el_bandido's Full Review: Consumer Reports Magazine Subscription
Oh no!, How could anyone slander the good name of Consumer Reports? Well, when you know the facts, it's not too difficult.
“If you can’t find someone to roll this car, I will!”
— Irwin Landau, Editorial Director, Consumer Reports, to Kevin Sheehan, Suzuki Samurai test driver, 1988
The CR hatchet jobs began as far back as 1988 when Consumer Reports "tested" the Suzuki Samurai. Two of the magazine’s test drivers failed to roll the Samurai in their 37 laps around the driving course at the course CR had been using since 1973. Kevin Sheehan ran 16 laps at speeds reaching 50 miles an hour, then noted that “It never felt like it would tip over.” Richard Small drove the Samurai 21 laps, and he gave the Samurai the highest possible score of 5+. Irwin Landau made then made his now infamous demand.
It took CR's Head of Automotive Studies, R. David Pittle 10 laps to get the Samurai to raise two wheels off the ground.
By 1996 CR's hatchet was out again and this time the intended target was the Acura SLX/Isuzu Trooper. CR reported that the SLX and Trooper were "unstable" Isuzu, having already witnessed the Suzuki debacle countered with full page newspaper ads and press conferences to denounce CR as "misleading and unreliable.
CR's credibility again took a hit in their baby seat test debacle just recently.
Consumer Reports also rated the Civic Hybrid at 26 mpg. 26? Are they certain? I had a Civic EX sedan that never failed to get at least 32 mpg. How do they get a hybrid to get 26? Are they driving with the parking brake on, the A/C on, and a trunk full of dead prostitutes?
And then there is the matter of import vs domestic. Two cars built in the same factory, by the same workers, with the same components. One is marketed at a domestic dealer and has a Domestic name. The other an import. CR has consistantly ranked the one with the import nameplate higher. How is this possible? It's virtually the same car.
If it’s going to bend its tests to fit predetermined conclusions, CR should disclose that alongside its “no-advertiser-influence” policy.
By Ed Wallace
Special to the Star-Telegram
Fact of the matter is that Consumer Reports needs to sell magazines. In order to do that they occasionally feel that they need to sensationalize a bit.
Most of the information I have found in CR is accurate. But on some things that I am not familiar with, I am forced to wonder, is this accurate? Are these the actual results or another hatchet job? So I always take it with a grain of salt.
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