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Comments
Plants in Canada and Mexico = plants in Japan = imports.
I would think that is more significant.
No reputable news outlet "pays" Consumer Reports to report on the results of its reliability surveys, anymore than NBC, CNN and The New York Times pay the Motion Picture Academy of Arts & Sciences to report the winners of the annual Academy Awards. (ABC did pay for the privilege of broadcasting the actual ceremony, but that is different.)
Virtually everyone owns a vehicle; lots of people pay attention to what Consumer Reports has to say about those vehicles. It's a legitimate news story, so news outlets run it. Any news director worth his or her salt will see the value in running that story.
imidazol97: I've noticed through the decades that noone is allowed to quote CR's views, but they seem to allow quotes in the TV clips and radio clips they market... grin.
You are confusing the use of results in advertising with reporting the results in a news story.
Any organization is free to ban the use of its copyrighted material in advertisements.
News outlets, on the other hand, are free to report on what is contained in a publication without giving any renumeration to the original source. Consumer Reports cannot stop a news outlet from reporting on these results even it if were inclined to do so.
The reliability ratings of Consumer Reports annual survey are news - regardless of whether anyone agrees with the results. News sources - and Edmunds.com is a news source - report those results freely, and without paying Consumer Reports for doing so.
I agree it's my opinion. But it still counts! I owned several GMs. I will own again only if GM listens to my opinion.
"The Equinox got a new interior in 2005 that looks just as good as anything you'll find in the competition and it gets a 263hp/6speed combo for 2008."
Check Edmunds' True-Cost-to-Own" for Equinox. Then, check some others like Escape, CR-V, etc. You will know that Equinox is way behind the competition.
Could it be they described it that way because it was the FJ Cruiser or some other mid to large size vehicle that had unimpressive fuel economy and say.... A chevy economy car that had the same mileage, but in relativity; was "dismal" for miles per gallon.
Funny, I felt like I wanted a telescopic column even before I knew it existed or was possible. I'd say a telescopic column should be just as "standard" as Tilt steering wheels on all cars. It is just as important to me; especially now that I have a car that has a telescopic steering wheel (and wife's new Civic does too).
:surprise: :confuse:
If I was a vehicle interior designer, anyone who suggested carpet as a good material for a kickplate surface would be shot on sight. :mad:
If it's so easy to build a simple reliable car, then how come the domestics never did it? I would think if it was easy, they'd have done just that, but it has never happened to date. Honda and Toyota make pretty loaded to the teeth cars today, and they don't seem to have a problem with power locks and windows or complexities in their cars.
First of all, where is "here" for you?
You know, I didn't even consider it a good deal for me, just a fair deal. I considered it a VERY good deal for the buyer. Granted, I kept my car up in very good shape, and it was well maintained and cared for (though I never had a carport or garage to park it in). So it weathered the sun, wind, and rain of 50 months pretty well. Still drove just like new, and that's what sold it. It looked good, but did show its age with knicks and scratches, a small dent or two typical of a car that has been driven 64K+ miles in Southern California. The windshiled had a couple chips; 2 of which we're repaired. Interior was clean, exterior had some molding/trim rippling/wrinkling issues on the door/window. Had newer transmission as that was the one mechanical component that began to fail during its lifetime with me (replaced at 42K under warranty; even though Honda didn't technically warrant past 36K at the time).
Check out the '03 Accord in CR reliability study, it's spot on! The only (half) black circle you'll find is on the transmission that year, the rest is all fully red except for maybe body hardware, integrity/trim (that molding issue). CR spot on right again? How could that be? :P
Why in the world does CR's data always directly match my experience?
Okay, enough of my rant.
My real question is why you think I got such a great deal, at the time (January 07) Edmunds' TMV on my Honda V6 was around 15K, so I thought I was giving the guy a big time discount as I had it on the market minimally advertised for a long time. He sure thought it was a good deal; his main questions had to do with why I was selling it at such a great price.
Hey, it could be worse! The 1957 DeSoto Fireflite used a silver mylar film along the lower edge of the door panels!
Personally, I like carpeted lower door panels because they help dress up the interior. Without them, it creates a cheap, spartan atmosphere.
I guess you could argue that over time, the carpeting is going to get messed up, but the same holds true for metal, which will scrape, plastic, which will scrape as well, or soft-touch, which will tear.
I've had cars with all kinds of lower door material. I like the carpet the best. It matches the interior carpent, bringing it out onto the door. I don't think it's actually carpet grade material but I know that it doesn't get scuffed when I kick the door with my Rockports getting in and out and cleaning it means a swift brush with the vacuum or a wet hand towel to clean off anything that gets on there from hopping in and out.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Since the stations run them nightly or certain days of the week, they're not just 'news' stories. They're regular features. So you are saying that you _know_ Consumers Reports supplies those at no charge? ________________
>You are confusing the use of results in advertising with reporting
No I'm not that dumb. I understand advertising clips vs news stories or regular features bought by the stations._________
You may be confused as to the type of regular features I was describing.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
I'll take that question! The telescoping steering wheel. Do you really think any of those oil gauges are telling you enough about the life of your oil to go some 10,000 miles between changes? You can do so at your cars expense. I will change my oil at say 5K miles of mainly mixed driving, or 7K miles of mostly freeway driving. I can not imagine a gauge on the car knowing to actual condition of your particular oil used, and how well your filter is doing. Speaking of which, I like Purolator and Wix filters (Napa Gold), though I will likely be using whatever Honda supplies, if their oil changes are reasonable enough - I have not checked yet.
