Honda Car Forum

On Dec 14, 5:42*am, Dean Dark <ddr...@comcast.notthis.net> wrote:
> On Sun, 14 Dec 2008 08:55:13 +0000 (GMT), "Dave Plowman (News)"
>
> <d...@davenoise.co.uk> wrote:
> >> >IMHO, they never attempt to pitch their guidance at enthusiasts - like
> >> >those who read these groups - but to the man in the street where a car
> >> >is simply another appliance.
>
> >> That isn't true in the case of CR. *Their chief engineer is definitely
> >> a car guy who was hanging around test tracks long before he was old
> >> enough to drive. *If he tests a sports car and it isn't fun to drive,
> >> it is going to bomb big time. *If it is a minivan test, that is a
> >> different matter.
>
> >I'm sure they employ enthusiasts - but do they write the articles? The UK
> >one puts different emphasis on a car's qualities than the average motoring
> >mag. Which can be useful if read in conjunction with a motoring mag test-
> >it will often give extra information.
>
> I remember CR's report on the Miata / MX-5 when it first came out.
> They didn't like it because the ride was too firm, and there was only
> a tiny little trunk / boot.
> --
> Dan.

Really? Betcha you can't cite a reference.

BTW, the Miata is CR's top pick for sports car.

E. Meyer wrote:

> I think you have limited yourself to a very small subset of vehicles, and of
> those, almost nothing new will meet all your criteria.

No, I know that compromises would have to be made. Some of those I
classify as "absolutely required," some as "strongly preferred," and
some as "would be nice."

What I want to avoid is overlooking key requirements, as I've seen
happen when some people post on Usenet asking for help to solve
intrinsic problems with their vehicles because of overlooking things
when buying. I.e. I've know people to buy vehicles without checking that
there is enough clearance for tire chains, then when they go to buy
chains they find out that they can't use them on their vehicle.

On Mon, 15 Dec 2008 13:50:02 -0800 (PST), Lloyd <lparker@emory.edu>
wrote:

>> I remember CR's report on the Miata / MX-5 when it first came out.
>> They didn't like it because the ride was too firm, and there was only
>> a tiny little trunk / boot.

>Really? Betcha you can't cite a reference.
>
>BTW, the Miata is CR's top pick for sports car.

I only keep that last 5 years or so of CR. I can't be arsed to do the
research or look it up anywhere just to play a silly game with you.
Unless you want to bet me $500 or so, then I'll do it, because I'm
right and you'd lose.

Let me know what you want to do.
--
Dan.

Dave Head wrote:

>Downrating a sporty car 'cuz the "ride is too firm" is the sort of nonsense
>that results in the 2008 WRX getting the suspension mushyed up so you have to
>install aftermarket parts to get that "its on rails" kinda handling that my
>2005 WRX has.
>
>Complaining about a "too firm" ride is the mark of a test done by somebody's
>grandpa, not an enthusiast. I remember when the early 90's Corvette, the new
>generation of that time, came out and posted something over 1.0 G. cornering
>force. Then some pinhead complained about a "too firm ride", and the next
>thing you know, we got to say goodbye to the >1.0 G cornering. What is that?
>Car entropy?

It's certainly possible for even a sports-car to be "too firm".
Suspension suitable for pulling 1G on a racetrack is probably "too
firm" for most roads and most people. IMO, any such suspension should
be optional.

On Sat, 13 Dec 2008 23:26:54 +0000 (GMT), "Dave Plowman (News)"
<dave@davenoise.co.uk> wrote:


>
>You've not understood the previous posts, have you? ;-)


Sure I do. Other factors mean more to me than what CR thinks is
important.

On Dec 13, 3:35*am, "larry moe 'n curly" <larrymoencu...@my-deja.com>
wrote:
> edward ohare wrote:
> > On Fri, 12 Dec 2008 08:04:48 -0800 (PST), Lloyd <lpar...@emory.edu>
> > wrote:
>
> > >So you're claiming a CR reader who drives a Chevy is simply going to
> > >report more problems than one who drives a Toyota? *Why? *And do you
> > >have a shred of evidence to back up this wild accusation?
>
> > Not wild at all. *The Toyota Corolla and its Chevy clone often were
> > rated differently.
>
> Not by much, and when comparably equipped (for part of one model year,
> when the Chevy/Geo Nova/Prizm lacked a front anti-sway bar that the
> Corolla included) they ranked right next to each other. *The same was
> true of the Toyota Matrix and its clone, the Pontiac Vibe.
>
> Where did you get your information that said the ratings for the
> clones were different?

