do you believe consumer reports???

[DBithell]

just got consumer reports in mail today,

FULL SIZE PICKUPS page 67 predicted reliability ratings.

dodge ram 2500 turbodiesel predicted reliability at negative (86%) that's 86% worse than average... predicted for 2012 model based on last 3 model years. YIKES. What do they recommend? Chevy Avalanche (is that a truck?) Toyota Tundra, and F150.

On the bright side GM 2500 was the worst at (123%) one spot below the ram. Nissan Titan was #1 at +50%???

My '08 6. 7 has been doing great lately, where do they get this stuff?

 

[B.G. Smith]

Money talks and Bull$#%^ walks. Never have put much stock in their reports. bg

 

[Nyoest]

Maybe they take into account factory reccomendations for service and overall fuel economy. Dpf cleaning , four gallons of oil on every oil change, EPA rated fuel economy, etc would drive price per mile crazy compared to a gas half ton.

Let the hippys have their hybrids.

 

[HBarlow]

I believe Consumer Reports predicted reliability ratings are based on voluntary reports by owners which means that only disgruntled owners report skewing the averages. It is a lot like trying to determine how reliable early ISB6. 7s were by reading the reports posted here by owners who tried to use the trucks as grocery getters with daily short trips. The thousands of owners like myself who never had a single issue don't report problems because we have none.

 

[TFucili]

Not only do I not believe them, but I've been in two different industries where their results were provable BS. In one instance, for example, there were two small tractors in a group of tractors being tested that were identical except for paint and decals, and got totally different ratings. In another instance, their test method for coatings was seriously flawed, and when it was pointed out by one of the manufacturers, that particular manufacturer saw an instant drop in their test results from that day forward. They are as unbiased as a typical Obamanite!

 

[PBJ2500CTD]

Nope... Not one little bit... for all of the above posted reasons.

 

[HBarlow]

Yes, I believe that Consumer Reports is made up of a bunch of twinkled-toed types who prefer bicycles and Prius cars.

 

[bheiting]

Seriously, I do get the impression Cons. Reports doesn't care much for gas guzzling pickups. That being said, my '07 Ram has been back to the dealer about a dozen times for warranty work. I don't know if they count the number of claims or the severity of claims. My wife's '05 Toyota Highlander has back to the dealer once - I had them rotate the tires and check the brakes while I waited for my daughter's van to get serviced. I see TDR's home page reports that the new Ram's warranty claims are now better than the last year of the 5. 9s. I like the sound of that and hope Chrysler has done something about the front end problems.

 

[wcjp]

I cancelled my subscription some time ago. Unless the vehicle was a green econobox deathtrap the ratings would suffer.

 

[HBarlow]

Seriously, I do get the impression Cons. Reports doesn't care much for gas guzzling pickups. That being said, my '07 Ram has been back to the dealer about a dozen times for warranty work. I don't know if they count the number of claims or the severity of claims. My wife's '05 Toyota Highlander has back to the dealer once - I had them rotate the tires and check the brakes while I waited for my daughter's van to get serviced. I see TDR's home page reports that the new Ram's warranty claims are now better than the last year of the 5. 9s. I like the sound of that and hope Chrysler has done something about the front end problems. [/QUOTE]

Behating, for the first time every you are correct. Hitler was the leader of the German socialist party.

 

[bheiting]

Behating, for the first time every you are correct. Hitler was the leader of the German socialist party.

Socialism must have had a different meaning to the Germans. Hitler hated the Commies and killed the unions. He was so high on Meth he really didn't know what he was doing. Kinda reminds me of our previous commander in chief.

 

[LBARTLETT]

Kinda reminds me of our previous commander in chief.

Please don't pick on Clinton, he is married to Hilary

 

[GHarman]

Socialism must have had a different meaning to the Germans. Hitler hated the Commies and killed the unions. He was so high on Meth he really didn't know what he was doing. Kinda reminds me of our previous commander in chief.

