 |
 | Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us |
 | Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network |
Car Forum / Driving, Maintenance, Tuning / General Car Topics / January 2006Who are providing the "bread and butter" for car reviewers and critics?
I sometimes enjoy watching a movie, which has been marked VERY badly by some movie critics/reviewers. My friend told me that I should keep checking and comparing the kind of movies that I like to those among the so many movie critics in magazine, newspaper or on TV. When I finally find a match, then I should only read his/her critics. Perhaps he/she has the same "taste" of movies as I am. Switching gear to Car reviews in magazines or TV. Who actually pays for those many car reviewers and critics? Do they mostly work "freelance" or do they get paid full time by the car magazines? Just similar to movie critics, they are also very bias. For examples, I hardly see any reviews made in Consumers Report that suggesting to get an american car. Did they get financial rewards of somekind from Japanese automobile manufacturers? On the other hand, I notice the other way around in some of the other prominent car magazines. Do these car reviewers/critics get a "free rides" with the car they tested? I wonder whether they work for the automobile industry? Or, are the car magazines aligned themselves with a certain brand of automobiles? I read somewhere that some critics/reviewers try the car for personal use for a while, and then switching with the other models, etc. So, in a way, they are provided with a "free" transportation at their disposal at any time. Sounds like fun! Who don't want to try out those new cars, and getting paid at the same time... enjoying a brand new cars, without little worries of breaking down, etc. If he/she a good reviewer (for a certain manufacturers?), then I assume there are more "goodies" on line to try. I am just curious, and would like to hear from those who knows this industry, and would like to take a peek on how they are doing in this competitive business.Do they associated or aligned themselves with certain car manufactures?, do they actually on payroll from the industry, from the magazines, etc?. How difficult is it to become an established car reviewers/critics? Perhaps just like other critics/reviewers, whether it is in movie, or food businesses? I must say that car reviewers/critics appear to have a very rewarding/classy profession! Who don't want to try out that brand new, red, and expensive sports car? > Just similar to > movie critics, they are also very bias. For examples, I hardly see any > reviews made in Consumers Report that suggesting to get an american > car. Did they get financial rewards of somekind from Japanese > automobile manufacturers? This criticism has come up before, and the simple fact of the matter is that American car companies have not performed well in comparison to the Japanese, and neither have most other nations' car companies. The Japanese established a level of quality that raised the quality in other cars, but few have been able to match them. Personally, I have been a long-term Ford driver and have never purchased a Japanese vehicle. My trucks have lower technology and quality than the japanese versions some of my friends drive, but I have held out because I want to support American companies. I bought the best American vehicles that fit my needs and budget. Eventually, though, our car companies will need to 'belly up to the bar' and give us the kind of quality, style and technology we demand. Consumer Reports is the absolute LEAST biased review magazine that is widely available. Their reviews, on a wide variety of consumer products, are among the best that I've been able to find. > I am just curious, and would like to hear from those who knows this > industry, Somebody needs to slap your elementary school English teacher. +++ >............... Personally, I have been a long-term Ford > driver and have never purchased a Japanese vehicle. My trucks have lower > technology and quality than the japanese versions some of my friends drive, > but I have held out because I want to support American companies. Exactly what sort of technology do the import trucks have than American trucks don't have? Why do you think the American trucks are lower quality? The Ford F150 just got the JD Power award for initial quality. I've known a few farmers that have tried using Japanese trucks as farm vehicles, but most quickly switch back to American vehicles. The Japanese trucks seem OK for light hauling on paved roads, but I have seen Toyota trucks literally melt away when used on farms. The structures are insufficient for the routine sort of tasks farmers expect their trucks to perform. The little Toyota trucks were pretty good if all you did was ride around (at least until the rust got them), but the T-100 and Tundra are absolute jokes if you actually need a truck to haul something. The one farmer I know that still owns a Tundra, has a real truck