Imports Rule Consumer Reports’ Top Picks for 2008

Cicero February 28th, 2008 5:56 PM Link

Shocking, Consumer Reports biased towards imports, tha is so unusual

Steve February 28th, 2008 6:15 PM Link

Hahahaha… lmao. Not only imports, but Asian imports! Not a European car to be seen!

David J Corcoran February 28th, 2008 6:17 PM Link

Colour me shocked…Consumer Reports likes Asiamobiles? Wow.

imoore February 28th, 2008 7:12 PM Link

No Chevy Malibu? Screw job! And what happened to the Chrysler Town & Country? Did the Jenga test have that bad an effect?

Jason February 28th, 2008 8:21 PM Link

Your right, they should have given the Sebring top marks in a new category, “Best Use Of Ribs On A Hood.” - just to satisfy the rabid domestic bloggers.

Jonathan Fung February 28th, 2008 9:47 PM Link

Hmm, maybe I should take a closer look at the Silverado. I had only thought about the Tacoma, but I guess that the Silverado would be nice too.

Ducati Minor February 28th, 2008 11:10 PM Link

I believe it was David Champion who appeared on Autoline Detroit with John McElroy. McElroy questioned Consumer Reports‘ method of testing. Its reliability standard is based on surveys of subscribers who happened to have bought new cars. This is a limiting factor.

Considering that CR was outsourcing its car seat (and who knows what else) safety tests to a third party, I question the authenticity of what the publication produces.

southern February 29th, 2008 12:43 AM Link

Everybody else is wrong, the Caddy CTS is not one of the worlds best cars. The world is wrong. CR said so.

Auto News » Imports Rule Consumer Reports’ Top Picks for 2008 February 29th, 2008 2:20 AM Link

[…] Toby Hagon wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt Consumer Reports release its Top Picks for 2008 today. And, nine out of the 10 category winner were imports. The lone exception being the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab – which won the pickup category. David Champion, senior director of automotive testing at Consumers Union – which puts out the Consumer Reports magazine – complimented Ford and GM on its improvements, at a meeting with Washington auto writers today. However, he gave no love for Chrysler, saying that the automaker’s “lineup is in the dumps.” (Click through the jump to see the winners in the other 9 categories) […]

Richard H February 29th, 2008 7:31 AM Link

CR is a JOKE!! I lost respect for their RAG several years ago when they were caught rigging tests so the then popular Suziki Samari would fail the roll over test. The test on the Suziki was way different than everyone else. With their bias toward asian automobiles, rigging a test against an asian automobile. Just think what they do to everyting else.

CARSON44 February 29th, 2008 8:26 AM Link

Richard H is on point.

The reason they rigged the test was because a staffer had a Samurai and wanted work done on it, work that was outside the limits of the warranty. The story goes, that after heated discussions with Suzuki, his final threat, which he subsequently carried out , resulted in the rigged test failure.

Of course this is all a viscous rumour.These people are only trying to help.On the other hand, when did you last see a Samurai? Statisicits show that in real world rollovers Samurai’s were no worse than any other small 4-wd.

But really , how can people read their magazine, it’s boring.

Happy Leap Day

iSpec February 29th, 2008 11:29 AM Link

All you arm-chair quarterbacks need to go out and do a better job and write a publication. Let’s see if you can get a rag to market that people will read. Many have tried.

Consumers is the leading authority LIKE IT OR NOT. They have maneuvered themselves into the top spot and the majority of conusmers refer to their publication for help.

If I were a car manufacturer, I would do whatever it took to get my product on the top of their list. It would mean huge increases in sales.

I realize there are issues with the vehicles on that list, RAV-4 and Santa Fe are the same category, but no one who has driven the Santa Fe would dispute that it’s a great vehicle. And so is the RAV-4. So they manipulate the categories and put two great vehicles out there. Honda is still going to sell the most small SUV’s so it doesn’t matter.

CARSON44 February 29th, 2008 5:09 PM Link

iSPEC
You are correct in siting Consumers Reports success, none are quarreling with that fact. We all realize, that there are those among us, that would like to have our choices made for us, so we will never run the risk of being wrong. But if some hold themselves out as experts, it would be comforting if they were right more often. Wiki these folks(consumer reports) and you’ll see what I mean. But more to the point for me is their soulless approach to picking cars. The choice of a car is the closest most of us get to judging art. This is a large factor in the purchase, something that stirs your soul, that factor never is present in the hard light of the Consumers Report review. In the past 55 years I’ve read many magazines, when I go to the rack in Barns & Noble I wonder how any of them make money, there’s so many. But after all this time I’m able to recognize good ones. I couldn’t possible produce or write one, I’ll leave that to David E. Davis,Jr. and thank him for his insight.

Winding Road » Archive » Consumer Reports Bottom 11 of 2008; Bad for Chrysler March 3rd, 2008 3:30 PM Link

[…] week we brought you Consumer Reports’ Top Picks of 2008. Now, we’re letting you in on the worst 11. Chrysler takes a huge hit from Consumer Reports with […]

Winding Road » Archive » Question of the Day: Do You Value Consumer Reports Ratings, and Why? March 3rd, 2008 6:00 PM Link

[…] it’s that time again. Consumer Reports is out to champion what it thinks are the best autos of 2008, and, of course, the worst. For many, these ratings will be the holy book of car shopping. But, for […]

bmwloco March 3rd, 2008 11:23 PM Link

CU is to Automotive Evaluation as McDonalds is to Food.

It passes, but not well.

dave March 15th, 2008 1:29 PM Link

huh, magazine “car” editors, always talking up the asian imports. As for this American, i will only buy American cars and pickups. I don’t care if asia makes one that runs on water, i’ll still buy American.