F-150 rated below average
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Winnipeg, Manitoba
NickFordMan: All those criteria you listed are irrelevant to a reliability survey, which seems to be what we are talking about here. We all know that CR always puts Honda and Toyota at the top.
92TripleBlack: Did you hear about Bose suing CR over "unscientific testing methods" when their speakers didn't do so well? After that, their speakers have always been rated highly, even though they're overpriced with very low build and sound quality.
92TripleBlack: Did you hear about Bose suing CR over "unscientific testing methods" when their speakers didn't do so well? After that, their speakers have always been rated highly, even though they're overpriced with very low build and sound quality.
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Joined: Oct 2005
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Originally Posted by seftonm
NickFordMan: All those criteria you listed are irrelevant to a reliability survey, which seems to be what we are talking about here. We all know that CR always puts Honda and Toyota at the top.
92TripleBlack: Did you hear about Bose suing CR over "unscientific testing methods" when their speakers didn't do so well? After that, their speakers have always been rated highly, even though they're overpriced with very low build and sound quality.
92TripleBlack: Did you hear about Bose suing CR over "unscientific testing methods" when their speakers didn't do so well? After that, their speakers have always been rated highly, even though they're overpriced with very low build and sound quality.
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Originally Posted by slipnotic
Lol! I have to disagree about the bose comment though, I have one in my home and I cant say a bad word about it 
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From: Melbourne, Aus
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Originally Posted by seftonm
NickFordMan: All those criteria you listed are irrelevant to a reliability survey, which seems to be what we are talking about here. We all know that CR always puts Honda and Toyota at the top.
92TripleBlack: Did you hear about Bose suing CR over "unscientific testing methods" when their speakers didn't do so well? After that, their speakers have always been rated highly, even though they're overpriced with very low build and sound quality.
92TripleBlack: Did you hear about Bose suing CR over "unscientific testing methods" when their speakers didn't do so well? After that, their speakers have always been rated highly, even though they're overpriced with very low build and sound quality.
I don't understand how they can actually rate the Ridgeline like that, not too mention it's not even a friggen truck. Favorable to certain auto manufacturers is what it is.
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,148
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From: Seneca, SC
actually from what I remember bagger, the sami was fine in the original test, then a corporate exec went through the test for kicks and screwed up. He cut the corner too tight, hit the breaks, didn't correct when the thing started tipping, and rolled it. The next week of testing, CR modified the test to make it replicate his screwups. Then they published the "results". That's why they got sued and shouldn't be listened to anymore. They modify tests to favor certain companies that they wish to favor at the time. Usually the imports, and the higher priced ones at that.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2005
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I'd agree CR is suspect at best, but IIRC, the 2 wheel drive version was rated 'average' reliability, the 4WD version was rated below average "because of problems with front axle engagement" (this was for the '04 model year) - and I can't fault that diagnosis. Winter's coming and I'm sure we'll see a whole new list of people looking here to find out why their 4WD won't engage - my new '03 lasted maybe a few engagements before it stopped working - still needs to be fixed, but it certainly won't be at a Ford dealer. Sure would have thought Ford would have finally fixed this, maybe all the $$ they get fixing 'em (@ 7-8hr for a 2 hour job by a rookie) makes it worthwhile... (come on, a plastic end on the engagement fork that breaks or falls off, and they couldn't have fixed that!)
But yeah, how the heck do they rate the Honda so well - its a new model!!! (esp when this was 'issued' by CR). Any 'new' model from the domestics would have no rating at best. "Its a Honda - its gotta be good" (and if my grandmother had ********* she would have been my grandfather...)
But yeah, how the heck do they rate the Honda so well - its a new model!!! (esp when this was 'issued' by CR). Any 'new' model from the domestics would have no rating at best. "Its a Honda - its gotta be good" (and if my grandmother had ********* she would have been my grandfather...)
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2002
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From: Tampa Bay, FL USA
Consumer Reports rates vehicles on an absolute scale, with the best car available as the standard by which all other vehicles are judged. Cargo capacity/ trailer-towing/ payload take a back seat to handling/ comfort/ interior room, etc... So, it's not surprising that a car-based pickup like the Ridgeline would do well in their "laboratory." Frankly, we should give credit to Honda for being smart enough to build a vehicle that embraces Consumer Report's testing parameters. Sharp company, that Honda.
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Marion, VA
Originally Posted by 1956MarkII
Consumer Reports rates vehicles on an absolute scale, with the best car available as the standard by which all other vehicles are judged.
Last edited by osbornk; Nov 3, 2005 at 08:35 PM.
Lead Driver
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From: Tampa Bay, FL USA
Originally Posted by osbornk
...It might be interesting to find out what vehicles are owned by each employee and their spouse or significate other. I'm a motorcycle nut and the testers in several motorcycle magazines rate motorcycles but the motorcycles they actually own are very different from the ones they recommend.
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Are you puttin down the EXPIRE. Them things are awesome. The red headed stepchild no one wants. Kant get Korean parts from Kia. Mazda says no mo. Ford says Fiddlesticks. I love em. A 5 year old car with no aftermarket support or factory support. Im gonna buy a dozen.