Consumer Report's agenda is for every citizen in the US to own and drive an "Exciting" Honda Accord or Toyota Camry, complete with plastic wheel covers, slow shifting automatic transmission and a lethargic 4 cyl engine.

Their leftist tendencies pop up from time to time in their reports and write ups.

Japanese cars are "Politically correct" choices while domestic and some Euro choices are not (Including SUVs and Pick up trucks).

Read between the lines.

 

>>Consumer Report's agenda is for every citizen in the US to own and drive an "Exciting" Honda Accord or Toyota Camry, complete with plastic wheel covers, slow shifting automatic transmission and a lethargic 4 cyl engine.
>>
>>Their leftist tendencies pop up from time to time in their reports and write ups.
>>
>>Japanese cars are "Politically correct" choices while domestic and some Euro choices are not (Including SUVs and Pick up trucks).
>>
>>Read between the lines.

I think you're reading way to much in between the lines.... If your are talking about safety in a vehicle, you have to look at more then what the suv lovers croud look at. Handling, Stability, and a low chance of killing someone are important factors. And as Consumer Reports, is for your average consumer, the type who looks foward to the 'Hey Marge' news items, of course they are going to suggest "exciting" cars. Most people like "exciting" 4 bangers. Most people like "exciting" automatics. Why do you think it's very rare to find a stick shift on the used car lot? It's not an exciting car magazine. Don't turn to CNN for d-jokes, don't turn to 'shock' radio for the news. When they are talking about cars, they are talking about safety, past history of reliabality, and quality of construction. And would it not be more "Politically Correct" to pick Domestic cars?



(And yes, I actually did have a subscription for 2 years... I just did not find myself using it that much (although I was QUITE happy with the information they gave when it delt with a product that I was intrested in buying...)

Rocketboy_X

 

I would tend to agree with the basic fact, do you love your MINI? That's the most important thing.

It's not like the MINI was trashed by CR, and they ran the Cooper up against the SVT and Beetle Turbo which is the top of their respective lines. I'm a subscriber to CR and I must admit that I do get tired of the same Honda's and Toyota's always getting the nod but unlike car mags they just don't look at performance stats, they base their recommendations on reliablility and repair records. The Japanese may make boring vanilla cars but they are damn dependable. So you always need to take their results with a grain of salt. Remember thought the car mags have had such wonderful cars of the year like the Chevy Vega, Renault Alliance. Good god. Car mags only want the ad $$$. If Yugo gave them enough $$$ it would be car of the year. BTW, Did you know Yugo is making a comeback?

I always follow CR when buying washers and vacuum cleaners. :smile:

 

>>Did anyone catch this month's CR, in which they compared the MINI (MCS not available at time of test), SVT Focus, Turbo Beetle, etc.?....

I was glad to see the article. I aggree that it was unfair to compare the standard MINI, but understand their qualification on not obtaining a MCS.

The Focus SVT is gettig a lot of press and most of it is positive. I had decided to to purchase the SVT or Honda SI or MCS. Honda was cool but MCS had it on unique design. The Focus SVT was another story....

I was on a 3 month waiting list to JUST TEST DRIVE the SVT. When it came in I was informed by the Ford sales manager I did not qualify for a test drive. He claimed that "this here is a high performance sports car. Just anybody comming in off the street won't have the skills to handle this machine". I was curious as to what the qualifications were? I was pissed! I had spent over $178,000 in the past year on company and personal vehicles at this dealership. I have driven (quite competently) 700+ hp RUf Porsches, 275GTB Ferrari, Daytona Ferrari, AC Cobra, Hemi Cuda, Lotus 18, Lotus Super Sevens.....and one completely dangerous '62 stock volkswagon bug with rusty floorboards.

I promptly put my deposit on a MCS which will arrive in December. My first drive will pass the Ford dealer

 

>>any of them was the interior fan shorted out - after my Escort was caught in a flood and almost FULLY submerged in water! Yes, the water went over the windows - the entire hood was underwater (and water was coming into the interior). Anyway, 2 yrs later and 92k miles total - no probs. <<

The probable reason for this Escort lasting as long as it has is that most Ford Escorts have a Mazda engine in them. I had a Mazda 626 for two years. I put over 35,000 miles on it the first year I had it. The only problem I had with it is the automatic seatbelt tried to keep me in the car by going haywire in hot weather. Mazda fixed it right away.

I also have a Honda Accord wagon. I LOVE that car. I refuse to let my husband sell or give it away once we have the MINI. I am keeping that car because it is the best pick up truck I have ever owned!

I would be very hard pressed to buy and drive an American car put out by one of the Big Three automakers. I realize that Chrysler helped with the MINI but I will not buy or own anything with that badge on it.

I realize I sound a bit harsh about this but those are my feelings on the American car issue. I know a lot of people that own American cars (I have two GMC trucks) and they are very happy with theirs (I would not be if it werent' for their limited production and rarity).

I cannot wait for my MINI. I guess I will have to go and buy the Consumer Reports Issue and see for myself if I agree or disagree. I know one thing for sure: SVT or no, Mazda engine or no, I wouldn't have a Focus.

 

First of all, I don't subscribe to all the car magazines some of you other members do. (I get Glamour, SELF, Mademoiselle, etc. )

But... From what I keep reading on this forum and the Miata forum in regards to posters finding articles (either on the web or in magazines) that compare one car to another by these so-called "Car Afficianados" here's my observation:

1. Driving a car is a feeling.
2. Owning a car is an emotion and pride.

So...

To review a car that is brand new to the general public (for the most part), the author has to try to stir up feelings and emotions to review it. How?

The ONLY way is to compare it with another car that he might *assume* you the reader already know how it feels and emotionally gets ya!

It's like trying a new food you've never eaten before. In order to tell others what it tasted like, (when you get back from a vacation) you have to find SOMETHING they know already.

So you say for example, "Well, it was suppose to be fish, but the flavor was more like very dry white turkey and rubbery like mushrooms. The sauce they they poured on it was the color of cranberries but it tasted like vinegar as it was some bitter wine mixed with goat's milk."

So some food expert can be all huffie and say, "How can she compare a rare expensive fish cuisine to dried up turkey? And how can she compare a milk sauce to vinegar? They are not even on the same shelf in the refrigerator!"

Anyway, that's what goes on IMHO with all these unfair car comparisons. And you shouldn't let one person's opinion make you upset. The magazines have to fill their covers every month and come up with material -- even if it's might be a lame stretch to many of you in the know.

Just my 2 cents.

 

We currently own an American GM full size sedan (Bought new) and we have had ZERO problems in almost 2 years of ownership. We have been really pleased with the quality and reliability of our family hauler. I used to be a "Japan only" car person but after many moons of spending time in reliable but boring asian cars, I have come to rediscover the positive attributes of current domestics (Quality is no where near of where they used to be 10 to 20 years ago) and now we are enjoying our first European car, the MINI Cooper.

I think it will be counterproductive to turn this topic into an America vs rest of the world cars, but I suggest to have an open mind when it comes to "domestics".

In the many years of Japanese car ownership I have experienced good reliabilty but like any machine, asian cars break down too and can also be costly to repair after the limited warranty expires.

In the end, buy what you like and not what other people THINK you should have.