Consumer Reports: Best overall pickup truck

[rollinhonda]

Originally Posted by brianh

[B]

Of those three, CR seems to have the most reliable and unbiased ratings, although I haven't had 100% success with their top rated products over the years.

Can't say I have in every case either. What I do like about their auto reliability charts are the different problem areas, and making it easy to track year to year.

[rollinhonda]

Originally Posted by Ridgerat

These people also rate...toilet paper, tooth brushes, toasters...
I believe you could find fault in any product if you WANT to. These people are in the bag for Toyota and have been for years. I would love to know what these guys own for daily drivers!
Sorry, I just don't put much stock in what these people publish. More opinon that research..

Don't mix up reviews with reliability figures. Two totally different things.

They send out forms you fill out including repairs you had done (using categories to cover different types of repairs) and you log the mileage, etc.
What is opinionated about that?
How would you do it?

They use the same method for other products.

They have Toyota in their pocket? Sounds like an opinion to me.. we need some research!

You can look up older CR numbers in the library and see the same trends most of us have already noticed, like the improvement in Fords, over the years, etc.
I'm not saying CR is perfect, but there is nothing else close that is as comprehensive, except True Delta...and they don't have as many online subscribers, but their figures pretty much reflect the same things we've come to expect.

[Ridgerat]

O.K. That may have sounded like a rant on CR it's, not intended. I love my RL and have no problems with CR's rating but...I have owned and purchased items they rate as great only to be disapointed after the shine wears off including several cars and high end electronics. They are a good barometer if nothing else. I take it all with a grian of salt. Just like alot of product reveiws that I look at before making a major purchase, one guy loves it and the next hates it. You have to read between the lines. I know what I read, but believe what I see.

[1154]

Originally Posted by rollinhonda

You can look up older CR numbers in the library and see the same trends most of us have already noticed, like the improvement in Fords, over the years, etc.
I'm not saying CR is perfect, but there is nothing else close that is as comprehensive, except True Delta...and they don't have as many online subscribers, but their figures pretty much reflect the same things we've come to expect.

+1. I think CR is about as good of a source as a person can find for reliable data on products.

[rollinhonda]

Originally Posted by Ridgerat

O.K. That may have sounded like a rant on CR it's, not intended. I love my RL and have no problems with CR's rating but...I have owned and purchased items they rate as great only to be disapointed after the shine wears off including several cars and high end electronics. They are a good barometer if nothing else. I take it all with a grian of salt. Just like alot of product reveiws that I look at before making a major purchase, one guy loves it and the next hates it. You have to read between the lines. I know what I read, but believe what I see.

Again, I am not talking about CR reviews, only their Reliability Charts which are based on owner input, not the magazine's opinions. I have some reservations about their reviews also, on more than just automobiles.

[Sparkland]

I contributed. Everything was positive except for gas mileage, cost, and gadgets (electronic).

[1154]

Originally Posted by Sparkland

Everything was positive except for gas mileage and cost.

And those two things you knew in advance. No surprises. So, that's pretty good.

[feetdry]

Oops, I contributed too, to CR reviews, but I didn't fault my 08 in any way. Best vehicle I have owned in 54 years of driving! I carry too much "stuff" to worry about mileage. I haven't "put a pencil to it", but I would bet the overall cost per mile is also less than any vehicle I have owned. It's like the Duracell battery, it just keeps going and going.

[rollinhonda]

Originally Posted by feetdry

Oops, I contributed too, to CR reviews, but I didn't fault my 08 in any way. Best vehicle I have owned in 54 years of driving! I carry too much "stuff" to worry about mileage. I haven't "put a pencil to it", but I would bet the overall cost per mile is also less than any vehicle I have owned. It's like the Duracell battery, it just keeps going and going.

That's the kind of experience I hope to have. I've just passed 12,000 miles and it seems to get a little better mileage right now. Maybe it's the summer fuel switch as the engine seems smoother also.
We've been driving about the same length of time, and many vehicles have passed our way. This is one of the most " just drive it and forget about it " ones I've driven.