Autoblog - Consumer Reports rates half-ton pickups, raises eyebrows!

[jimbo]

CR is just digging their hole deeper among people aware of their severe import bias. They should change their name to "Consumer Guide toToyota and Honda Vehicles".

[jimbo]

Originally Posted by LAChevy24

wow, that is dumb. is this what they were thinking, "lets test some trucks, but not get the right options to make it an even test" they really are dumb

They are not in the least dumb. They are biased. They do that on purpose to make their favorite brands look better and to shed domestic cars and trucks in the worst light. They are liars but they aren't dumb.

[ColinOpseth]

Originally Posted by jimbo

CR is just digging their hole deeper among people aware of their severe import bias. They should change their name to "Consumer Guide toToyota and Honda Vehicles".

Problem is, the American public is too stupid to do its own research. Most people rely on these garbage magazines. It's sad, really.

[63GrandSport001]

Originally Posted by ColinOpseth

Problem is, the American public is too stupid to do its own research. Most people rely on these garbage magazines. It's sad, really.

That is the most truthful thing Ive read on this forum all year long, and people in general are either too dumb or too lazy to do their own research on a subject.

This is why publications like CR is so popular because they do the research for the average consumer and all we have to do is read it.

The issue with the CR test is not with the test data or the conclusion that they came to but does it test what its meant to test? by them using the 5.3L motor with the lesser diff. gearing it doesnt test what they set out to test. They cover this up by saying "the final factor in our choice was fuel economy" which I think is insane in a test of trucks which should put more on its utility then its fuel economy. After all if you wanted fuel economy you would have gotten a economy car and not a pick up truck.

[2HOTZ28]

I have come to expect nothing more of CR. Most magazines will order up the most expensive/ optioned-up import availible then go on to rave about how much better it is. I am so tired of quotes like "it seems like such a small price to pay (10k) when you get such a refined product like the _____." If CR wanted a true unbiased test, they would option the trucks as closely as possible. I really prefer user reviews. Who would know a vehicle better than a person who has owned one for a year, rather than some fatass that drove the truck for 10 minutes.

[ColinOpseth]

Originally Posted by 2HOTZ28

I really prefer user reviews. Who would know a vehicle better than a person who has owned one for a year, rather than some fatass that drove the truck for 10 minutes.

I remember reading a test in Quad Magazine about the Polaris Predator 500 quad versus the Yamaha YFZ-450 or whatever quad Yamaha has. Anyway, they raced them stock for stock and went OUT OF THEIR WAY to say at the end that "the Polaris is the better quad but if you were to put $500 into the Yamaha it would kill the Polaris." What kind of stupid biased reporting is that? The Polaris won, you moron.

I bought the Polaris anyway and absolutely love my quad. I supported a North American company and got great value for my money. Then again, if I'd bought the Yamaha and put in $500 more imagine how fast my quad would be............... Jesus. These magazines make me sick.

[Tiger]

Knowledge is key and that is just beginning to happen on the new Tundra.

Curious that CR would blindly recommend ANY truck that:

1. Is an ALL new model that features a brand new larger engine design.

2. Crash test results which were below the competition - high head deceleration.

3. Utilized an Electronic Stability Control which TURNS OFF when 4WD is used.

[eaton53]

Originally Posted by ColinOpseth

Here's an example from my own personal experience that illustrates how stupid CR is.

I sold appliances at The Home Depot up until a week ago when I started my teaching job. About 2 months ago I was in the midst of a sale on a Maytag Epic frontload washer and dryer combo. Some dickhead customer butts in and says, "You don't want to buy the Epic. It's a piece of ****."

A little perturbed at his intrusion I stopped my transaction and asked him why and what machine he recommends. He says, "CR rates the Epic VERY poorly. They recommend the Kenmore and Whirlpool frontloaders."

"Interesting," I said, "that you say the Maytag is a piece of garbage and the Whirlpool and Kenmore rate very well when they come off the same assembly line in Germany."

He didn't believe me, so I showed him the tag that read,
"Maytag
Trademark - Whirlpool Corporation, Benton Harbor, Michigan."

He shut his frigging face. Idiot. CR is stupid. They don't even know that the Maytag/Whirlpool/Kenmore-based machines are the same yet they are soooo biased against Maytag they rated it poorly based on the brand.

As far as CR is concerned they can kiss my ass.

If they can't get a washing machine right, what good are they?

[cmutt]

You really want to make yourself sick? Read this quote about the Tundra (pg. 54, first paragraph):

"At 10,300 pounds, towing capacity rivals that of the heavy-duty diesel trucks we tested"

Now the facts (per trailerlife magazine, which publishes a handy, yearly towing guide):
http://www.trailerlife.com/towratings/07towratings.pdf

Chev. diesel: 15,900-15,500 lbs
Ford: diesel: 15,000-16,100 lbs
Dodge diesel: 12,800-13,500 lbs
(ranges based upon configuration: 2wd/4wd, longbed, manual/auto, etc)

Now does 10,300lbs "RIVAL" Dodge (who has the closest output)? Dodge's towing capacity exceeds Toyota by 24%. (Chev +50%, Ford +46%). That's a laughably bad comment. Perhaps we should have a "Consumer Reports" for magazines. Predicted credibility: (black circle).

[ericmvest]

Consumer Reports should have matched the specifications on the trucks as closely as possible to be a fair comparison. Consumer Reports pulls these shenanigans with a lot of products. My father retired from Makita Electric after 15 years service. He said Consumer Reports routinely compared mid-grade Makita power tools with top grade tools from the competition giving the competition an unfair advantage to a higher score. Hopefully, the typical full size pickup truck buyer does not give much consideration to what Consumer Reports says. I can see a Toyota RAV4 almost totally basing their purchase decision on what Consumer Reports says, but I can not see a typical full size pickup buyer even reading Consumer Reports.

[AndrewGS]

So they went with the 5.7L over the 4.7L in the Toyota and the 5.3L over the 6.0L in the Chevrolet because their emphasis was on economy? BULL****!

Let's talk about frame rigidity, payload and safety.

[1487]

CR is a disgrace but for some reason other members of the press are afraid to criticize them. I am so sick of hearing "they dont accept ads so they cant be biased". That is the #1 excuse I read when it comes to defending their biad. CR NEVER ranks ANY domestic vehicle above a Honda or Toyota or NIssan. It's that simple. I heard they arent impressed with the 2008 Vue so look for it to do poorly in an upcoming issue.

[prototype66]

Originally Posted by likearock00

I take CR reviews with a grain of salt.

I take CR to the Bathroom when I'm out of TP.
They are already full of crap, whats a little more.

[Caleb02]

i think everyone can agree that all car mags like car and driver, motor trend, automobile mag, and road & track are import biased. It seems to me no matter how well american car companies do in ratings by JD Powers it is the perception of what people have from long ago... once people make up their minds it is hard to change...

[gardnet1]

"Consumer Distorts" means nothing to me. I'm sure suzuki doesn't care for them either (samari).