Consumer Reports winner is?
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Elder User
Joined: Feb 2003
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Consumer Reports winner is?
Most surprising. Even more so on their 2nd choice.
The new Ram 1500, which received a mild makeover for the 2013 model year, is now at the top of Consumer Reports annual rankings of full-size pickups. The nonprofit group recently completed testing of the 2013 Ram 1500, and the freshened model received the highest score, 78.
“The Ram 1500 is surprisingly luxurious and refined -- but still fully capable of doing hard work when needed,” said Jake Fisher, director of Consumer Reports’ Auto Test Center in East Haddam, Conn., said in a statement.
Because the Ram 1500 has been reliable in past years, Consumer Reports has also given the truck a "recommended" designation. The designation is based on a good performance in government and industry crash tests, a good performance in the group's own tests as well as the reliability of the model in previous years, according to the group's annual auto survey.
Other full-size pickup trucks tested include the Toyota Tundra, which scored 69, and the Ford F-150, which scored 68. The redesigned 2014 Chevrolet Silverado is still undergoing tests at Consumer Reports' East Haddam, Conn., facility and will be announced in late summer.
Read more: Ram pickup tops car tests « Bankrate, Inc.
The new Ram 1500, which received a mild makeover for the 2013 model year, is now at the top of Consumer Reports annual rankings of full-size pickups. The nonprofit group recently completed testing of the 2013 Ram 1500, and the freshened model received the highest score, 78.
“The Ram 1500 is surprisingly luxurious and refined -- but still fully capable of doing hard work when needed,” said Jake Fisher, director of Consumer Reports’ Auto Test Center in East Haddam, Conn., said in a statement.
Because the Ram 1500 has been reliable in past years, Consumer Reports has also given the truck a "recommended" designation. The designation is based on a good performance in government and industry crash tests, a good performance in the group's own tests as well as the reliability of the model in previous years, according to the group's annual auto survey.
Other full-size pickup trucks tested include the Toyota Tundra, which scored 69, and the Ford F-150, which scored 68. The redesigned 2014 Chevrolet Silverado is still undergoing tests at Consumer Reports' East Haddam, Conn., facility and will be announced in late summer.
Read more: Ram pickup tops car tests « Bankrate, Inc.
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 9,176
Likes: 4
From: Western Central NV
I'm not surprised. I have owned Chevy's Many Fords, IHC, Toyota's & Dodge's I have always had very good results with Dodge's. My 99 Dodge QC 4x4 V10 I bought two years ago for $5500. My 95 F150 4x4 I bought for $2800. Now the RESULTS, The 99 Dodge in repairs has cost me $800 in two years. My 95 F150 in 6 months has cost me $2000.
So what would you take a chance on if buying?
Craig
So what would you take a chance on if buying?
Craig
Super Moderator
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 40,024
Likes: 1,519
From: Maine, Virginia
I'm not surprised. I have owned Chevy's Many Fords, IHC, Toyota's & Dodge's I have always had very good results with Dodge's. My 99 Dodge QC 4x4 V10 I bought two years ago for $5500. My 95 F150 4x4 I bought for $2800. Now the RESULTS, The 99 Dodge in repairs has cost me $800 in two years. My 95 F150 in 6 months has cost me $2000.
So what would you take a chance on if buying?
Craig
So what would you take a chance on if buying?
Craig
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
Likes: 785
From: Simi Valley, CA
kermmydog: It's unfair to compare trucks you bought used. Who knows how they were maintained .. before you bought them?
Here's a comparo of two trucks I bought new: 2004 F150 Lariat Super Crew vs 2004 Titan SE King Cab: Lariat required SIX warranty repairs in 15 months, Titan required none in 12 months.
The F150's trans went bye bye the first week I owned the terd, the brakes were troubled by brake judder (warped rotors). The 3rd time in the first 3 months
I took it in for brake judder, Ford dealers courtesy van was broken down (not surprising since it was a Windstar), so I would have been stuck there until the terd's brakes were fixed. I walked next door to the Nissan dealer, bought a new Titan, then drove it into the Ford dealers service driveway, told the astonished service writer that I was in no hurry to get the terd back!
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,014
Likes: 91
From: Concord, CA
Consumer Reports has been a non-profit since inception. One of the very few magazines that doesn't carry a bias one way or the other when it comes to consumer goods.
