were used as the base for each car, and how they are selected. The selection is relatively random--people who opt-in to doing the survey.

But if you only get say, 200 Saab owners, versus 600 Toyota owners, the proportions of problems reported is greater. They presumably correct for this at CR, but it still tends to bias the data they report. For example, if out of 200 people, 20 (10%) say they have problems with brakes. But if the average car reports only 6% with brake problems, the car with 10% looks bad. But it was only 20 people!!! which is not a statisically relaible number, even though the base was 200. It is what researchers call directional, but is not predictive. I spent 12 years doing market research and have done my share of worrying about small sample sizes on issues that had a lot of variables, and this is one of the flaws in semi-controlled research like that done by CR on cars.

CR is a nice guideline, especially for many consumer products, because they do that actual tests (like on a TV) and use some fairly objective measures to rate the products. It can be useful for cars, too, but it is not the final word. It is just one source among many to be used in deciding what to buy. The car mags are another source. So are people who you walk up to in a mall parking lot and ask thehm about their car. So is talking to mechanics who know the make and model you are interested in.

N

posted by 69.163.4...

• Consumer Reports and Beyond, Walt , Fri, 17 Sep 2004 12:08:39
  • Re: Consumer Reports and Beyond, walt , Sat, 18 Sep 2004 14:22:41
  • Re: Consumer Reports and Beyond (long), jsh1120, Sat, 18 Sep 2004 07:10:50
    • The issue is sampling, or how many people, Noel, Sat, 18 Sep 2004 09:18:55 <-- Viewing This Message
  • At first glance, I thought Noel's post said it best, >, Pa Taket, Fri, 17 Sep 2004 18:49:29
    • name me a better resource than CR for, Aero'ed, Sat, 18 Sep 2004 07:21:43
      • I've always sold NON - CR cars....., Mike Lynch , Sat, 18 Sep 2004 12:03:36
  • I think the former Auto editor didn't like Saab., EricG, Fri, 17 Sep 2004 18:35:51
    • I think it's simply hallucination on Walt's part, J, Sat, 18 Sep 2004 07:12:13
  • Re: Consumer Reports and Beyond, jeff '04, Fri, 17 Sep 2004 18:03:48
  • The thing about Condemmer Reports, Noel, Fri, 17 Sep 2004 14:10:10
  • Re: Consumer Reports and Beyond, Ari , Fri, 17 Sep 2004 12:37:22
  • 9-3 and 9-5 both check rated.., Mike Lynch , Fri, 17 Sep 2004 12:24:21
    • Re: 9-3 and 9-5 both check rated.., Avanti, Fri, 17 Sep 2004 16:39:29
  • Um that seems hard to believe, saw, Fri, 17 Sep 2004 12:17:29
  • Which consumer reports are you reading?, J, Fri, 17 Sep 2004 12:14:54

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