Consumer Reports drops 7 vehicles

[DarkBlack]

I find it hilarious that many believe money does not talk at Consumer Reports?

As far as Chrysler, Fiat, VW, being dropped, having worked on cars my whole life, and having seen them all inside out, I would never own anything from those three. So, in my opinion, the only reason they were there in the first place is, money talks.

Ray, Chrysler, Fiat, VW, have millions of reliable vehicles. Your influenced opinion is just that, nothing more. As you said: CR dropped their opinion.. What's your point?.. You think these 3 only, paid off CR?

 

[ray66v]

Ray, Chrysler, Fiat, VW, have millions of reliable vehicles. Your influenced opinion is just that, nothing more. As you said: CR dropped their opinion.. What's your point?.. You think these 3 only, paid off CR?

My point could not have been more clear.

It's my opinion, based on 34 years of experience. And, that's all I said it was. Sorry, you don't like it.

"Reliable" is a subjective term. I have had many people who own a vehicle that has 80K or so on it, tell me what a great, reliable vehicle it has been. Open the hood, and you see a new a/c condenser, new a/c compressor, new radiator, new alternator, and a rebuilt transmission.

Ignorance is bliss.

 

[timswi]

My point could not have been more clear.

It's my opinion, based on 34 years of experience. And, that's all I said it was. Sorry, you don't like it.

"Reliable" is a subjective term. I have had many people who own a vehicle that has 80K or so on it, tell me what a great, reliable vehicle it has been. Open the hood, and you see a new a/c condenser, new a/c compressor, new radiator, new alternator, and a rebuilt transmission.

Ignorance is bliss.

I've seen this with Volvo's and BMW's especially..Some of these guys I work with brag about how they run forever then they complain about the $1800+ yearly inspections (warranty work not included)...They ought to run forever with that kind of maintenance bill.

 

[ray66v]

I've seen this with Volvo's and BMW's especially..Some of these guys I work with brag about how they run forever then they complain about the $1800+ yearly inspections (warranty work not included)...They ought to run forever with that kind of maintenance bill.

I had a friend who handled warranty claims, for a Volvo dealer for a while.

He saw things you would not believe.

 

[timswi]

I'd believe it...The guys I work with drive Benzes, Beemers,Volvo's, Audi's etc and I hear all the stories...They ain't what popular myth would have us believe..As I said, they don't mind writing the checks..Good for them, and write the checks they do. I just keep driving my pickup and laugh. They think I'm a hoopie.

I used to be a Honda service manager and believe me they came in on the hook constantly, Honda did a good job of keeping the customers happy to their credit..They were not deserving of the rating CR gave them though--See timing belts, brakes, water leaks etc. Not bad cars, they just didn't walk on water as CR would have you believe.

 

[sd455dan]

I'd believe it...The guys I work with drive Benzes, Beemers,Volvo's, Audi's etc and I hear all the stories...They ain't what popular myth would have us believe..As I said, they don't mind writing the checks..Good for them, and write the checks they do. I just keep driving my pickup and laugh. They think I'm a hoopie.

I used to be a Honda service manager and believe me they came in on the hook constantly, Honda did a good job of keeping the customers happy to their credit..They were not deserving of the rating CR gave them though--See timing belts, brakes, water leaks etc. Not bad cars, they just didn't walk on water as CR would have you believe.

Yeah -remember the early Accords and the cvcc heads- oil leaks in the pre-combustion chamber to head seals .

50 K on a new car- start it up and have a smoke screen you can't even see through... not that VW Rabbits were any better- (they weren't- they were Much worse):laughing:

 

[Bird]

If we all agreed on which is the best car, or best tractor, wouldn't there'd only be one manufacturer left in business?:laughing:

 

[Wolfy]

Well said, Bird.

 

[Bota4me]

Now that would be pretty boring wouldnt it bird

 

[Bird]

Now that would be pretty boring wouldnt it bird

Yep, just might be.:laughing:

 

[PILOON]

I am always amazed with advertising hype.
TV adds always seem to toot 'Best in Class' award of one type or another.
My take is that there is a new class created for just about every size vehicle out there:
eg: under but not over (xxxlbs), over (XX0), full time AWD, part time 4 X 4, etc etc, you get my drift.