Super Moderator
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 40,024
Likes: 1,519
From: Maine, Virginia
CR needs to leave automotive reporting to the pros and stick to what they actually are good at, washers and dryers, TV's, etc.
Who is CR true target audience? For certain not the majority of Americans as we know that the majority earn less than that what it takes to purchase high end appliances or drop $24K on a Hybrid instead of going after the $16K gasser.
Nope, nor sir, they have very limited credibility with me.
Who is CR true target audience? For certain not the majority of Americans as we know that the majority earn less than that what it takes to purchase high end appliances or drop $24K on a Hybrid instead of going after the $16K gasser.
Nope, nor sir, they have very limited credibility with me.
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Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 10,060
Likes: 491
From: Bristol, TN.
I believe Consumer Reports is non-biased and their results are empirically based within the bounds of how much that is possible when dealing with anything automotive. I also think their reliability ratings reflect the experience of their readership. The questionnaire they mail out is very long and detailed.
The problem, as I see it, is if you go to the section of CR and read consumer comments on particular items, you often get an entirely different picture just as on FTE you get hundreds of anecdotal comments about all varieties of things related to Ford products.
Personally, I have had very bad luck with products purchased based on CR recommendations and, while I think their recommendations are worth reviewing, I believe a much broader based search for information is more useful for most folks.
My two cents worth
The problem, as I see it, is if you go to the section of CR and read consumer comments on particular items, you often get an entirely different picture just as on FTE you get hundreds of anecdotal comments about all varieties of things related to Ford products.
Personally, I have had very bad luck with products purchased based on CR recommendations and, while I think their recommendations are worth reviewing, I believe a much broader based search for information is more useful for most folks.
My two cents worth
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Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,922
Likes: 9
As great as they make out the Ram truck to be, the one thing it can't seem to carry is all the baggage associated with the Dodge name. Our family hasn't had a good track record with anything Dodge but I realize that is only anecdotal evidence. However for those guys to distance themselves from the Dodge name and try to rebrand their truck line as Ram leads me to believe that many other people have been disappointed as well. That's just my impression and my 2 cents. It is a sharp looking truck, I'll give it that.
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 3,391
Likes: 2
From: Altamonte Springs, FL
CR needs to leave automotive reporting to the pros and stick to what they actually are good at, washers and dryers, TV's, etc.
Who is CR true target audience? For certain not the majority of Americans as we know that the majority earn less than that what it takes to purchase high end appliances or drop $24K on a Hybrid instead of going after the $16K gasser.
Nope, nor sir, they have very limited credibility with me.
Who is CR true target audience? For certain not the majority of Americans as we know that the majority earn less than that what it takes to purchase high end appliances or drop $24K on a Hybrid instead of going after the $16K gasser.
Nope, nor sir, they have very limited credibility with me.
As great as they make out the Ram truck to be, the one thing it can't seem to carry is all the baggage associated with the Dodge name. Our family hasn't had a good track record with anything Dodge but I realize that is only anecdotal evidence. However for those guys to distance themselves from the Dodge name and try to rebrand their truck line as Ram leads me to believe that many other people have been disappointed as well. That's just my impression and my 2 cents. It is a sharp looking truck, I'll give it that.
CR does have biases; they are oriented toward safety and reflect a nanny government attitude. I do read their reviews; but their automotive reviews do not hold a lot of credibility for me.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 23,849
Likes: 20
From: McKenzie River
CR has another bias.............toward foreign mfgs.
Some years back they were reviewing small trucks, they gave reviews of the Ranger and the Mazda B series.
The Mazda scored slightly better over-all than the Ranger..........
They were the SAME truck!
Some years back they were reviewing small trucks, they gave reviews of the Ranger and the Mazda B series.
The Mazda scored slightly better over-all than the Ranger..........
They were the SAME truck!
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 10,060
Likes: 491
From: Bristol, TN.
I think the bias foreign versus U.S. built was largely the result of reliability, which in turn is based not on Consumer Reports finding, but the data provided by owners to CR. A great many owners have the perspective that if it's foreign it must be better. Remember when Toyota went down in the CR ratings due to reliability? That was also the result of consumer input not CR findings.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,014
Likes: 91
From: Concord, CA
There is a winner. Provisional that is since there is no reliability information due to being to new.
Consumer Reports gives Chevy Impala rave reviews - Jul. 25, 2013
Consumer Reports gives Chevy Impala rave reviews - Jul. 25, 2013