 2008/11/04 11:36:15 JST (ID #358363)
    reply to suki's comment
  • litokid
    litokid in Toronto, Canada (Registered on 2007/11/25)
    university film student | ecchikid | the Archivist
    http://www.vimeo.com/longhim

    They're really out of sync, and the music got my nerves really quickly. Interesting though, and adequate since it wasn't a special occasion.

    Tue 2008/11/04 11:47:08 JST (ID #358401)
    reply to litokid's comment
  • punynari
    punynari in Yokosuka, Japan (Registered on 2008/09/20)
    US Navy Sailor
    http://punynari.wordpress.com/

    I have never been skydiving or bungee jumping. Too scared. I can barely stand going up the mast of my ship let alone jumping off a plane or dancing on the side of a skyscraper looking down.

    As far as cars. I always get the base model with no bells and whistles(usually Corolla or Civic). Taking off the add ons (even automatic locks) saves a ton of money. My Corolla cost about $15,000 US new.

    Tue 2008/11/04 11:54:43 JST (ID #358412)
    reply to punynari's comment
  • JIYkp
    JIYkp in Ontario, Canada (Registered on 2008/10/29)
    Student
    http://jiykp.deviantart.com

    That advertisement surely would get anyone's attention, but it was sort of hard to tell what they were promoting. They never actually talked or did anything with the car.

    Tue 2008/11/04 12:31:10 JST (ID #358465)
    reply to JIYkp's comment
  • aprilius20
    aprilius20 in Malaysia. Physically, at least. (Registered on 2008/10/26)
    Student, part-time Haruhi wannabe (that bit about godhood etc)
    http://www.aprilius20.com

    Gah. When I first saw the title of the post I thought it was a study on the average Toyota employee's/owner's IQ :p

    Tue 2008/11/04 13:45:38 JST (ID #358535)
    reply to aprilius20's comment
    • aprilius20
      aprilius20 in Malaysia. Physically, at least. (Registered on 2008/10/26)
      Student, part-time Haruhi wannabe (that bit about godhood etc)
      http://www.aprilius20.com

      And yeah, cars are expensive over here... I think there's a 100% tax (supposedly to protect local car manufacturers). Plus maintenance is insane since almost all mechanics here are slimy cheats. Unless you go directly to the car producers maintenance service, if they have one... which is still expensive anyway, and sadly, their people (the little ones at least) are not entirely trustworthy either.

      Tue 2008/11/04 13:49:52 JST (ID #358543)
      reply to aprilius20's comment
  • aquilla
    aquilla in United Kingdom (Registered on 2008/10/22)
    Office Administrator
    http://aquilla429.co.uk

    Wow, too cool performance, I love it when you see strange public displays and stuff like that. I consider cars here to be somewhere between average and expensive.

    Tue 2008/11/04 13:48:37 JST (ID #358540)
    reply to aquilla's comment
  • paiki
    paiki in Brazil (Registered on 2007/10/07)
    Programmer
    http://knime.wordpress.com

    My new Chevrolet Corsa Premium Model is the same price >D. While travelling in Tokyo I talked to people of a Toyota IQ Showroom.

    They said that there are cheap cars that are 0.6 to 1.2 liters in Japan, but it's really fast. But even so, the size of this car is half of mine for the same price. And, I heard that maintaning a car in Japan is TOO MUCH expensive.

    Tue 2008/11/04 13:48:43 JST (ID #358541)
    reply to paiki's comment
  • Sabekuji Kaneda
    Sabekuji Kaneda in Parañaque, Philippines (Registered on 2008/06/21)
    Mechanical Engineering student
    http://sabekujikaneda.multiply.com/

    You skydived Mr Danny?! Awesome! I wanna skydive too XD

    It is sad that I haven't skydived nor bungee-jumped before. I did try wall-climbing x_x

    Tue 2008/11/04 14:41:02 JST (ID #358609)
    reply to Sabekuji Kaneda's comment
  • Minaru Chou
    Minaru Chou in Philippines (Registered on 2008/09/25)
    Programmer Trainee
    http://jointsareokay.blogspot.com

    That's so cool.

    I think my friend has skydived before. Due to those cartoons of having backpacks of camp supplies instead of parachutes, I now have the fear of skydiving.

    Anyway, cars are really expensive here because they are imported from different countries. We don't have our own manufacturers of cars so we have to pay ridiculous prices. Am not really sure what's a cheap car though...

    Tue 2008/11/04 16:39:37 JST (ID #358743)
    reply to Minaru Chou's comment
  • Lazy Fiend
    Lazy Fiend in Small dot on Earth (Registered on 2007/01/08)
    Jalop-er

    The Toyota IQ is going to compete against the Smart Fortwo

    Tue 2008/11/04 16:56:20 JST (ID #358757)
    reply to Lazy Fiend's comment
  • GiafLop
    GiafLop in Philippines (Registered on 2007/11/25)
    Student
    http://kankeishorui.wordpress.com

    Awesome display on doing it sideways on buildings, that's even rare.

    Tue 2008/11/04 18:06:56 JST (ID #358814)
    reply to GiafLop's comment
  • Zhar
    Zhar in Norway (Registered on 2008/10/12)
    Space Pirate

    There were some sort of performance like this on a mountain not to far from where I live, didn't get to see it though.

