Got Questions About Consumer Reports Car Picks?

I finds CR's info both detailed and reasonable accurate (certainly more so than info provided by most competing publications, which often leave me wondering who paid them off). But there's another publication besides CR that I consider to be among the more reliable sources of relatively unbiased info that doesn't seem to get much press here: Lemon Aid. Two things I like about these rags right away: 1. The author, Phil Edmonston, is not a car enthusiast and not easily impressed by flash and dash. Like those at CR, he sees cars as appliances rather than status symbols. A car that's a mechanical nightmare isn't going to score points with him just because it has awesome lines. 2. Not only does Lemon Aid highlight the number of issues a vehicle may be cursed with (and NOTHING escapes his wrath, not even Honda and Toyota), it also delves into the exact nature of said issues, including service bulletins, secret warranties, recalls and, just as important, how the manufacturers handle their customer's vehicle complaints post-sale. I may collect a few old classics that are known high-maintenance items (1st-gen RX7s, Fiat X1/9s, etc.) if they're just for weekend drives during the summer and can be picked up for chump change say, under 5k. But my daily driver had better start every time, rarely even have a hiccup let alone break down, get good fuel economy, have slower-than-average depreciation, provide good utility and provide decent if not outstanding handling. If it's also a hot looking car, bonus. But that's nowhere near the top of my priority list. Therefore, the findings of someone who sees cars as appliances rather than toys carry more weight with me. Findings like those in Lemon Aid.

True Delta's methodology is more transparent than CR's. That said, western society is largely now math moronic. Most don't understand that significance. And CR's data set, however flawed, is vast. What would really benefit consumers would be the actuarial data behind extended warranty rates by model / make / year. Although I bet access to such info is locked-down by insurance and parts industries better than the government's Area-51 Aliens.

I used to get CR years ago, but after reading their sometimes seriously out of whack recommendations on all kinds of appliances and electronics, I came to the conclusion that if they are so off on that stuff, why would cars be any better?

I agree that CR is NOT the last word in product reviews. Recently,I've used them along with other sources to try to determine the best washer-dryer to buy. The best resource was a local guy that repairs them. He works on all bands and tracks the changes in ownership of these companies along with bad designs, cost cutting, etc. Same with lawn mowers, weed trimers, if you're a home owner and want something that lasts, ask a couple lawn care companies what they use. You pay more for pro quality but you get years of reliable service in return, plus if you need to sell it - a lawn care co will gladly buy your lightly used equipment cause they know quality.