Over at BlueOvalNews, they have an interesting piece about the bias of the press, primarilly newspaper, against the domestic auto makers. And it's something that has always bothered me. So click the header and read what they have to say.
As far as the Auto Rags, magazines that we all grew up reading, I've long believed that they all woship at the altars of BMW and Honda, and lost their objectivity long ago.
It's impossible for an American car to do well, even if they win a comparison test, the writer will still criticize the car and maker, saying that it should have been better.
One glaring example in my mind was the recent award to Honda of "Truck of the Year" to the Ridgeline. Hell, it's not even a truck, and not even an original idea.
But what about the Chevy Cobalt? It's hands down better than a Civic, yet the Civic is the holy grail to them. And god forbid you try and compete with the BMW 3 series, there will always be "something indescribable" about the BMW that tips the competition in their favor.
I say Horse Sh*t, the American auto makers have gotten quality to the point where it's no longer an issue, and it's time for a level playing field in the "Automotive Press." You can't crap all over Ford, GM and Chryser, saying that their plastics seem cheap, and then praise Honda's interiors, that are no better. I've driven Civics and Cobalts side by side, and I don't see the vast difference that the press does.
Auto magazine for the most part are becoming obsolete, being squeezed out by the Internet. For years I subscribed to Motor Trend, Car and Driver and AutoWeek, but today, the only one I read regularally is AutoWeek. I prefer to get my automotive news and information online, sometimes directly from the manufacturer's web page.
3 comments:
In poll after poll, jouranlists & lawyers are at the bottom of the most despised people. Why? Becuase they are seen as baised and opportunistic fabricators with holier than thou attitude.
While automotive journalists are not as bad as news journalists, they operate under the same mentality. They pick a side and that's all they'll report for the rest of their careers. There is not such thing as objectivity--They're only goal is to convince the rest of us that what they like is what we should all like.
Sad isn't it?
jwfisher, I don't mind them picking Honda over Ford.
I just think auto mags have gotten lazy. I hate writers quoting the stats from the madia pack. Dos anyone run their own dyno anymore?
Also, I want consistency. If they are going to tell me one car is underpowered, you better explain to me why another car virtually the same is better. I'm fully willing to believe that suspension setup, steering, weight distribution can affect the performance...But you gotta make your case.
If they use words like "Cheap plastic," state the exact name of the plastic used. Then next time I want them to explain why it is cheap in one car, and okay in another?
You know what I mean? I don't want to get to the end of an article and be confused why a certain vehicle won over another.
J I've had my say on this, I guess it's a matter of MY bias too. But not much more I want to say on this. Most of the Auto Rags, aren't worth reading anymore.
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