Why does Consumer Reports hate America??

[madinmaryland]

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/new-cars/news/2007/04/top-picks-for-2007-4-07/overview/0704_top-picks-2007.htm

Green car - Toyota Prius
Small sedan - Hyundai Elantra SE
Family sedan - Honda Accord
Upscale sedan - Infiniti G35
Luxury sedan - Lexus LS 460LFun to drive - Mazda MX-5 Miata
Small SUV - Toyota RAV4
Midsized SUV - Hyundai Santa Fe
Minivan - Toyota Sienna
Pickup truck - Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab

..snip

Our Top Picks are the most well-rounded models in their categories. Each must meet these stringent requirements:
Road tests: Each Top Pick scores at or near the top of its category among more than 260 vehicles we’ve recently tested at our Auto Test Center.

Reliability: Each has an average or better predicted-reliability Rating, based on the problems subscribers reported on almost 1.3 million vehicles in our Annual Car Reliability Survey.

Safety: Top Picks have performed adequately in overall safety if tested by the government or the insurance industry. Starting this year, they also must provide a critical safety feature, electronic stability control (ESC), either as standard equipment or as a readily available option. To see how other models compare, consult the Vehicle Ratings charts, (available to subscribers).

..snip

[Tektonik]

1. edit this post, with the title, 'Maybe this is why Detroit is sucking'

I DARE YOU

[Greyhound]

2. 'Cause they're a bunch of elitist eggheads blinded by science and numbers.

:sarcasm:

It couldn't be because the named manufacturers are primarily concerned with quality and functionality.

It's not the workers fault, but they will take the blame and pay the price.

[madinmaryland]

4. Do you remember in the 70's when they used to say don't buy an american

car that was made on a Monday or a Friday? Blame it on the worker.

Yeah, it's always the workers fault.

[Greyhound]

11. It was true then, I don't know what the case is now.

It was the reason why so many models, after 10 years or so, that remained on the road were the same color. For example, I had a old gold '76(?) Granada and noticed that all the others still on the road were either gold or white. They used to paint the cars made the same day in the same colors, so for whatever reason the gold and white ones were better made than the others.

Maybe it was the day of the week.:shrug:

[On the Road]

38. Probaly a Preference for Gold or White

is correlated with better auto care habits.

[Stinky The Clown]

3. By your standards, they also hate Europe

[madinmaryland]

6. What do you make of Consumer's Report giving high marks to essentially

all Japanese made cars?

:shrug:

[Ichingcarpenter]

10. Consumer Reports is owned by a Swedish Firm

So its European owned.

[onehandle]

5. Detroit may have improved their vehicles since the horrible late 70s through the 80s...

...but they still are lacking in a big way.

My old Honda was almost 20 years old when I virtually gave it away. It just wouldn't die.

[Ioo]

8. Well this is a 2007 list.. so improvments, Sure.. but clearly a long way to go..

I mean that was 20+ years ago and they are still not NUMBER ONE in anything... Jesus I could build a car company and beat them in the time it has taken them to go from... well who knows.

[Kalyke]

7. Well, we all know Consumer Reports is embroiled in one testing scandal...

I'm guessing it doesn't stop with anti-virus software:

http://sunbeltblog.blogspot.com/2006/08/consumer-reports-testing-scandal-its_25.html


Oh, it doesn't: http://www.hereshealth.com/html/consumer_reports.html

Not by a long shot: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/news_press_release,40919.shtml


So, in essence, Consumer Reports' testing procedures have become quite questionable in several categories.

[madinmaryland]

12. So you are saying that CR's testing procedures for automobiles

is suspect? If so, then how?

[Kalyke]

17. I'm saying that they're not perfect.

I don't believe most of what they say when anecdotal evidence proves otherwise.

And, that's about other things besides cars, but cars included.

[madinmaryland]

20. I would not say they are perfect, but they are the most un-biased source out there.

Additionally, I have no clue to what your anecdotal evidence is, so I have no idea what you are talking about.

Do you have any actual information to back up your assertions?