Whose definition of Nazism is that? Yours? What a bunch of pablum! GregH

 

[EGroeneveld]

I've been a CR subscriber for years. I pretty much skip their auto reviews and get it for their things I no nothing about. Computers, DVD players, TV, digital camera's etc... .



I'd trust CR on their rating based on THEIR readership and THEIR biased testers. Remember the typical CR reader is very likely liberal college educated big city living Prius driving yuppie. The testers and readership would not know a good trailer pulling camper hauling truck until it ran them over. Then they'd complain about the gas mileage and rough ride... . And their readship is more likely to buy a Honda Ridgeline and call it a ''truck''.



Also because I've never really had troubles with my Dodge trucks I've never filled in the auto review reports survey. But trust me if I had problems I'd more likely fill it in.



The reports are very likely true but the data is very likely screwed up cause they only get what they are given.

 

[HBarlow]

I've been a CR subscriber for years. I pretty much skip their auto reviews and get it for their things I no nothing about. Computers, DVD players, TV, digital camera's etc... .

I'd trust CR on their rating based on THEIR readership and THEIR biased testers. Remember the typical CR reader is very likely liberal college educated big city living Prius driving yuppie. The testers and readership would not know a good trailer pulling camper hauling truck until it ran them over. Then they'd complain about the gas mileage and rough ride... . And their readship is more likely to buy a Honda Ridgeline and call it a ''truck''.

Also because I've never really had troubles with my Dodge trucks I've never filled in the auto review reports survey. But trust me if I had problems I'd more likely fill it in.

The reports are very likely true but the data is very likely screwed up cause they only get what they are given.

I am completely in agreement with everything you wrote.

I also still value their opinions on things like small cars and suvs, computers, washers and driers, television sets, etc. When my wife wanted a new car two years ago I knew it would have to be a Japanese product and an suv. I studied their reviews and she bought a Nissan Murano. It has been perfect and she loves it.

 

[DBithell]

Seriously, I do get the impression Cons. Reports doesn't care much for gas guzzling pickups. That being said, my '07 Ram has been back to the dealer about a dozen times for warranty work. I don't know if they count the number of claims or the severity of claims. My wife's '05 Toyota Highlander has back to the dealer once - I had them rotate the tires and check the brakes while I waited for my daughter's van to get serviced. I see TDR's home page reports that the new Ram's warranty claims are now better than the last year of the 5. 9s. I like the sound of that and hope Chrysler has done something about the front end problems. [/QUOTE]

Checked out that quote on TDR's home page, "new Ram's warranty claims are now better than last year of the 5. 9s. " Wonder how they spun that?
The last MODEL year for the 5. 9, would that be 1/2 a year's sales or a whole year's sales? Were there more 5. 9's sold vs 6. 7's? Hopefully it was figured as X number of claims per 100 trucks sold.

 

[AHarris]

just got consumer reports in mail today,
FULL SIZE PICKUPS page 67 predicted reliability ratings.
dodge ram 2500 turbodiesel predicted reliability at negative (86%) that's 86% worse than average... predicted for 2012 model based on last 3 model years. YIKES. What do they recommend? Chevy Avalanche (is that a truck?) Toyota Tundra, and F150.
On the bright side GM 2500 was the worst at (123%) one spot below the ram. Nissan Titan was #1 at +50%???
My '08 6. 7 has been doing great lately, where do they get this stuff?

Another reason why I believe CR reviews are indirect advertisements. As for my Dodge Truck experience:

1987 Dodge Ram 50 = 200K miles, 9 years, and ZERO problems (friend of mine I sold it to drove it 6 more years to 417K before it finally died)

1999 Dodge Ram 1500 318 Gasser = 98,000 miles, 8 years, lots of RV towing, and ZERO problems (my nephew drove it 3 more years and 50K more miles with no problems)

2007. 5 "first year" 6. 7 CTD 3500 = 38,000 miles, 3 years mostly city driving, and ZERO problems

2010 6. 7 CTD 2500 (sig truck) - 27,000 miles, 1 year of driving the heck out of it with lots of trailer towing, and ZERO problems

None of these trucks were ever, to my recollection, "RECOMMENDED" by CR.

