*Motor Trend: 2006 Honda Ridgeline First Road Test [5.5]

[Lifesaver1]

Originally Posted by shovelhd

Subjective data:

CR subscriber surveys
Internet forums

Objective data:

Manufacturer recalls
Dealer techline publications
Independent mechanic repair data

If you can't understand the difference, that's fine. Believe what you want to believe.

IMO CR reliability data is just one point of information in a vehicle purchase.

I humbly suggest that I do understand the difference. We just perhaps disagree over the value of these sources of information. The only skew I can think of in the CR survey data is the survey sample (i.e. CR subscribers). I can't personally think of a reason that the opinions of CR subscribers with respect to the vehicles they own would be any more or less valid than those of the general population. One would imagine that everyone would have a tendency to report their gripes more or less equally.

With respect to manufacturer recalls, I personally think that these are a reflection of the level of responsibility of the manufacturer (widely variable), the concern of the manufacturer about possible litigation, government intervention, and the like. Bottom line, many manufacturers will hold off on a recall until they are absolutely caught red-handed and have no choice, while others will do so in a genuine effort to be good to their customers. The cost and black eye that recalls generate though, is a major disincentive. I'm not sure this is all that helpful.

I suspect techline publications are similar to recalls, inasmuch as of late any such publications immediately hit the Internet and everyone knows it, so there is a reluctance to send them out. I don't personally suspect that reluctance is the same as a recall situation, partly because the reason therefor can be cloaked, as in, "It is recommended that the tires on the Model X be kept at maximum inflation at all times, as adverse consequences may occur at lower levels of inflation within the normal range." (fictional example)

Independent mechanic repair data seems to me to be potentially very valuable. Where do you find this information?

[shovelhd]

Originally Posted by Lifesaver1

Independent mechanic repair data seems to me to be potentially very valuable. Where do you find this information?

I don't know if it exists, but it sure would be easy enough to create.

[STEVE FROST]

Torque steer.

I have not noticed any torque steer. Honda does a great job of eliminatine this on their cars. Some front wheel drive cars Volvos for one exibit this annoying tendancy.

Today on the way to work I took off from a light accelerated stongly and left my hands off the wheel, it just goes straight. No torque steer. My accord you feel a slight pressure on the wheel with strong acceleration but it is a feel only, again if you let go of the wheel the car tracks straight.

Steve

[Southern Yankee]

Originally Posted by Lifesaver1

I humbly suggest that I do understand the difference. We just perhaps disagree over the value of these sources of information. The only skew I can think of in the CR survey data is the survey sample (i.e. CR subscribers). I can't personally think of a reason that the opinions of CR subscribers with respect to the vehicles they own would be any more or less valid than those of the general population. One would imagine that everyone would have a tendency to report their gripes more or less equally.

This is a very interesting thread. I really don’t want to get involved so this is my only opinion on the matter….. My father has been an avid reader of Consumer Reports for his entire life. He’s 56 now. Everything in his house was purchased on the advice of Consumer Reports. So you can imagine my dismay when CR reviewed BEER. Their favorite was Milwaukee’s Best. Now, I have consumed a fair amount of beer in my life. I even made a short-term hobby of brewing my own. I learned a lot about beer and it was a great experience. There is one thing I know without a doubt…. None at all…. CR is full of engineers and geeks. They are scientific folks who test things like cars, vacuums and washers with the expertise you would expect from geeks and engineers. I have never found them to be lacking... In fact, you can almost predict what will fail on your car from their reliability ratings.

But, they don’t know CRAP about beer. Anyone who chooses what beer to drink based on the Consumer Report’s recommendation is a nut case! Needless to say, even though Milwaukee’s Best got the “Best Buy” nod from CR, it got the toss by me and my brother and was quickly replaced with something drinkable.
(If you happen to like Milwaukee’s Best and I have offended you… You truly do need a life.)

Cheers,
SY
Lighten up, drive free, this truck rocks!

[shovelhd]

Milwaukee's Best?????? Bwahahahahahahahahahaahaha!!!!!

I wonder what their reliability ratings are on that swill.

[Tex's Ridge]

http://www.internetautoguide.com/rev...idgeline/2006/

This is a nice review and read I found. Don't know the date of review.

[steveberger]

Originally Posted by shovelhd

Milwaukee's Best?????? Bwahahahahahahahahahaahaha!!!!!

I wonder what their reliability ratings are on that swill.

It's guaranteed....to make you pee

[Lifesaver1]

Originally Posted by Southern Yankee

This is a very interesting thread. I really don’t want to get involved so this is my only opinion on the matter….. My father has been an avid reader of Consumer Reports for his entire life. He’s 56 now. Everything in his house was purchased on the advice of Consumer Reports. So you can imagine my dismay when CR reviewed BEER.

I agree with you completely on this one. It is impossible to objectively rate something like beer, as this is really a matter of personal taste. Same goes for wine, although some of the ratings are useful in that your alternative is to buy something crummy and to be unable to put it back cheaply. This is similar to rating the look of cars. Plenty of people I've talked to think the Ridgeline is really ugly. Others think it is trend-setting and really neat. How do you rate that? I think CR should stick to items that can truly be objectively rated and, in the case of items that need repair, can be rated for reliability. I personally think they did a pretty good job with the Ridgeline.