[NoGOPZone]

14. The Sharper Image tried suing Consumers Union over its review

and the suit was dismissed in part because the Sharper Image couldn't prove that CU test methods were scientifically invalid, and CR was entitled to recover its legal fees in defending itself. Consumer Reports is far from perfect, but its critics don't always tell the whole story either.

http://www.infomercialwatch.org/legal/sharperimage.pdf

[Tesha]

42. The "Ionic Breeze" was bogus but I'm not surprised you're using it as an example. (NT)

[FarCenter]

9. They have consistently valued safety, mileage, and reliability

Over fancy sheet metal and crappy plastic trim.

[Greyhound]

16. But, "fancy sheet metal and crappy plastic trim" is what we do. It is what we want

and what we will pay for.

[GrizzlyMan]

13. Because they are anti 'Merikan and anti worker

And they're trying to take our jobs!

:sarcasm:

It really is getting thick around here lately.

[madinmaryland]

15. It sure is.

[specimenfred1984]

18. I don't believe anyone should make blanket statements about magazines

it's just so poopy-headed and double doo-doo faced.

[TahitiNut]

19. American auto workers make all their top picks.

The quality and reliability problems that cause lower ratings DO NOT stem from the unionized work force. They stem from management choices to outsource cheapened engineering and select (through corporate cronyism) substandard materials for greater short-term profits.

[madinmaryland]

21. Whoa! Where at all did I EVER say or even imply the ratings in CR

are to blame on the employees (Union or non-union)

:wtf:

[Ioo]

22. Auto Worker build cars, not design them... I think you need to calm down here

No one said it was because of the Unionize workers...

In fact, If I were a UAW member I would be pissed as shit for the crap that the US car makers have been building. I UAW member is paid to install a light, screw a screw,, seat a motor... Not select the shittiest plastic ever produced to use as the dashboard...

[JVS]

23. Because they don't want AWESOME muscle cars!

pinkos

[doc03]

24. They may have a Japanese model as their top pick but tell

rest of the story they also recommend many American vehicles as (Best Buys). They also rate most American cars better than most European models and many are on par with the Japanese models. I remember either in 2006 or 2007 they didn't recommend even one model made by a manufacture for the first time. Who was that? (Mercedes).

[madinmaryland]

25. I have attached a link to what the say about the "best cars"

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/new-cars/buying-advice/which-companies-make-the-best-cars/overview/0407_best_cars.htm

They do give credit to GM and Ford for making improvements to their quality and reliability. Overall though, they rank the Japanese cars the highest.

[doc03]

28. So shut down the Big 3 and destroy one of the last Union

manufacturing jobs left in the US because in 5years they have 3 problems reported vs. 2. Just how do you make your living?

[madinmaryland]

29. Excuse me, but what are you talking about.

Did I or CR ever say that the big 3 should be shut down?

:wtf:

[doc03]

32. Well just why are you putting down

our industry? You know a lot of peoples livelihoods are dependant on the Big 3. I've seen the way Consumer Reports rates cars, they will send out questionnaires I have filled them out myself. They may ask you how many problems you had with your vehicle and you may report 3 or 4 and a Toyota owner could report 1 or 2 while another make may have 20. Just because one car may have 2 problems vs. another with 3 or 4 doesn't mean the other is a pile of junk. I have always thought Consumer Reports kind of favors the foreign made product be it soap or cheese or beer whatever. I see these polls in the Lounge every day where someone asked what their favorite beer is and people always list some obscure foreign brand half the world never heard of. I guess it makes some feel supeior because they drink some swill from Mexico or drive a BMW rather than an American product.

[Warren DeMontague]

34. American cars suck, and have sucked for a long time.

I'm not going to plunk down 20-30 grand on some junky, gas-guzzling piece of broken crap that sucks ass just because someone tells me it's my patriotic duty. Let Detroit make some better cars, and we'll see.

[doc03]

35. I'm not even going to bother responding to that n/t

[madinmaryland]

37. Again, EXCUSE ME?

Where did I ever put down your industry. And, BTW, you should say "the big three" instead of the auto industry that you are referring to.

Also, read the reviews! Nowhere do they call something a "piece of crap" nor do I. They are basing the ratings both on statistics of the consumers and actual testing of the vehicle. I have found them very accurate when buying vehicles. Yes, based on the reviews, I bought a Buick Somerset, Pontiac SunFire, and a Ford Focus. If there are deficiencies or trends in repair history, then I want to know that before buying a vehicle. I'm sorry that I screwed the GM folks, by purchasing a Ford.