However I did own 3 "RECOMMENDED" CR trucks in the last 20 years:

1990 Ford Ranger: 68,000 miles, 3 years, one transmission which smoke checked pulling an 8' U-haul trailer that the Ford dealer could not fix, one ECM, rust problems, and an alternator... POS

1995 Chevrolet S-10: 55,000 miles, 3 years, rust problems, numerous electrical problems, terrible build quality with misaligned body panels and doors, interior trim falling apart (I think GM subcontracted their interiors at the time to the Chinese division of the Mattel Toy Company), always out of alignment, sometimes would mysteriously just "die" in heavy rains

1996 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 4 X 4: 2 years and 30,000 miles... in all fairness this was a good truck and didn't give me any problems... though my next truck, the '99 Dodge, was a much better built truck for less money.

When it comes to truck reviews, I take CR with a grain of salt. IMHO the best pickup truck sports the Ram Head and Cummins "C"!

The best place to review products is in forums such as this one.

 

[DBithell]

I am completely in agreement with everything you wrote.



I also still value their opinions on things like small cars and suvs, computers, washers and driers, television sets, etc. When my wife wanted a new car two years ago I knew it would have to be a Japanese product and an suv. I studied their reviews and she bought a Nissan Murano. It has been perfect and she loves it.

Harvey - Let me see if I understand your position, 1) only disgruntled owners fill out the CR survey. (Which is pages long and covers pretty much all the stuff in a person's house/garage - so I rarely bother with it either) BUT 2) you do trust their stuff on small cars & suvs, computers, washers... ..... on & on. Following this logic, wouldn't their survey data for a washer dryer be filled out only by disgruntled owners and therefore is worthless too? The truth is somewhere in between.



This TDR sight has been a wealth of info to me in learning to maintain & care for my '08 6. 7, your posts too Harvey. Only disagreeing with your logic on this CR thing. Have a good one.

 

[DBithell]

Another reason why I believe CR reviews are indirect advertisements. As for my Dodge Truck experience:





1996 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 4 X 4: 2 years and 30,000 miles... in all fairness this was a good truck and didn't give me any problems... though my next truck, the '99 Dodge, was a much better built truck for less money.



When it comes to truck reviews, I take CR with a grain of salt. IMHO the best pickup truck sports the Ram Head and Cummins "C"!



The best place to review products is in forums such as this one.

Yes, agree with you the best place to review products is in forums such as this one. Good comments on the '96 Chevy. I use a '99 tahoe for grocery gettin & such, bought it new going on 13 years ago 173K and still runs & looks great. Has had it's problems but they were all fixable. The 6. 7 is fantastic for its purpose.

 

[HBarlow]

Harvey - Let me see if I understand your position, 1) only disgruntled owners fill out the CR survey. (Which is pages long and covers pretty much all the stuff in a person's house/garage - so I rarely bother with it either) BUT 2) you do trust their stuff on small cars & suvs, computers, washers... ..... on & on. Following this logic, wouldn't their survey data for a washer dryer be filled out only by disgruntled owners and therefore is worthless too? The truth is somewhere in between.

This TDR sight has been a wealth of info to me in learning to maintain & care for my '08 6. 7, your posts too Harvey. Only disagreeing with your logic on this CR thing. Have a good one.

Perhaps, but I think less so because they don't have a natural distaste for or bias against those items. I stopped short of stating what I really believe which is that Consumer Reports and much of their subscriber population are the twinkle-toes Prius types who know essentially nothing about trucks and are biased in favor of small cars and pretend pickups. As EGroeneveld stated quite well above, their editors wouldn't be able to find a good-trailer towing truck at a TDR rally. I believe that their opinions on the items I said I trust them on are more trustworthy because they are not influenced by the natural bias of editors and readers.