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Would You Avoid a Manufacturer Because of Bad Public Policy?

56 messages,  Last post on Mar 12, 2007 at 7:37 AM

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#37 of 56
Re: The bigger problem... [snakeweasel] by grbeck
Nov 20, 2006 (4:20 pm)
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Replying to: snakeweasel (Nov 20, 2006 4:16 pm)

Sorry, but I've seen no evidence that Toyotas are less reliable, aside from the story of your relative's experience with hers.
 
That is not evidence. That is an anecdote.
 
You have not supported your claims that:
 
1. the data collected by Consumer Reports is inherently flawed; and
 
2. that the image of superior reliability enjoyed by certain marques rests solely on the mistaken perception of misguided owners.
#38 of 56
Re: The bigger problem... [jlawrence01] by lemko
Nov 21, 2006 (5:36 am)
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Replying to: jlawrence01 (Nov 20, 2006 3:47 pm)

Shoot, maybe that's why my GM vehicles last so long. A burned-out bulb will get my immediate attention let alone a leaking head gasket. My cars are maintained religiously with extensive records kept on each one. If my mechanic alerts me to potential trouble, I have it resolved right then and there before it develops into a big problem.
 
As far as I'm concerned, a Buick is a long-lasting car and I'd have absolutely no reservations about buying a Lucerne. My girlfriend's LaCrosse has been excellent and I'd probably have to set out to deliberately destroy my 1988 Park Avenue to kill it. It's amazing how many surving LeSabres, Electras, and Park Avenues of this era I still see on the road long after many others, both foreign and domestic, from that time have bit the dust.
#39 of 56
Re: The bigger problem... [grbeck] by snakeweasel
Nov 21, 2006 (7:11 am)
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Replying to: grbeck (Nov 20, 2006 4:20 pm)

You have not supported your claims that:
  
1. the data collected by Consumer Reports is inherently flawed;

 
1.) Its not a statistical sampling as they only survey their readers.
 
2.) They have a history of rating the exact same thing (but with different badges) differently.
 
3.) They have rated second rate items as winners of their tests while not even reporting on what everyone else considers the best.
 
4.) Think about it, does your subscription price really pay all of CR's expenses?
 
5.) I am sworn to secrecy on.
 
2. that the image of superior reliability enjoyed by certain marques rests solely on the mistaken perception of misguided owners.
 
JD Power Vehicle Dependability Study Results shows about 1/3 problems per car between the industry average and those so called superior reliability. It also shows less than .25 problems per car between "poorly rated cars and the industry average.
 
Basically a car near the bottom of the reliability list has an average of about 2.5 while those with superior reliability has about 2. Big difference there isn't it?
#40 of 56
Re: The bigger problem... [snakeweasel] by kirstie_h HOST
Nov 21, 2006 (10:37 am)
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Replying to: snakeweasel (Nov 21, 2006 7:11 am)

Did I miss a title change for this discussion to include reliability ratings, member credibility, and manufacturer wars? No? OK, then, we'll just remove further off-topic posts without notice.
#41 of 56
Re: The bigger problem... [lemko] by rockylee
Nov 21, 2006 (2:22 pm)
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Replying to: lemko (Nov 21, 2006 5:36 am)

lemko,
 
before you pull the trigger I'd wait for the 08' CTS, and test drive that first.
 
Rocky
#42 of 56
Re: Avoid car company based on support of bad public policy? [john_324] by crowb
Dec 06, 2006 (9:54 am)
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Replying to: john_324 (Nov 07, 2006 8:25 am)

think you make an interesting point about public policy positions being a distinguishing factor in an increasingly competitive marketplace...but is there actually any policy issue where the buying public's opinion is overwhelmingly one-sided?
  
If there were, in theory, the company would already have adapted its stance, rather than lose that majority business.

 
I think one thing being over looked here, that corporations and manufacturers of all sorts are certainly not unaware of, is this: Voter Ignorance/Voter Apathy.
 
How many people even vote? How many of those voters care (much less know) what a corporation's stance is on most issues? Most people aren't even familiar with all of the candidates on a ballot. I have to bring a list into the booth with me sometimes. How often are people going to go in with reams of information concerning all of the companies that they do business with? Huge corporations know that most of their wheeling and dealing can be done below the radar of public perception. They know this and count it. Even more, there is a limited public attention span. For every faux pas that Toyota (or any other company) commits, there is going to be a new announcement about who Paris Hilton is dating, or what Tom Cruise did in the media this week. People don't care. More to the point, people care more about things that don't matter. Entertain them, distract them, and companies know they can pretty much do what they want. It takes a major problem that ignites the ire of an advocacy group with Washington access to make a corporation change its stance. Even then its usually settled in court and away from the general public's knowledge.
 
People are blissfully ignorant in this country, by and large. They want the newest DVDs, they want to get drunk, they want to watch football, they want to eat at Burger King. The people contributing to this forum represent an unusual, and depressingly small, class of the populace. We care, we read, we listen, we think. A lot of us Americans don't. What do the people at your office talk about? Are they more interested in who got kicked off of Survivor and who won American Idle (Idol), or do they come to work worried about the fact that Exxon still hasn't paid Alaska the money they owe them for the Valdez oil spill?
 
The problem is so much deeper than what corporations are doing. Corporations do what they do because they can. I eat whatever pizza tastes the best and gets to my house the fastest. I drive whatever car is cheapest, most reliable, and best fits my needs.
 
As a previous poster said, most people don't have time to be that universally informed. And as I've pointed out, I hope, most people don't care anyway.
#43 of 56
Brit Beat: TVR's Not-So-Happy New Year Begins Without Paychecks by rockylee
Jan 03, 2007 (3:41 pm)
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http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=119045
 
Rocky
#44 of 56
Jail Time: Korean Court Convicts Eight in Hyundai Bribes Scandal by rockylee
Jan 31, 2007 (3:52 pm)
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SEOUL — A South Korean court has found eight people guilty of paying or taking bribes to help Hyundai Motor fraudulently write down debt.
 
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=119412
 
iluv, Loren, you both like Hyundai/Kia, what do you think about this bad news ????
 
Rocky
#45 of 56
Re: The bigger problem... [kirstie_h] by spoom
Mar 03, 2007 (4:12 pm)
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Replying to: kirstie_h (Nov 21, 2006 10:37 am)

kirstie, I believe you'll find that certain personalities just drag posts down into "did too, did not, did too" diatribes constantly here and on many different threads. For some reason they are tolerated, even though they diminish the quality and free spirit of this place, driving others away. Don't believe me? just follow "certain folks" to a few threads and you'll see the same pattern over and over. The Town Hall moniker is a good one for the Edmunds community and it is worth protecting a casual attitude IMHO. Besides, not every village needs an idiot
#46 of 56
Re: The bigger problem... [spoom] by kirstie_h HOST
Mar 05, 2007 (7:16 am)
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Replying to: spoom (Mar 03, 2007 4:12 pm)

Hey spoom, if you'd like to discuss this by e-mail, you're more than welcome to contact me. We are always looking for ideas on how to make the Forums more attractive.
 
Plus, handling conversations like that by e-mail helps keep the discussions automotive focused.

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