GM Exec unloads on Consumer Reports
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Post Fiend
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From: Damascus-Boring, Ore
GM Exec unloads on Consumer Reports
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"Lori Queen, a GM executive for small cars, couldn't take it anymore. In an e-mail exchange with Automotive News, she wrote that the editors and reporters who put together the Consumer Reports auto issue are "the most unprofessional group of people I have ever worked with."
She added: "They are totally nonobjective and go to great extremes to paint a picture for their paid subscription readers, who primarily buy Japanese cars."
Rick Wagoner, CEO of GM, immediately shows what a WUS he really is (my opinion):
"In any case, the fallout was immediate. GM CEO Rick Wagoner personally called David Champion, Consumer Reports' head of auto testing, to apologize and assure him the comments didn't reflect GM's opinion."
"Lori Queen, a GM executive for small cars, couldn't take it anymore. In an e-mail exchange with Automotive News, she wrote that the editors and reporters who put together the Consumer Reports auto issue are "the most unprofessional group of people I have ever worked with."
She added: "They are totally nonobjective and go to great extremes to paint a picture for their paid subscription readers, who primarily buy Japanese cars."
Rick Wagoner, CEO of GM, immediately shows what a WUS he really is (my opinion):
"In any case, the fallout was immediate. GM CEO Rick Wagoner personally called David Champion, Consumer Reports' head of auto testing, to apologize and assure him the comments didn't reflect GM's opinion."
Post Fiend
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its not consumer reports fault, its the mindless sheep that follow consumer's reports fault. i can't stand how many times in my life i have heard someone say they bought a car based on what consumer repots said.
no looking into things, no reading anything else, heck, not even a test drive, if its in consumer reports, they buy it.
my cousin, she does it, i explained her about it, and she looked at me dumbfounded like i just told her the earth is flat. my grandma does it also, when it comes time for them to trade their cars in, they look and see what consumer reports says, no if's, and's or but's.
they are so brainwashed by what the media says, iis unbeleivable. they still don't understand why i bought my truck because there is no mention of it in consumer reports.
if consumer reports would say to buy american cars, 1. they would get mocked and probably lose a huge following of people who would claim "corporate america bought them out", or 2. people would start buying american cars.
no looking into things, no reading anything else, heck, not even a test drive, if its in consumer reports, they buy it.
my cousin, she does it, i explained her about it, and she looked at me dumbfounded like i just told her the earth is flat. my grandma does it also, when it comes time for them to trade their cars in, they look and see what consumer reports says, no if's, and's or but's.
they are so brainwashed by what the media says, iis unbeleivable. they still don't understand why i bought my truck because there is no mention of it in consumer reports.
if consumer reports would say to buy american cars, 1. they would get mocked and probably lose a huge following of people who would claim "corporate america bought them out", or 2. people would start buying american cars.
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More Consumer Reports bashing.
They are this and they are that, but one thing they are is up front about what they publish. So you know the repair and reliability info they publish is from their readers, who own the cars in question. Ever seen the survey form?
They are sooooooo pro Japanese. I guess that's why they torpedoed Isuzu and Suzuki on their flipper SUV's.
They are this and they are that, but one thing they are is up front about what they publish. So you know the repair and reliability info they publish is from their readers, who own the cars in question. Ever seen the survey form?
They are sooooooo pro Japanese. I guess that's why they torpedoed Isuzu and Suzuki on their flipper SUV's.
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Post Fiend
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From: Damascus-Boring, Ore
They got in trouble about that too, as i recall- purposely flipping the Suzuki. They sued.... and won.
As far as reliability ratings- wassup with "projected reliability rating" that put the new Passat as the top of it's class?
As far as reliability ratings- wassup with "projected reliability rating" that put the new Passat as the top of it's class?
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Post Fiend
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From: Connecticut
It needed to be said. And Wagoner should have let it go without comment. If questioned about it later, he could have easily brushed it off with a smile and a wink, saying something like "it was a spur-of-the-moment comment by a passionate GM employee" or something along those lines. Running to CR and bowing before them in apology like Wagoner did only makes GM look like more of a wuss.
