- #7464 of 7475
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Re: Cadillacs, etc. [bobgwtw]
by rick294
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May 08, 2009 (10:35 am)
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Replying to: bobgwtw (May 07, 2009 8:42 pm)
I agree. If the vehicle does well in this or that category, they report it as such; if not, they don't.
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- #7465 of 7475
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Re: Cadillacs, etc. [rick294]
by rbk3
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May 17, 2009 (12:26 pm)
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Replying to: rick294 (May 05, 2009 1:12 pm)
I also like CR. However, I've followed CR for many years and find their ratings change over a period of time.
Example: Toyota Tundra rated highly with most ball's full red during first 3 years. After the fourth year the same ball's may be half red or even black.
By the time the manufacturers change the model (5yrs), CR has the real statistics, or more reliable information available to better rate the car. At this point your researching a used car not a new one.
Another good example is the VW Passat and the Ford Taurus.
Passat was the "it" family car in the late 90's and rated very high at that time. If you look at the CR reports in the early 2000's, the same car is not recommended and is rated poorly for all kinds of electrical issues, etc.
Taurus, enough said.
CR is good for an airplane ride or sitting on the porch!
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- #7466 of 7475
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Re: Cadillacs, etc. [rbk3]
by rick294
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May 17, 2009 (1:11 pm)
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Replying to: rbk3 (May 17, 2009 12:26 pm)
I agree with your message, but I don't get your point. Yes, of course the ratings can change over time. The more input from owners of the vehicles, the more there is to evaluate each category by. That only stands to reason. You must remember, the ratings info comes from the owner actual experience with the vehicle as they report these things in the annual survey that CR sends out. CR merely tabulates the results. It doesn't create them. As info from the owners comes in, the ratings go up or down. And by the use of the info reported, buyers can make more intelligent choices. Isn't that the who purpose? The vehicles age, and problems can arise - or not.
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- #7467 of 7475
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Re: Cadillacs, etc. [rick294]
by rbk3
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May 17, 2009 (3:18 pm)
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Replying to: rick294 (May 17, 2009 1:11 pm)
Rick,
Good points. I was trying to express the fact that if you purchased an 2002 Passat in 2002, CR would have stated the car was bullet proof by the information you mentioned. In this case, based on the CR report, you buy the car. Fast forward to 2005 and the CR rates the 2002 Passat as good but unreliable. 2009 CR reports the car to be very unreliable and almost all the categories are now colored BLACK instead of RED.
I'm just saying, I've bought numerous cars in my life and each one was considered a good buy, based on CR and like publications. Only to find that the CR report has or is on the decline for that particular year and model based on the latest information.
It's a crap shoot.
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- #7468 of 7475
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Re: Cadillacs, etc. [rbk3]
by backy
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May 17, 2009 (3:59 pm)
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Replying to: rbk3 (May 17, 2009 3:18 pm)
Less of a crap shoot for the Prius--only one black dot in CR's reliability history for the 2004-8 Prius (audio system for 2004).
Keep in mind also that CR's rankings of cars are separate from their predicted reliability scores. So a car can score well in CR's tests and be highly ranked, as the Passat has been for the past 10 years, but not have a great reliability record. Also, a car can start out being reliable, and not hold up over time. That isn't CR's fault, it's just the way it is. Don't shoot the messenger. 
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- #7469 of 7475
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Re: Cadillacs, etc. [rbk3]
by rick294
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May 17, 2009 (4:47 pm)
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Replying to: rbk3 (May 17, 2009 3:18 pm)
Yeah, that isn't good. I guess the prospective buyer needs to look at the overall repair and trouble history for a particular make - especially when a completely new model comes out. Even at that, it wasn't too long ago that CR mentioned that buyers should be cautious with first year models and showed examples with Honda and Toyota that had "issues" on the first year. To a certain degree, it really is a crapshoot.
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- #7470 of 7475
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Prius video
by larsb
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May 30, 2009 (7:57 pm)
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funny stuff:
In My Prius
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- #7471 of 7475
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Re: roof racks [jgwdds]
by stevegold
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Sep 25, 2009 (4:05 pm)
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Replying to: jgwdds (Jan 03, 2007 1:14 pm)
After 5 years without a ski rack I changed my mind. The "custom" Thule and Yakima systems were $350-450 which was way too much. I found a Universal CB-602 rack at Proline Products for $40 plus shipping. It came today and took a long time to install because I was not comfortable with the "gutter hook" attachment. I ended up straightening the four gutter hooks and putting one self tapping screw through each of the gutter hooks and into the body just under the door frame/roof. I'm sure they will hold securely and will not cause any leaks. If it were a new car, I would have spent the $350+. When the ski racks are empty, I can tilt them forward on the round bars so that they are parallel with the roof, minimizing wind resistance.
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- #7472 of 7475
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Diesel Cars
by avucarguy
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Nov 13, 2009 (9:45 am)
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I am an owner of a 07 Prius with 59K miles. Even though I like my Prius, I would also love to see more diesel cars sold in this country. I test drove the 2009 Diesel Jetta, the car was great. It handles better and has better pick up than my Prius. But I would never buy a VW due to poor reliability. I have friends with VWs(Jetta + Passat) that are much less reliable than the Japanese brands.
I would love to see the Japanese and Korean companies offer diesel motors in their vehicles. These modern diesel engines are great. You cannot lose using a hybrid or diesel for better fuel economy and less pollution. Also plug in electric cars would be great also except for the initial high cost of buying them.
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- #7473 of 7475
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Re: Diesel Cars [avucarguy]
by rick294
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Nov 13, 2009 (12:51 pm)
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Replying to: avucarguy (Nov 13, 2009 9:45 am)
Yes, those German cars, any of them, surprisingly, do not come close to Asian cars and trucks for reliability. I have a 2008 Prius and we love it. I firmly believe gas prices are going to go through the roof in the next few years due to the Obama administration getting deep into "cap and trade". For that reason, I consider our Prius as insurance against that eventuality. (Not "cheap" insurance, however!) VW products have exceptionally nice interiors. They really do it right, but without vehicle reliability, it doesn't mean much to me. During the 1960s and 1970s, I bought 4 new VW products, but I wouldn't do so today, since the Asians have surpassed all other countries in quality and reliability. That's why Toyota is now Number #1 auto manufacturer in the world. The word gets around and old loyalties fall away. But the real bargains these days are with Hyundai and Kia while they are establishing themselves. More content for less money, and especially with Hyundai, the same quality and reliability. Down the road, their prices will likely match those of Toyota, however.
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