Loren
The only thing flawed here is your theory that because they use subscriber results, they are flawed. Why would CR subscribers be any different from Joe Blow and Joe Schmoe?
Jane Doe and John Doe? There is no evidence to back up your theory. It is a POSSIBLE theory on why they could be flawed, but unless you have data on CR's subscriber base all being biased, then it doesn't hold water.
I don't need a telescoping wheel, but some may find it fabulous-seriously-while I value something else. I may not have trouble adjusting closer to dash for steering wheel since my legs are not longer than average so I can scrunch right up if I need to. I recall that feeling when I drove a friend's new Corolla.
I know I didn't like the Fusion/500 style of tilt wheel. If it telescoped I didn't get it to work; it just tilts using the floorboard as the pivot focus.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Could it be they described it that way because it was the FJ Cruiser or some other mid to large size vehicle that had unimpressive fuel economy and say.... A chevy economy car that had the same mileage, but in relativity; was "dismal" for miles per gallon.
No, if you read the comment is says "on a similar model". You even copied it!!!
The only door I saw which made no sense at all is on my Aunts Crown Vic. The map pocket covers the speakers. Not the best for sound. :confuse:
Ya know, the more I think about it, in a way the Toyota Camry is sort of like today's version of a Oldsmobile Delta 88. That is if the Olds got a modern engine and tranny. Really it is sort of like a fast forward of what a Cutlass or 88 could have been. Handling and feel of road is about the same as the Olds 98 Regency I once owned. A 2000 Camry, for example, is about the same. Only the Toy is reliable as in not stopping when it wants to.
Loren
Wrong-Unless you are in dusty conditions or have a faulty motor the service cycle of the engine can give very accurate oil conditions.
with no major problems until the original radiator sprung a leak and it was not worth it to fix it. The simple cars never sold really well. People in the 70's and 80's wanted power steering and electric windows on domestic vehicles. Yes the domestics were behind the curve following the 1973 Arab oil embargo and stricter emission requirements.
How about the prius shutting down on the hwy or transmission surge/hesitation in the ES and Camry V6 which according to multiple forums has been going on for years.
Toyota and Honda are smart in that they cut their losses on a vehicle/engine if they run into chronic problems. The Toyota 2.5 V6 was out for a short time then deep sixed. Acura befuddled me by canceling the CL. I thought it was a nice looking car and it appeared to be selling well. They claim it was for lack of sales not problems with the transmission
etc.
Heck, both my 1988 Buick Park Avenue and my 1989 Cadillac Brougham have carpet along the lower door interior panels and they barely show any dirt or wear after all these years.
Actually, the 244 HP Accord would smoke the 9-3, unless you're talking 9-3 Aero.... but you didn't specify.'
Also, if Loren got the 6 speed manual Accord, then I think 33% more of your list gets left in the dust too.
Door bottom
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Rocky
The better question to ask is why would the station pay to provide Consumer Reports with publicity? If any organization benefits, it is Consumer Reports,which needs to generate revenue to survive, even if its non-profit...this is publicity for the magazine.
Unless you are talking about pre-packaged segments produced by Consumer Reports and sold to the station for broadcast (much like a syndicated show, only shorter in duration, if I am understanding you correctly).
You can't be serious!
It only puzzles me because I can't think of anything Mercury has that isn't built on the same line as a Ford. Ford seems to always rate exactly in the middle - the perfectly average in reliability make.
Pontiac is goint to sticker a car at a mid 30K price range? In my opinion the Pontiac nameplate today does not have the name to sell a mid 30K priced car.
Seamless airbag cover refers to the visible seam or lap joint on the IP over the airbag not to the airbag itself.
The old Accord, unlike most newer models, has a cover on the RH upper IP that is very visible.
http://automobiles.honda.com/models/interior_gallery.asp?ModelName=Accord+Sedan
http://www.buick.com/lacrosse/gallery_interior.jsp
And yes I would rather have 18" wheels or a split folding rear seat than a telescoping wheel.. but again that is just me and I am not the entire buying public. (and the Lacrosse does have a tele column)
I like that. Don't figure you want to go testing what the arirbag itself looks like!
Imidizal 97...looks like you were right a week ago on your post about the Kentucky plant in unionizing.
In my opinion, if the UAW unionizes that plant Toyota will be very careful on what the agreements that the contract contains I think.
Of course, if the car's totaled, it's a moot point. But in gentler accidents, it's just going to run up the cost to repair. My stepdad rear-ended someone with a '99 Altima awhile back. He said he hardly felt the impact, but it was enough to set off the airbags. And the airbag didn't even touch him, because the impact wasn't strong enough to throw him far enough forward.
I do agree, however, that the latest results are an encouraging sign.
There was similar talk from union leaders prior to the unsuccessful effort to unionize Nissan in the late 1980s.
Don't want to get political and I definitely don't want to talk presidential candidates with an election a year and a half away.
I'd be curious how they determine just what the Japanese advantage is. They have stronger unions in Japan than we have here and they have to ship the vehicles across teh Pacific. As MAzda learned, that's not an automatically done deal....
Personally, i don't see Americans rushing to buy Chinese cars in large quantities. Would you buy a Chinese economy car over a Fit, Accent, yaris, Versa, Corolla, Elantra, etc.? Or a Chinese midsize car over the Accord, camry, fusion, malibu, etc.?
I think some brands may suffer but I would not buy a brand new car from an unknown manufacturer over the established competition. that's me. Heck I won't even buy a Chrysler.