US car in top 5 reliability in a long time, it wasn't Ram

I think you can get better info from actual owners online these days, compared to JD Power, CR, etc. I've primarily relied on that type of info plus my own test drives on my last couple of vehicle purchases. It is more time consuming because you have to sort through the fanboys and the few but vocal who have been burned by various issues, but I think you get better information.

One thing that's always bugged me about CR is they push a car like a Camry because it (evidently) is super reliable, but it has the driving dynamics of a Buick from the 1960s. So to the extent I try to find road test type of information, I'll pay a lot more attention to something like Car and Driver or Truck Trend where driving dynamics are evaluated by folks who understand what that means.

donn0128 wrote:

Fresno Tundra Driver wrote:

CR has been fairly reliable since the 1930's. Use it or don't. Maybe some of its bashers can be specific about what they don't like in their review process.

Reliable! In your dreams! CR is notorious for pandering to the ones that pay the most for afvertising.

notorious???? I've never been a subscriber, but I've looked through probably a dozen or so over the last 5 years, and I've never seen a single bit of outside advertising in those pages.

I'm convinced we have a few conspiracy theorists around here. I wouldn't say CR is the bible on everything, but if you lack any info on what vacuum picks up pet hair, I supose you could go buy 12 vacs and test them yourself, or you could read the mag and use the info to make an informed purchasing decision..or not.

They are all so good now days that some of those ratings can be a little misleading. Even though brand A might rate as less troublesome than Brand B, they may both be very good. Back in the 70's there were some huge differences; less so today. It does seem, historically, that Chrysler has been behind re: quality. I used to think that about GM little cars but my 2012 Sonic is great, almost 70000 miles trouble free.

I tend to buy the better rated cars and end up with big bills - hate to think what the guys who bought crappy rated cars get. In my next life I will come back as a mechanic.

At least in this case the ratings are based on some sort of factual information (warranty claims) and not some desk dweller's opinion. Seems like a few years back some dopey reviewer for one of the review concerns gave a 3500 Ram truck a bad review because it sat too high and rode rough. That is what bugs me.

Girls, you are all beautiful... Is it camping season again yet? I get the feeling this is going to be a long and bitter winter season on RV.net...

BillyW wrote:

Fresno Tundra Driver wrote:

BenK wrote:
CR praised a Toyota...then outed that they didn't actually test it...they finally
admitted that their 'praising report' was based on their own historical data on
Toyota vs any others...

Oh well, another filter for me on the value 'to me' on advice based on CR...

What issue was this "praising report" for Toyota? Do you have a month and year? Maybe I missed it. You can keep buying things based on your own "preferences", its your money after all. Just be specific about your gripes without confusing Consumer Reports with Consumer Guide and maybe your arguments would hold more weight.

It was Consumer Reports. I read it too. But I won't be able to help on the specific issue or model either. It's been a few years. Maybe this is what I was remembering.

Thanks for the link. It shows, in fact, that CR is unbiased. They are not "praising" Toyota. Honda civics got bad reviews a few years back too. They just call it like they see it. Some don't like CR because their favorite brands don't do so well in long term tests. You can buy whatever you want and you don't have to read CR but there are reasons they've been around so long.

GordonThree wrote:


Cabin fever starting early for some folks I guess?

Why yes! Down here in my piece of Florida, it didn't go above 70 the last 2 days. Today, it's warm again! :B

All vehicles break, just a matter of how frequently and in or out of warranty. Some more than others....

Fresno Tundra Driver wrote:

BenK wrote:
CR praised a Toyota...then outed that they didn't actually test it...they finally
admitted that their 'praising report' was based on their own historical data on
Toyota vs any others...

Oh well, another filter for me on the value 'to me' on advice based on CR...

What issue was this "praising report" for Toyota? Do you have a month and year? Maybe I missed it. You can keep buying things based on your own "preferences", its your money after all. Just be specific about your gripes without confusing Consumer Reports with Consumer Guide and maybe your arguments would hold more weight.

It was Consumer Reports. I read it too. But I won't be able to help on the specific issue or model either. It's been a few years. Maybe this is what I was remembering.

BenK wrote:
CR finally
admitted that their 'praising report' was based on their own historical data on
Toyota vs any others...
.

Oh say it ain't so, using historical data to draw a conclusion. What were they thinking. :E