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Marion, VA
The results from Consumer Reports is just a reflection of their target audience. Their readership is primarily urban or suburban upper income, college educated people who want products that are appliance reliable, foolproof safe and price is relatively unimportant. The readers generally have little or not experience outside of the office or classroom and don't trust themselves to make decisions on their own. They buy what is recommended by their peers in Consumer Reports and they in turn recommend what they buy.
I'm sure a magazine targeted at Farmers, Construction workers, Taxi drivers or other occupations where vehicles are actually used would have far different results.
I'm sure a magazine targeted at Farmers, Construction workers, Taxi drivers or other occupations where vehicles are actually used would have far different results.
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From: Alvin, Texas.
BigdaddyII,
I"ll will definitely agree with you there. Like with my Camaro and its nagging factory weak spots, GM can't really be serious when basically every vee-engine they've cranked out over the years has pretty good potential for some intake manifold gasket leak (yes, quite healthy), the rear axle gears go to hell with the factory unmodded engine, whole dashboards crack to hell....the trannies are garbage....
Thank God my car was only $200 off the auction lot...because fixing GM's screw-ups isn't all that cheap, any previous owner neglect aside.
But, contrary to what Rockledge said, we all know in the GM circles that Wagoner can be accused of being anything but a passionate car type. It's called "hanging on to your job" these days! Especially if he is the ultimate say-so in letting garbage like the Aztek make it to production.
Sure, CR has their moments and I don't read too much into them, but when GM's higher rated cars over the years have been Toyota rebages and knowing GM isn't one to put effort into their econoboxes either (the Aveo? Okay...), you HAVE to point at GM eventually....
I"ll will definitely agree with you there. Like with my Camaro and its nagging factory weak spots, GM can't really be serious when basically every vee-engine they've cranked out over the years has pretty good potential for some intake manifold gasket leak (yes, quite healthy), the rear axle gears go to hell with the factory unmodded engine, whole dashboards crack to hell....the trannies are garbage....
Thank God my car was only $200 off the auction lot...because fixing GM's screw-ups isn't all that cheap, any previous owner neglect aside.
But, contrary to what Rockledge said, we all know in the GM circles that Wagoner can be accused of being anything but a passionate car type. It's called "hanging on to your job" these days! Especially if he is the ultimate say-so in letting garbage like the Aztek make it to production.
Sure, CR has their moments and I don't read too much into them, but when GM's higher rated cars over the years have been Toyota rebages and knowing GM isn't one to put effort into their econoboxes either (the Aveo? Okay...), you HAVE to point at GM eventually....
Last edited by AlfredB1979; Mar 20, 2006 at 12:56 PM.
Post Fiend
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From: Connecticut
Originally Posted by AlfredB1979
But, contrary to what Rockledge said, we all know in the GM circles that Wagoner can be accused of being anything but a passionate car type. It's called "hanging on to your job" these days!
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From: Riverview, MI
Is consumer reports bias, probably, but who isn't when your bread is getting buttered.
But honestly, MOST of the auto mags I read, all say, the Japs are kicking our butts in cars, they HAVE BEEN DOING THIS SINCE THE 70's. Our US automakers have finally caught on to this, (really its only because their truck sales have slumpped) and are trying to build better cars.
I would still buy an american truck, mainly because they've been doing it longer, and the Japanese trucks aren't cheaper than the american brands. Also because I won't own a truck unless it has a blue oval on it.
Honestly, until the fusion came out, I wouldn't have bought a new american car. JMO
But honestly, MOST of the auto mags I read, all say, the Japs are kicking our butts in cars, they HAVE BEEN DOING THIS SINCE THE 70's. Our US automakers have finally caught on to this, (really its only because their truck sales have slumpped) and are trying to build better cars.
I would still buy an american truck, mainly because they've been doing it longer, and the Japanese trucks aren't cheaper than the american brands. Also because I won't own a truck unless it has a blue oval on it.
Honestly, until the fusion came out, I wouldn't have bought a new american car. JMO