The CR surveys have way too much room for the owners opinions to effect the ratings. Until they come up with some objective method to determine real reliability you have to take them as just more anecdotal evidence.
Consumer Reports Rates Sport Sedans
- Thread starter brianl703
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I think it's not a case of lower expectations, but more of a case of "I feel good about this car, therefore it is worth dealing with any maintenance or repairs that come up". If they do have problems, I suspect that some rationalize them by believing that a domestic car would have been worse.
In the case of the L300, I know he bought that car for one reason: It was the cheapest thing on the lot.
In the case of the L300, I know he bought that car for one reason: It was the cheapest thing on the lot.
Possibly.
I know for me, I get ****** more if I expect a car to do better.
Studies are usually meant to prove a point - which is sad, because studies should show a result, unbiased and with no pretense as to fairness.
Scott
I know for me, I get ****** more if I expect a car to do better.
Studies are usually meant to prove a point - which is sad, because studies should show a result, unbiased and with no pretense as to fairness.
Scott
Scott, my example wasn't meant to be anywhere near as specific as you interpreted it. I was basically saying what Brian has observed; that if a person thinks a car (or brand) is wonderful in the beginning, they're more likely to blow off reliability issues because "brand X makes good cars," while they're more likely to be critical of a car they are initially suspicious of.
Another factor that noone has mentioned is the selection bias in their surveys. afaik, they don't have any controls on their sample size or composition (it's not random).
I'm not saying that consumer reports is completely useless, but the bias they've shown in the past and the fact that their surveys are non-scientific doesn't give them much credibility IMO.
After all, they did say that Fram oil filters are the best on the market
Another factor that noone has mentioned is the selection bias in their surveys. afaik, they don't have any controls on their sample size or composition (it's not random).
I'm not saying that consumer reports is completely useless, but the bias they've shown in the past and the fact that their surveys are non-scientific doesn't give them much credibility IMO.
After all, they did say that Fram oil filters are the best on the market
You guys mean Fram's not the best???
CR lost me when they declared radial tires and disk brakes as not worth the cost. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, and shame on me. Haven't heard anything to convince me to trust them.
First sentance:
Agreed, but I think to say most people have lower expectations of Japanese cars is the exact opposite of why they sell so many.
Sencond sentance:
Absolutely true for this survey.
Absolutely critical for sales
Scott
JHZR2
Staff member
CR does one thing... write review for people who dont have a lot of common sense, and who want decisions made for them. CR excells at claiming that item a, at one-third the cost of item b performs every bit as well in our tests.
yeah, well, whats to say that any of their tests have real world bearing, or that they can really determine what millions of different folks will prefer.
cars are not a one isze fits all thing. Different people like different things... And when you have a wishy-washy method of collecting data, then youll get wishy washy results. And a wishy washy result has no value whatsoever.
I love the results for the saab... what a bunch of idiots!
JMH
yeah, well, whats to say that any of their tests have real world bearing, or that they can really determine what millions of different folks will prefer.
cars are not a one isze fits all thing. Different people like different things... And when you have a wishy-washy method of collecting data, then youll get wishy washy results. And a wishy washy result has no value whatsoever.
I love the results for the saab... what a bunch of idiots!
JMH
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