Is Consumer Reports as Reliable as it once was (Page 2): Well I know they are in love with Japanese cars. And there are now great American cars that they never mention.

foathog Loc: Greensboro, NC

John_F wrote:

Many years ago I always regarded Consumer Reports as the last word in objectivity and had the reputation of conducting in-depth testing. Is this still true; I have heard they are not what they once were. Anyone have reasonable reliable comments. Especially their car reviews. And BTW are their other car review publications that are better.

Well I know they are in love with Japanese cars. And there are now great American cars that they never mention.

drkeene Loc: Florida Gulf Coast

I susbscribe to and support CR and read its reviews carefully whenever I intend to buy an automobile or major appliance. I pay close attention to their evaluation criteria. I also try to assist CR by submitting accurate survey information based on my product experience.

This said, I have never substituted CR's judgement for my own. I have frequently added one or two criteria to those cited by CR and, as a result, selected a product different than that recommended. In short, CR is a starting point for me for major purchases.

Problem: CR appears recently to have changed its format. In the process, it seems to have shortened and dumbed down its analyses. I hope that this does not continue...

Pepsiman Loc: New York City

John_F wrote:

Many years ago I always regarded Consumer Reports as the last word in objectivity and had the reputation of conducting in-depth testing. Is this still true; I have heard they are not what they once were. Anyone have reasonable reliable comments. Especially their car reviews. And BTW are their other car review publications that are better.

Sometimes they report on old stuff that you can no lonmger buy.

ecblackiii Loc: Maryland

I subscribe to Consumer Reports and have always considered their reports as the most objective and unbiased available. Their methodology is straightforward and Consumer Reports buys everything that they test on the open market. That way, no manufacturer can influence the evaluation by contributing to the cost of the evaluation or providing free or "specially prepared" equipment for evaluation. You may prefer a different set of criteria to be evaluated, but who would you go to to get a better, more independent, and more scientific evaluation than provided by Consumer Reports? I know of no one. So if only your personal opinion counts with you, fine for you. But for the general buying public, there is no better, less biased, or more independent tester than Consumer Reports.

EdJ0307 Loc: out west someplace

I used to subscribe the their on-line edition but dropped it a few years ago because they never seemed to report on items I was interested in. Now they send me nag emails every couple months wanting me to resubscribe.

studavis

I have not looked at them since I found they ratted an appliance TOP and it was the only on that did not have a UL Approval. I contacted them about this and the answer was the price was so much better. GOOD BY CONSUMER REPORT I think of them as a publication first.

balticvid Loc: Queens now NJ

Pepsiman wrote:

Sometimes they report on old stuff that you can no lonmger buy.

I agree. They do a hell of a job.

SteveLew Loc: Sugar Land, TX

I have taken the Consumer Review for many years and what ever the negatives I think that they are far and unbiased. The real question is, "What consumer publication is more reliable than Consumer Review? I think you'd be hard pressed to come up with an alternative.

balticvid Loc: Queens now NJ

SteveLew wrote:

I have taken the Consumer Review for many years and what ever the negatives I think that they are far and unbiased. The real question is, "What consumer publication is more reliable than Consumer Review? I think you'd be hard pressed to come up with an alternative.

ecblackiii Loc: Maryland

Interesting that there are a lot of whining anecdotes about why various people do not think Consumer Reports is good enough. But, not one substantial statement about any publication that does a better job.

John_F Loc: Minneapolis, MN

I want to thank all who replied. All comments were informative and seem to show a very mixed bag.

Los-Angeles-Shooter Loc: Los Angeles

John_F wrote:

Many years ago I always regarded Consumer Reports as the last word in objectivity and had the reputation of conducting in-depth testing. Is this still true; I have heard they are not what they once were. Anyone have reasonable reliable comments. Especially their car reviews. And BTW are their other car review publications that are better.

No comment on car reports specifically. But CR is biased as hell in general and occasionally crooked as hell. See, e.g., the infamous "review" of BOSE speakers which led to a lawsuit. CR also has a very active Leftist political lobby and pressure group. BTW, if they're "unbiased" why has CR never reviewed firearms?

Los-Angeles-Shooter Loc: Los Angeles

SteveLew wrote:

I have taken the Consumer Review for many years and what ever the negatives I think that they are far and unbiased. The real question is, "What consumer publication is more reliable than Consumer Review? I think you'd be hard pressed to come up with an alternative.

Is Consumer Review some other publication? Or are you meaning to refer to Consumer REPORTS?

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

I have had both American & Japanese cars. Reliability wise, the Japanese cars were head & shoulders above the American cars. In terms of cost of repairs, Japanese cars cost more to fix but American cars broke down more frequently (but not as often as German, French or British cars).
EDIT; I worked in the auto business for 25 years.... As for Motor trend & others, They don't test "stock" vehicles off the showroom floor & they also get kickbacks for giving beneficial reviews.

foathog wrote:

Well I know they are in love with Japanese cars. And there are now great American cars that they never mention.

fantom Loc: Colorado

John_F wrote:

Many years ago I always regarded Consumer Reports as the last word in objectivity and had the reputation of conducting in-depth testing. Is this still true; I have heard they are not what they once were. Anyone have reasonable reliable comments. Especially their car reviews. And BTW are their other car review publications that are better.

They are supposed to be unbiased but some of their ratings have left we bewildered. They do not accept advertising but I am wondering if there may be a Consumer Reports Foundation somewhere.