Consumer Reports ratings... not sure about this

[JKDGabe]

With so many "american" cars being built elsewhere and "foreign" cars being built here I have a hard time agreeing with this article.

 

 

 

 

Ad campaign is patriotic in aim toward sales goal

 

 

December 19, 2003

 

 

FREE PRESS NEWS SERVICES

 

 

General Motors Corp. 's Chevrolet unit, which promoted its vehicles with the taglines "Like a Rock" and "We'll Be There," will use a patriotic theme as it launches 10 new models in the next year and a half.

 

 

Thursday, Chevrolet announced an advertising campaign dubbed " An American Revolution " that's designed to help the unit boost vehicle sales above 3 million for the first time since 1979. The campaign debuts today, and will include television, print and outdoor advertising.

 

 

"All of these vehicles provide game-changing design, innovative features and tremendous commitment to quality and technology," said Chevrolet general manager Brent Dewar. " 'An American Revolution' is about our confidence to produce imaginative, dependable products and compete with the best in the world."

 

 

{Snip}

 

 

The first of the new products from Chevy is the Malibu Maxx (designed in Europe) ; production began this month. It will be followed early next year by the Colorado pickup, Aveo entry-level car (made in South Korea) and SSR roadster. Later in the year Chevy will launch the Equinox compact sport-utility vehicle (made in Canada, which contrary to popular notion is indeed a foreign country and not an annex of the United States) , Uplander crossover sport van and sixth-generation Corvette.

 

 

A new premium small car, the Cobalt, will debut in the fourth quarter of 2004. In 2005, a new Impala (also made in Canada) and the HHR, a blend of the SSR roadster and the 1949 Suburban, will follow.

 

 

 

Interesting article, but I don’t think all the marketing in the world could overcome the fact that to a great many people American=Junk. Ford has outpaced Chevrolet in recent years because of their “Quality is job 1†campaign, but they still falter in the face of imports. Why is this?

 

For the answer simply look at the Consumer Reports Car Buying Guide. Reader Report: ‘Most Satisfying’ Rating lists a whopping 15 Japanese cars, 5 German cars, but only 3 American cars. Reader Report: ‘Least Satisfying’ Rating lists 6 Japanese cars, no German cars, and 15 American cars. Just as many American cars are low rated as Japanese cars are high rated. Oh, and 3 of the 6 low rated Japanese makes are actually built in the USA.

 

Owner perception aside, an analysis of maintenance and recall records reveals that:

Of “Better Than Average †cars, nine were Asian (all Japanese except for Korea’s Hyundai), two were European, and two were American.

Of “Worse Than Average †cars, twelve were American, four were European. NONE were Japanese or Asian.

For used cars, “CR Good Bets †(above average in reliability) listed thirty-four Japanese cars, one European car, and just two American cars. Oh, and one of the “American†cars recommended (the Chevrolet Prizm) is built by Toyota.

For used cars the “Reliability Risk †list (vehicles that are especially risky buys, and have exhibited several years of poor overall reliability) shows four European models, twenty-four American cars, and NO Japanese cars.

 

Finally, take a look at the individual manufacturers’ listing of models.:

Acura – Of six models, four earned “Recommended†rating, and of the remaining two, one is too new a model to be rated and one still has high ‘reliability’ and ‘satisfaction’ scores.

Honda – Of eight models, six earned the “Recommended†rating. Of the remaining two, one is an electric hybrid (with all the compromises that means) and one is a new model.

Hyundai – Of six models, three earned the “Recommended†rating. Of the remaining three, one is new model, and the other two are entry-level with average reliability.

Infiniti – Only one of five “Recommended†but all the rest are new models with no reliability or satisfaction history.

Lexus – Eight models, four “Recommendedâ€, two new, two with high ‘reliability’ and ‘satisfaction’ scores.

Mazda – Seven models, four “Recommendedâ€, two new. The only two Mazdas not too new to be rated or already “Recommended†are the Tribute and the B-Series pickup truck­which are both made by Ford in the United States.

Nissan – Eight models, four “Recommended and three new.

Subaru – Four models, three “Recommended†and one new.

best for last: Toyota – Seventeen models, and all but one “Recommendedâ€, and that one is too new to be yet rated.

 

To contrast with:

Cadillac – Five listed, none recommended, all reliability scores well below average.

Chevrolet – Sixteen listed, six recommended, seven with reliability scores below average or well below average.

Chrysler/Dodge – Fifteen listed, three recommended, six with reliability scores below average or well below average.

Ford – Twelve listed, only one recommended, eight with reliability scores below average or well below average.

Pontiac – Eight listed, only one recommended, three with reliability scores below average or well below average.

Oldsmobile – Three listed, none recommended, all with reliability scores below average or well below average.

 

[johnc]

I think the point is that there is no such things as "American" or "Foriegn" cars anymore. That's an old concept the became outdated in the mid 1980s when the Japanese started building plants here in the US and US manufacturers started building plants in Mexico.

[auxilary]

i stopped paying attention to consumer reports when they gave a mitsubishi eclipse a 4.5 star rating, and 3 stars to eagle talon

[Pop N Wood]

I stopped paying attention to consumer reports when they gave an "unsafe, do not buy" rating to the Dodge Omni/Plymouth Horizon. Their "test" to prove it unsafe was to run the car up to 50 MPH, turn the steering wheel a quarter turn and then let go. They said the car started swerving back and forth until the driver grabbed hold of the steering wheel again.

 

Something I would lay awake at night worrying about.