BTW, I'm drink a Busch beer right now!

In my case, even though I not in the auto industry, if it fails, it will affect me and the jobs that a created in support of them.

Peace

[Warren DeMontague]

39. No, but I would drink a Heineken over a Budweiser, and drive a Toyota instead of a GM car.

Not because it makes me feel "superior", but because they are BETTER.

Period.

[Warren DeMontague]

33. I'd sooner gnaw off my own foot than buy another non-Japanese car.

My experience gels with what CR says- Toyotas are easily the most reliable brand out there.

[Lifetimedem]

26. I have learned to ignore them

I have bought many things that they rate poorly that preform very well, and things they say are top of the list that stunk.

Right now I am driving a car they poo poo . It is a great car, I love it.

They have a bias I believe to the companies that have a financial stake in the consumer magazine.

[madinmaryland]

27. Consumer Reports accepts no money from any company. All other

car magazines take advertisement revenue from Auto makers.

On edit: I'm glad your selection worked out well.

[icnorth]

30. C.R. also do not accept product donated by

corporations for testing. They buy them off the "rack".

[madinmaryland]

31. That is correct. nt

[doc03]

41. I bought my first microwave oven back in like

1970 something. Well later in my Consumer Reports they rated microwaves, they rated the only American manufactured oven on the bottom, it was a Toshiba. I discovered I had bought the absolute worse oven made, a Toshiba. I used it over 30 years and finally just got rid of it to get a new one with more power. I gave the old one to the Salvation Army and I wouldn't be suprised if it isn't still working.

[Warren DeMontague]

36. This sums it up:

[JustAnotherGen]

40. The 'workers' are not to blame

Not the men and women on the line . . .

You know, I work in the most hated business/industry at D.U.: Telecom.

And I work with a man who moved out from Detroit two years ago - he worked for Buick. We launched a Senior focused phone together: he did go to market, I did launch deliverables.


It was extremely successful. We listened to our CHANGING populuation, their needs, their financial ability etc. etc. We gave them a scaled back device, with big keys, a big user interface, and a sleek compact 'body'. Efficient, durable, and gets the job done. Keep in mind, the Go To Market guy was shit canned from his industry for speaking up and trying to make them SEE.


I blame:
Market Research
Product Development
Finance (back end - not to the consumer0
Go To Market


Unfortunately, the people who work on the lines (or climb up and down telephone poles) take the hit because the people who were supposed to do the research, RESPOND to the changing population and marketplace - example: throwing 15 pounds of crap in into 1 pound bags and telling the American people we'd like it and shut up. . . didn't do their jobs.

And so we end up with Consumer Reports identifying what Americans want. And American innovation (lack thereof?) takes a hit.

My intent is not to antagonize Labor (hard work labor) - but it's to ask my fellow Marketing Folks: Would you still have a job on Monday morning if you had f*cked up this badly? I wouldn't.

I don't know what the overall answer is, but I do know that the TOP 6 Levels of Managment in these companies need to be deleted/dismissed/shit-canned. Bring in some new energy, steal Marketing and Engineers from these foreign auto manufacturers, provide them legal protection against their NDA's and pummel these 'top picks' into the ground. We can do it. But we need someone to take back their cajones and start chopping at the top to replace those folks with sneaky, dirty guerilla warfare marketing folks who turn ideas into a great affordable product.

I don't see why this is so difficult a concept to grasp. Kill it. Kill the quota. Kill the competition. This is basic stuff that the Marketing / Product Development / Engineering folks just simply FAILED to do.

And no - I won't be hiring a single one of them. Unless they are personally recommended by the guy I work with it - they are out of luck. My business moves too fast for lazy marketing people.

[alarimer]

43. I certainly trust their evaluations.

They have not steered me wrong yet. When I bought my car, it was considered a best buy (Mazda 3 Hatch) for the year 2006. It was far superior to other cars in its class, especially the Dodge Caliber, which I had been considering. Although not very seriously because I have long hated Dodges from our experience with their vehicles at work. In short, they suck big time, probably worse than any other make.