    Never skydived or bungee jumped before, but skydiving is on my to-do list.
    Bungee jumping, I'd love to try this to, but skydiving takes priority :)

    Tue 2008/11/04 18:50:41 JST (ID #358841)
    reply to Zhar's comment
  • 6pack
    6pack (Registered on 2008/03/20)
    browsing the nets
    http://otakuposts.blogspot.com/

    cars are priced from expensive to dead expensive here. only the rich can afford to get a car here. add to that road tax, insurance, price of spare parts, petrol costs, and maintenance of the car every month is more than a person with an average salary can afford.

    afraid of heights, so i hardly try such daredevil acts like skydiving or bungee jumping.

    Tue 2008/11/04 19:30:41 JST (ID #358882)
    reply to 6pack's comment
  • Muka Muka
    Muka Muka in The United Kingdom (Registered on 2008/10/31)
    College Student

    Where I live the cars are really expensive, and to run aswell. Petrol prices are really high although they have dropped back to below £1 a litre recently (was £1.18) and insurance is ridiculous! for new learners insurance and tax costs so much not even including lessons, tests and the car itself. Any new driver in the UK around 17-18 will know what I mean ¬_¬

    Tue 2008/11/04 21:45:15 JST (ID #358991)
    reply to Muka Muka's comment
  • spidr245
    spidr245 in Everywhere, Anywhere, and sometimes There too (Registered on 2008/08/25)
    Ninja / Engineer / Sensei / 魔法少女 (What!?! I can't be, I'm a guy...)

    Cars are too expensive in the states. With all the insurance and such too, it doesn't get any better.

    Wed 2008/11/05 01:16:28 JST (ID #359150)
    reply to spidr245's comment
  • Martini♥Cat
    Martini♥Cat in Argentina (Registered on 2008/11/02)
    Fashion design studient
    http://martini-cat.blogspot.com/

    OMG THAT SO COOL!!!
    here the cars arent to expensive, not cheap, byut not expencive, y have to work hard for get one xD, but always are ways to pay it in cuotes ore something what are cheap, but you have to pay it for a looong time xD

    Wed 2008/11/05 01:55:32 JST (ID #359169)
    reply to Martini♥Cat's comment
  • Gundam00
    Gundam00 in somewhere in space (Registered on 2008/04/26)
    MS pilot

    very cool marketing strategy...we never see this in canada -__-

    Wed 2008/11/05 03:33:13 JST (ID #359248)
    reply to Gundam00's comment
  • Qix
    Qix in Atsugi-kichi (Registered on 2008/01/26)
    I paint F/A-18C's

    Cars may be cheap in Japan, but there is a lot more insurance type things to spend money on every year or two. Makes it less realistac for a used, cheapo car (something like $2000 you spend that much again in couple years just on JCI, regular ins, weight tex, lots more toll roads, and even pay to scrap it). But it was nice being American and on base. Easy to get a used Skyline, very cheap. Hell on base, your fellow Americans gave away cars all the time, cheaper than getting rid of it.

    Wed 2008/11/05 05:03:18 JST (ID #359345)
    reply to Qix's comment
  • iron2000
    iron2000 in SG (Registered on 2007/12/19)
    http://iron2000.blogspot.com

    Interesting way to advertise.
    Performance on an advert.

    Cool

    Wed 2008/11/05 07:17:42 JST (ID #359461)
    reply to iron2000's comment
  • Drieick
    Drieick in Good ol' USA (Registered on 2008/03/12)
    Destroyer of the Waps
    http://blogpantsu.org/

    Cars at a dealership are usually the expensive ones (if they're cheap, then it's probably). I'm pretty sure that all Americans on here can agree that car salesman are not trust worthy.

    Best to buy a used car from the newspaper. My Dad got a BMW 1989 beamer for about $2500. With a little tune-ups, which he did myself, it ran just like it came out of the factory. Too bad some idiot was driving on the wrong side of the road and completely destroyed half of the car. >.> (he was still alive after that).

    Thu 2008/11/06 07:16:21 JST (ID #360863)
    reply to Drieick's comment
    • Drieick
      Drieick in Good ol' USA (Registered on 2008/03/12)
      Destroyer of the Waps
      http://blogpantsu.org/

      "if they're cheap, then it's probably a piece of junk" is what I meant to say.

      Thu 2008/11/06 07:16:59 JST (ID #360866)
      reply to Drieick's comment
  • Mikuni
    Mikuni in Finland (Registered on 2008/05/15)
    Student

    I've done bungee jumping, 165 meters of an arch dam in Austria, was a blast and I recommend it for everyone :) I will jump again for sure, just have to wait for good chance again (some decent height and not just the usual 50 meters).

    Would love to try skydiving too but I think bungee jumping is easier, there you dont have to remember to open parachute or anything :P

    Sat 2008/11/08 02:06:06 JST (ID #363103)
    reply to Mikuni's comment
  • atr360
    atr360 in my house... (Registered on 2007/11/13)
    web surfer (no pay)

    meh i only put dead expensive because in my area people drive BMW's and occasionally ferrari's and lambo's but one guy has an audi R8 that car is pure smex x)

    Thu 2008/11/13 18:12:36 JST (ID #370038)
    reply to atr360's comment

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