I saw an interesting sign today on a Pepsi cooler. It has a picture of a bottle of MDX and a bottle of Vault side by side. In between the bottles is a checklist with a list of the common energy drink ingredients. Of course they are all checked off on MDX's checklist and not on Vault's list.

What do you think of this? I am admittedly partial to Vault but this kind of advertising makes me think Pepsi is scared of Vault and it taking away market share from them. It's interesting to see two competing products on the same advertisement. Course I thought Vault was aimed more at Mountain Dew than MDX anyway. How long has it been since Vault was intorduced in test markets? Wasn't it introduced before MDX, at least in test markets?

Yeah I think by forcefully drawing a comparison to MDX, Pepsi is probably going to lose this one.

Also, by the way you described it, Pepsi is taking an approach ala the energy drink market by advertising its ingredients, not its taste.

I'd bet you can't find many non-Pepsi loyalists to admit that MDX tastes better than Vault.

As a huge Vault fan and drinker, I find nothing wrong with MDX, besides the fact it comes in a smaller size(not to mention no cans or 2 liters), and the more expensive price. I understand because of the ingredients that it may cost more to produce but if they could make the packaging bigger and lower the MSRP price point, and not lower it from old stock I think it could do well. I actually enjoy the taste of MDX but i'm sure like other I cannot justify buying it for their price when I can get a Vault for cheaper.

Another thing on the ad was that Vault is a "poser", i.e. just posing as an energy drink, and not the real thing like MDX. I kind of agree with that. IMO, energy drinks have those ingredients like taurine, etc. and Vault doesn't have them so I don't consider it an energy drink. It's just a great tasting, caffeinated soda to me.

Maybe Vault is aimed to compete with Dew and then Coke decided to add the bit to the label about being a "hybrid energy soda" to compete with MDX. So I think Pepsi is correct in their ad, I just think they are running scared.

I like both. I agree that the only problem MDX has right now is that it's bottles are so small vs the pretty standard size you get with vault. [img]smile.gif[/img] I honestly thought MDX was basicly dead/pulled for a time because you couldn't find it anywhere. But then one day I saw it back in a store, so it was all good, at last for now. Was the reason they just ran out of something they put in it?

I like both drinks, but the smaller size of MDX, and the high price prevents me from buying it as much as I buy Vault.

Vault is not a poser because it is not trying to be an energy drink. Coke may have put some ambiguous words on its label, but it is a soda first and foremost.

so what exactly makes vault a "hybrid energy soda"? is it just caffeine?

because, if so, then the MDX ad makes a good point.

my guess is that pepsi did some market research and discovered that vault drinkers were under the impression that vault is an energy drink... and they' just trying to set the record straight.

for, if vault isn't really an energy drink, then mt dew drinkers don't really have a reason to drink it. you see?

i don't think pepsi is too concerned about MDX. this is about mt dew... in my opinion.

[ 06-03-2006, 06:26 AM: Message edited by: popologist ]

Originally posted by popologist:
for, if vault isn't really an energy drink, then mt dew drinkers don't really have a reason to drink it. you see?

Because it tastes better? That's my biased opinion.

Does ANYONE go by taste anymore an not by herbs or caffeine?

DJHS is right.....I drink for taste. MD and Vault taste damn good. IMO