For years, Consumer Reports has recommended new Honda and Toyota models even without reliability data on them because cars from these manufacturers had been consistently reliable. However, this has changed in recent years as Honda’s and Toyota’s have become less consistent and the gap between all makes has narrowed. So to me the practice seemed questionable. A couple months ago TrueDelta reported… More →
Category: Consumer Reports
Consumer Reports
Consumer Reports adopts one of my less intelligent suggestions
I’ve been very critical of the survey question Consumer Reports uses to gather its vehicle reliability data, most notably in this editorial. They’re aware of my critiques, and I’ve been wondering whether they’d improve their survey as a result. Well, this year’s survey is out, so I have my answer.
Sample sizes (draft)
Currently TrueDelta publicly posts Vehicle Reliability Survey results when there have been responses for at least 20 vehicles owned for at least 80 total months. In comparison, Consumer Reports’ minimum sample is 100 vehicles, with no minimum number of months of ownership. One hundred sounds a lot more impressive than 20. And they do love to brag about the size of their… More →
How soon can the reliability of a new model be known?
When a new model such as the Saturn Aura sedan comes out, many people wait until reliability information is available before taking a chance by buying one. So TrueDelta intends to provide such information as soon as possible. But how soon is possible?
Consumer Reports provides a “best pick” list for the “Buy American” crowd
Fans of domestic and European cars have been critical of Consumer Reports for including only Japanese models on its list of “top picks.” Aware that some people will only buy a domestic car, the magazine has issues a second “top picks” list composed entirely of domestic models. Beyond the fact that the formulas used to calculate overall scores remain secret, I’m not… More →
Consumer Reports’ secret formulas
Consumer Reports’ recent release of its “Annual Auto Issue” has people talking about its “best picks” once again. For the second year in a row they’re all Japanese. I don’t personally have a problem with that. As long as they follow a clear procedure, I’m fine with the results. The problem is that while they probably follow a clear procedure, to… More →
Exaggerating the facts for the sake of a story
In Thursday’s USA Today, Chris Woodyard and James R. Healey lead off with, “Toyota’s vaunted Lexus luxury brand has fallen from first to fifth in Consumer Reports magazine’s annual predicted reliability survey.” They then spoke with David Champion, the magazine’s director of automotive testing, who attributed Lexus’ fall to the new-for-2006 GS. But they’re really making a story out of… More →
Fresh data
TrueDelta will soon post repair rates for the year ending December 31, 2006. The data are at the analyst, and the results will go up as soon as he gets them to me. Once the panel is larger, perhaps as early as next year, TrueDelta will provide initial results for new models introduced in October as early as this February… More →