Consumer Reports
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In the May issue of Consumer Reports you can find the new & used car reliability reports. Mazda came out above average for most of their vehicles. This is a good sign. I would think the RX-8 will be on that list in the near future.
:D
:D
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Did anyone notice how MB, BMW, Audi/VW ranked in reliability in Consumer Reports. Down in the basement, baby. Vaunted German engineering excellence....my a**!
Sorry, I just had to attack that rabid misconception of German engineering excellence one more time.
Sorry, I just had to attack that rabid misconception of German engineering excellence one more time.
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Originally posted by babylou
Sorry, I just had to attack that rabid misconception of German engineering excellence one more time.
Sorry, I just had to attack that rabid misconception of German engineering excellence one more time.
Regards,
Gordon
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Originally posted by Gord96BRG
I might dispute the long-term reliability excellence of some of the electrical components.
I might dispute the long-term reliability excellence of some of the electrical components.
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Gordon,
The Germans have a lot more problems than a few electrical gremlins. For instance, BMW has serious reliabilty problems with bodies (3 series doors never fitting correctly and opening while cornering) and their share with engines.
I too agree that "engineering excellence" is not just reliabilty but that is what the lay person sees it as and most of them blindly buy these German cars based on this belief. I see "engineering excellence" in cars like a Miata; fun, reliable, cheap, easy to fiddle with, in one word; elegant. I don't see "elegance" in German cars. I used to see it in their well laid out interiors but now everyone has well laid out interiors whereas the German cars seem to be moving towards gadgetitis.
Aw hell, we all like what we like. It's good to have choices.
Peace,
The Germans have a lot more problems than a few electrical gremlins. For instance, BMW has serious reliabilty problems with bodies (3 series doors never fitting correctly and opening while cornering) and their share with engines.
I too agree that "engineering excellence" is not just reliabilty but that is what the lay person sees it as and most of them blindly buy these German cars based on this belief. I see "engineering excellence" in cars like a Miata; fun, reliable, cheap, easy to fiddle with, in one word; elegant. I don't see "elegance" in German cars. I used to see it in their well laid out interiors but now everyone has well laid out interiors whereas the German cars seem to be moving towards gadgetitis.
Aw hell, we all like what we like. It's good to have choices.
Peace,
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Originally posted by babylou
I don't see "elegance" in German cars.
I don't see "elegance" in German cars.
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... Yeah, when we bought my wife her 2000 Passat, we liked all of the standard bells and whistles and safety features that were available (for a little more money) when compared at the time to the Accord or Camery... (Also at the time, Consumer Reports highly recomended the Passat - but has since downgraded their rating) and we have also been plaged with more than our fair shair of electric problems plus some other mechanical problems in the 3 years that we've owned it ...
:p
... So far my 2003 MP5 has been trouble free (in the 3 months that I've had it) - more than I could say for our Passat ...
:p
... So far my 2003 MP5 has been trouble free (in the 3 months that I've had it) - more than I could say for our Passat ...
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Last edited by bwayout; 04-30-2003 at 06:27 PM.
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One thing to take into account with CR reviewers is that most of them are 40-50 + year old white guys, with a bias toward Honda and Toyota. I usually agree with them on reliability issues, but partially ignore their opinions on ride quality, gas mileage, etc, and draw my own conclusions.
CR is an excellent tool, but it's not the end-all be-all.
CR is an excellent tool, but it's not the end-all be-all.
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Originally posted by bluesunlion
One thing to take into account with CR reviewers is that most of them are 40-50 + year old white guys, with a bias toward Honda and Toyota. I usually agree with them on reliability issues, but partially ignore their opinions on ride quality, gas mileage, etc, and draw my own conclusions.
CR is an excellent tool, but it's not the end-all be-all.
One thing to take into account with CR reviewers is that most of them are 40-50 + year old white guys, with a bias toward Honda and Toyota. I usually agree with them on reliability issues, but partially ignore their opinions on ride quality, gas mileage, etc, and draw my own conclusions.
CR is an excellent tool, but it's not the end-all be-all.
I use both of these guys for their stats. The rest is purely up to me. I don't ask friends, internet forums or care what magazine reviews have to say.
#10
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I take strong exception to the idea that Consumer reports is biased - towards Honda/Toyota, or anyone else.....the opinions are also firmly grounded and reproducible - no tester says they 'just don't like' features.
If you took five minutes to look at the data, you would see that it is purely statistical; for example, if the 1990 thru 2003 Camry figures show 'better-than-average' in every column, for every year, EXCEPT for the 1998 model, they do not 'average' or 'assume' or even 'recommend' - they leave it as is.
There is no bias whatsoever.
......If YOU have a problem with the data, that is different.
(I am thankful that at least CR , has upset the people who believe the 'Teutonic' engineering MYTH)
.
.
.
doc
If you took five minutes to look at the data, you would see that it is purely statistical; for example, if the 1990 thru 2003 Camry figures show 'better-than-average' in every column, for every year, EXCEPT for the 1998 model, they do not 'average' or 'assume' or even 'recommend' - they leave it as is.
There is no bias whatsoever.
......If YOU have a problem with the data, that is different.
(I am thankful that at least CR , has upset the people who believe the 'Teutonic' engineering MYTH)
.
.
.
doc
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Re: Statistics don't lie...
Originally posted by Doctorr
...the opinions are also firmly grounded and reproducible - no tester says they 'just don't like' features ...
...the opinions are also firmly grounded and reproducible - no tester says they 'just don't like' features ...
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Re: Re: Statistics don't lie...
Originally posted by bwayout
Not that I'm a 47 year old white guy (but I am), I've been using Consumer Reports since I was at least 15 years old when my mother wanted me to buy a "Columbia" 10 speed bicycle over a "Schwinn" Sting ray ... I didn't lissen to her at the time, but soon learned that she and Consumer Reports were right about the "reliability" issues ...
Not that I'm a 47 year old white guy (but I am), I've been using Consumer Reports since I was at least 15 years old when my mother wanted me to buy a "Columbia" 10 speed bicycle over a "Schwinn" Sting ray ... I didn't lissen to her at the time, but soon learned that she and Consumer Reports were right about the "reliability" issues ...
I did not know they had invented the 10 speed bicycle yet. I thought they were still using "penny farthing" bicycles.:p :D
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Re: Re: Re: Statistics don't lie...
Originally posted by babylou
... I thought they were still using "penny farthing" bicycles.:p :D
... I thought they were still using "penny farthing" bicycles.:p :D
The Prisoner and the Village, Rover .. and "penny farthing" bicycles ...
:D
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sorry - I got off topic ... maniacal laughter
Last edited by bwayout; 05-06-2003 at 06:57 PM.
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