Adam's take:

My first reaction when I saw these print ads for the VW CrossPolo was, "hey, that's kind of cool." This was immediately followed by, "but is it good advertising?" I don't think it is, and I'll tell you why: the characters are too old. Don't get me wrong, I love these characters (well, not so much Garfield), but to whom exactly are they trying to appeal? Is it a "Gen X" thing? Maybe in the '80s you could have used these characters, but today? It just feels like an idea that's a couple decades too late.

Adam's reply to Adam:

Yeah, stupid, it is a "Gen X" thing. These are characters from your childhood, but wilder. The ads show how it's okay for those who fancy the quiet things in life to let their hair down once in awhile and get a little crazy. These aren't just mere cartoon characters, these are icons from your childhood telling you to rock out. Now shut up and make me a sandwich.