Consumers Reports Seeks Bailout

I'm sure they employ enthusiasts - but do they write the articles? The UK
one puts different emphasis on a car's qualities than the average motoring
mag. Which can be useful if read in conjunction with a motoring mag test -
it will often give extra information.

 

I remember CR's report on the Miata / MX-5 when it first came out.
They didn't like it because the ride was too firm, and there was only
a tiny little trunk / boot.

 

Downrating a sporty car 'cuz the "ride is too firm" is the sort of nonsense
that results in the 2008 WRX getting the suspension mushyed up so you have to
install aftermarket parts to get that "its on rails" kinda handling that my
2005 WRX has.

Complaining about a "too firm" ride is the mark of a test done by somebody's
grandpa, not an enthusiast. I remember when the early 90's Corvette, the new
generation of that time, came out and posted something over 1.0 G. cornering
force. Then some pinhead complained about a "too firm ride", and the next
thing you know, we got to say goodbye to the >1.0 G cornering. What is that?
Car entropy?

 

There's two parts to all this. There's the actual vehicle test and
editorial which reflects CR's emphasis on safety and reliability. Then
there's the surveys they do of owners in which the owners report on any
problems they've had. They have a huge sample size, and while the
respondees are limited to magazine subscribers that choose to fill out
the survey, there's no reason to believe that a Toyota owner would be
any more likely to lie than a Ford owner.

You could make the case that the Toyota owner has higher expectations
and is more likely to nitpick and that the Ford owner has lower
expectations and is less likely to nitpick. You could also make the case
that the Toyota owner is so enamored of Toyota that they overlook
problems and that the Ford owner is so disgusted with Ford that they
nitpick on little things. In reality, neither of these scenarios has any
likelihood of skewing the results given the huge sample size.

 

Shut up Dizzy

And in case you look here for the comment

Shut up Dizzy

 

Where has Dizzy gone?
--

Sir Hugh of Bognor

The difference between men and boys is the price of their toys.

Intelligence is not knowing the answer but knowing where and how to find it!

Hugh Gundersen

Bognor Regis, W.Sussex, England, UK

 

They gave those as reasons not to like it - or is that your spin? If there
were pros and cons, then it's right they mention what they find.
Stupidly small storage might well be a problem for some prospective owners.

 

The laugh is the MX5 is said to be a modern incarnation of the original
Lotus Elan - which had a superb ride for a sports car of its day.

 

As I recall, these were reported as shortcomings in the car and they
factored into its overall CR rating. To be fair, CR subsequently
published several readers' letters ridiculing their criticisms of the
car, given its target market.

 

I think you have limited yourself to a very small subset of vehicles, and of
those, almost nothing new will meet all your criteria.

 

Really? Betcha you can't cite a reference.

BTW, the Miata is CR's top pick for sports car.

 

No, I know that compromises would have to be made. Some of those I
classify as "absolutely required," some as "strongly preferred," and
some as "would be nice."

What I want to avoid is overlooking key requirements, as I've seen
happen when some people post on Usenet asking for help to solve
intrinsic problems with their vehicles because of overlooking things
when buying. I.e. I've know people to buy vehicles without checking that
there is enough clearance for tire chains, then when they go to buy
chains they find out that they can't use them on their vehicle.

 

I only keep that last 5 years or so of CR. I can't be arsed to do the
research or look it up anywhere just to play a silly game with you.
Unless you want to bet me $500 or so, then I'll do it, because I'm
right and you'd lose.

Let me know what you want to do.

 

It's certainly possible for even a sports-car to be "too firm".
Suspension suitable for pulling 1G on a racetrack is probably "too
firm" for most roads and most people. IMO, any such suspension should
be optional.

 

Sure I do. Other factors mean more to me than what CR thinks is
important.

 

I can't find any news of Consumer's Union (publisher of Consumer
Reports) asking for a bail out. Where did that news come from?
Frankly, I'd rather see my tax money going to rescue CU than GM. One
greedily promotes cars regardless of quality or of societal/
environmental impact, while the other endeavors to help the average
person avoid being ripped off. But, regardless, the only news I found
was a CU recommendation that any bailout money be spent with strings
attached to protect consumers and to avoid waste. Here are its
recommendations: http://www.consumersunion.org/pub/core_financial_services/006177.html

If anyone has a link to news about CU asking for money, I'd like to
see it. Thanks!

 

Consumer Reports, April 1990.

 

If Federal commitments like T-Bills and the FDIC are not honored, then
currency is not likely to have any value either; it's just another
Federal promise to pay.

 

That's one of those apocalyptic events it's basically impossible to
prepare for. Your best bet at that point would be to be buddies with
the leader of a country with a strong military and a financial system
not strongly tied to the US dollar, the Euro, the Pound, or the Yen.
I'd suggest chatting up Vladimir Putin.

 

I'll bite: to pay what? If you mean gold, that promise ended in 1973.