for the real work. The Tundra is his ride to town truck. The engine is weak (despite the advertised horsepower) and the suspension cannot handle any sort of overload (my 16 year old F150 will haul more than a Tundra if you ignore the ratings). Americans have been brainwashed into believing that Japanese vehicles are somehow better. In some cases they are (small cars from the early 70's - maybe) and in some cases they are not. The reality is that the average US made cars is as good as the average Japanese car. There are examples on both sides that people like to point to and claim this proves Japanese cars are better (especially bad US cars and especially good Japanese cars). The sad part is that millions of Americans have bought into the notion that Japanese cars are better and don't even consider US vehicles. This has allowed the Japanese companies to charge exorbitant prices for average or even mediocre vehicles (like the Camry). Ed >I sometimes enjoy watching a movie, which has been marked VERY badly by >some movie critics/reviewers. My friend told me that I should keep [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] >automobile manufacturers? On the other hand, I notice the other way >around in some of the other prominent car magazines. You're just sitting in front of the computer making this stuff up, right? I've been subscribing two Consumer Reports, Car & Driver, Automobile and Motor Trend for close to two decades and I know your statement has no merit. Japanese cars used to be much more reliable so CR used to recommend them more than American or European ones, but lately CR has been recommending several American cars. Auto magazines have somewhat different criteria from CR - performance often wins over reliability and even comfort. Hence some American muscle cars have been recommended by them. But cars like Honda Accord, Lexus, Acura and BMW have always been at or near the top of any meaningful comparison I've ever read in a car magazine. Consumer Reports is completely unbiased with respect to auto brands because they accept no advertisements or other money from manufacturers. I feel that major auto magazines like the ones I named above are fairly unbiased as well because all car manufacturers advertise there. They may be unbiased, but they use silly criteria when they evaluate a lot of things. A car magazine has extensive expertise in engines, drive trains, performance, etc. while the Consumer Reports people are much more subjective. > Consumer Reports is completely unbiased with respect to auto brands > because they accept no advertisements or other money from > manufacturers. I feel that major auto magazines like the ones I named > above are fairly unbiased as well because all car manufacturers > advertise there. > They may be unbiased, but they use silly criteria when they > evaluate a lot of things. A car magazine has extensive > expertise in engines, drive trains, performance, etc. while > the Consumer Reports people are much more subjective. I think Consumer used to buy their cars (don't know about now) and report on every aspect from the ordinary consumers point of view. Car magazines are writing for their readers. Petrolheads are not going to be repeat magazine buyers if they get told trivia like how much luggage can fit under the seats and in the sidepockets. Besides their cars come from the PR dept complete with all the brochures detailing all the latest specs. If they dump on a car too much they're not going to get the loan of another. What's an "ordinary consumer's point of view"? What makes someone an ordinary consumer vs. an extraordinary, or maybe sub-ordinary, one? If my point of view is different than that of the CR reviewer, then *I'm* not ordinary? > I think Consumer used to buy their cars (don't know about now) and > report on every aspect from the ordinary consumers point of view. I've read and been told that American cars are closing in on the Japanese, but the difference in quality IMO is still obvious. Pricing is roughly the same. Which would you spend 15k on, a Cavalier/Neon pos or a Corolla ? I rode in a big 2005 Buick, I think a Park Avenue, had absolutely the cheapest interior finish of ANY car I'd ever een in. The interior door panels were simply molded plastic, looked like the body of a tv set. Saying that though I believe most reviewers are overly polite, especially movie reviewers. Buy American! The Japanese and Chinese use plastic too, but only recycled American plastics! RK > I've read and been told that American cars are closing in on the > Japanese, but the difference in quality IMO is still obvious. Pricing [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > Saying that though I believe most reviewers are overly polite, > especially movie reviewers. |
Reply to this Message |
 Sign In
 Join
 My Latest Posts My Monitored Threads My Blog My Photo Gallery My Profile My Homepage Start New Thread Enable EMail Alerts Rate this Thread
|
©2008 Advenet LLC Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.