Who Sponsored Autoblog's Toyota Landcruiser Vs. Hummer H2 Comparo?

by Robert Farago

Published: October 15th, 2008

who sponsored autoblog s toyota landcruiser vs hummer h2 comparo

Ever since TTAC launched its campaign re: fair disclosure for automotive press junkets and cars, the autoblogosphere’s been pretty good about revealing car manufacturers’ contributions to their cause. Of course, we’d like the sites to be more forthcoming about the exact goodies disbursed. Edmunds attended a manufacturer-sponsored event, to which selected members of the press were invited, to facilitate this report” is both condescending and vague (hotels? meals? flights? accommodations?). But hey, at least our colleagues have stepped-up, uh, towards the plate. Unfortunately, today’s Autoblog Toyota Landcruiser vs. Hummer H2 comparo leaves that particular ethical space blank. We tried reading between the lines… “In this blogger’s version of the debrief after a Moons Over My Hammy [ED: by who?], the finding was that the H2 and the Landcruiser will go anywhere you point them. Period. Anyone who says otherwise is, quite simply, incorrect. The only difference is in how they do it.” I’m thinking HUMMER paid the freight, with Autoblog being nice to Toyota ’cause it’s the better rock climber and Autoblog can’t say that. But I could be wrong. So c’mon Autoblog. You did the mucho macho rock climbing thing. Now man-up to who paid the bills, and what they covered.

Robert Farago

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Sajeev Mehta on Oct 16, 2008

Be it politicians or media outlets, John Stewart's "The Daily Show" puts people who should know better in the spotlight when they need/deserve it. Their take on a local TV station's attack on other local TV stations' weather reporting had me in stitches. So I ask, why not have a check like that for automotive media? Believe it or not, there is more to the truth about cars (lower case) than the businesses, factories and finished goods.

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Ktm on Oct 16, 2008
So what if the automaker pays for a journalist’s flight or accommodations? If the car company wasn’t picking up the bill, the writer’s employer would. So in the end, it makes little or no difference to the person who is writing the article, and therefore little or no difference to the article’s tone, content, and conclusions. There is a huge difference. My company limits the size of gifts and entertainment expenses that I receive to $100 or less. I am in a position to award tens of millions of dollars worth of contracts a year. The concern is that the gifts may influence my decision to award the contract to a particular vendor/consultant/contractor. If you have a strong professional work ethic, then you would not be swayed by such gifts. I am one such person. However, there are many people who do not share the same ethical strength as I.

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TexasAg03 on Oct 16, 2008
There is a huge difference. My company limits the size of gifts and entertainment expenses that I receive to $100 or less. I am in a position to award tens of millions of dollars worth of contracts a year. The concern is that the gifts may influence my decision to award the contract to a particular vendor/consultant/contractor. I agree and my company has the same dollar limit. In my case, I am in no position to award anything. I am an engineer, but have no "decision making" power at any high level. I still cannot accept gifts over $100 without permission from corporate and they will want details.

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Aartig on Mar 13, 2009

The Hummer H2 is an SUV and SUT manufactured by General Motors under the Hummer brand. The Hummer H2 has a massive truck frame and has a wider-than-average track firm that may offer stability against overturning. Hummer H2

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