I can't find any news of Consumer's Union (publisher of Consumer
Reports) asking for a bail out. Where did that news come from?
Frankly, I'd rather see my tax money going to rescue CU than GM. One
greedily promotes cars regardless of quality or of societal/
environmental impact, while the other endeavors to help the average
person avoid being ripped off. But, regardless, the only news I found
was a CU recommendation that any bailout money be spent with strings
attached to protect consumers and to avoid waste. Here are its
recommendations: http://www.consumersunion.org/pub/co...es/006177.html

If anyone has a link to news about CU asking for money, I'd like to
see it. Thanks!

In article <5feb1975-4702-4ff9-8936-b25487d1472d@o4g2000pra.googlegroups.com>,
Lloyd <lparker@emory.edu> wrote:
>On Dec 14, 5:42=A0am, Dean Dark <ddr...@comcast.notthis.net> wrote:
>> On Sun, 14 Dec 2008 08:55:13 +0000 (GMT), "Dave Plowman (News)"
>>
>> <d...@davenoise.co.uk> wrote:
>> >> >IMHO, they never attempt to pitch their guidance at enthusiasts - lik=
>e
>> >> >those who read these groups - but to the man in the street where a ca=
>r
>> >> >is simply another appliance.
>>
>> >> That isn't true in the case of CR. =A0Their chief engineer is definite=
>ly
>> >> a car guy who was hanging around test tracks long before he was old
>> >> enough to drive. =A0If he tests a sports car and it isn't fun to drive=
>,
>> >> it is going to bomb big time. =A0If it is a minivan test, that is a
>> >> different matter.
>>
>> >I'm sure they employ enthusiasts - but do they write the articles? The U=
>K
>> >one puts different emphasis on a car's qualities than the average motori=
>ng
>> >mag. Which can be useful if read in conjunction with a motoring mag test=
> -
>> >it will often give extra information.
>>
>> I remember CR's report on the Miata / MX-5 when it first came out.
>> They didn't like it because the ride was too firm, and there was only
>> a tiny little trunk / boot.
>> --
>> Dan.
>
>Really? Betcha you can't cite a reference.

Consumer Reports, April 1990.
--
It's times like these which make me glad my bank is Dial-a-Mattress

On Dec 17, 4:24 pm, russo...@grace.speakeasy.net (Matthew Russotto)
wrote:

> It's times like these which make me glad my bank is Dial-a-Mattress

If Federal commitments like T-Bills and the FDIC are not honored, then
currency is not likely to have any value either; it's just another
Federal promise to pay.

In article <695c9535-0dcd-45cc-b23e-a3d07a54b518@40g2000prx.googlegroups.com>,
pkbrandon <pkbrando@hickorytech.net> wrote:
>On Dec 17, 4:24 pm, russo...@grace.speakeasy.net (Matthew Russotto)
>wrote:
>
>> It's times like these which make me glad my bank is Dial-a-Mattress
>
>If Federal commitments like T-Bills and the FDIC are not honored, then
>currency is not likely to have any value either; it's just another
>Federal promise to pay.

That's one of those apocalyptic events it's basically impossible to
prepare for. Your best bet at that point would be to be buddies with
the leader of a country with a strong military and a financial system
not strongly tied to the US dollar, the Euro, the Pound, or the Yen.
I'd suggest chatting up Vladimir Putin.
--
It's times like these which make me glad my bank is Dial-a-Mattress

pkbrandon wrote:
> If Federal commitments like T-Bills and the FDIC are not honored, then
> currency is not likely to have any value either; it's just another
> Federal promise to pay.

I'll bite: to pay what? If you mean gold, that promise ended in 1973.