When it comes to Consumers Protection you need to be a member and you are told they don't have any complaints recorded.
No wonder, you need to pay in order to complain. Hah! (like you already been taken and you pay to be taken again?)

 

[Oaktree]

same here , they said my dodge dakota and FORD ranger were junk and guess what.... They were right! All 4 toyotas rated high and they have been trouble free so cr is good in my book

I've had 2 Dakotas and they were great trucks, my brother in law unloaded his Tacoma after 2 years it was such a POS. My experience with Toyotas hasn't been much better than his. So who's right?

TrueDelta.com is a true consumer driven reliability source that Is much more precise than CR.

I distrust most, if not all surveys since the respondents are mostly self-selected. A survey is only as good as the data, and if the respondents have some sort of agenda, then what does that say about the survey?

 

[Garandman]

I really dislike articles like that, a sort of drive by shooting. No facts or basis for the statements, nothing to judge whether it's an issue for you, etc. For example, the Ram 1500 V8 4WD is listed. Does that mean that there are issues around the 4WD pieces (transfer case, axle) or what?

No, you did the driveby.

If you click the vehicle it takes you to the detailed summary of problem ares, which rates the vehicle in 17 different areas. It shows they hold up OK for three years.

The real fault with their methodology is they Seem to rank pickups the same as cars. That's fair in that most people use them like cars, but not all. The only "Recommended" pickup is the Honda Ridgeline, which most don't even consider a real pickup.

 

[aczlan]

I'd believe it...The guys I work with drive Benzes, Beemers,Volvo's, Audi's etc and I hear all the stories...They ain't what popular myth would have us believe..As I said, they don't mind writing the checks..Good for them, and write the checks they do. I just keep driving my pickup and laugh. They think I'm a hoopie.

IMO, Volvos earned their reputation with their older RWD cars and the first generation of FWD cars, now the are running on that...
I currently drive one of their last RWD cars (1997 V90), but when it comes time to replace it, I will probbaly go to something else. If it were to happen today, I would lean toward a Ford Tarus X/Freestyle. Its built on the Ford D3 platform which started out as the Volvo P2 platform (used for the S60, V70, XC70, S80 and XC90 from 1998 to present).

Aaron Z

 

[ultrarunner]

If I had listened to Consumer Reports, never would have owned (and enjoyed) half the vehicles I have driven over the years.

CR is worth taking into account- but it is not the end all be all authority. jmo

Same here... really enjoy my Samurai and it has been flawless... very rugged little 4x4

On the plus side... I was able to buy very inexpensively because of the bad press.

 

[Garandman]

TrueDelta.com is a true consumer driven reliability source that Is much more precise than CR.

GREAT tip!

My biggest beef with CR is tires. We bought some Michelin AS tires they said were as good as Nokian WRG2's. They SUCKED! Then I learned their rankings included criteria not shown in their reports, as confirmed by their staff in their forums. So yeah, I take what they say now with a grain of salt, even though I still subscribe.

 

[ThomasH]

No, you did the driveby.

If you click the vehicle it takes you to the detailed summary of problem ares, which rates the vehicle in 17 different areas. It shows they hold up OK for three years.

The real fault with their methodology is they Seem to rank pickups the same as cars. That's fair in that most people use them like cars, but not all. The only "Recommended" pickup is the Honda Ridgeline, which most don't even consider a real pickup.

Hmmm. You must have read another article than the one in the link. There was *no* detail in it. If you click on the link to go to *another* article, and if you are a paid member then you can see the detail. I stand by what I said, it was a hack article...

 

[Garandman]

Hmmm. You must have read another article than the one in the link. There was *no* detail in it. If you click on the link to go to *another* article, and if you are a paid member then you can see the detail. I stand by what I said, it was a hack article...

There was no detail because it was a list - a summary.

Their report is not based on thin air, or even hot air.

 

[tcreeley]

I have always done well paying attention to consumer repair reports. Cars, trucks. I've been using them since the 1980's. It has helped me avoid wasting money. _ looked for the circles to be the right color through the years. I didn't waste time with junk vehicles.

 

[ray66v]

C'mon ray, let's go back to your post. The only thing clear is that you think your opinion is fact.

Sorry, you don't get my post. No, I am not going to let you draw me into an argument.