Consumer Reports: Is VW Providing Us w/ the Same Cars that They Sell?
11-23-11, 05:08 PM
#16
Lexus Fanatic
Very interesting points the article has raised. We looked at a Jetta TDI before we bought our Lexus and we could not get over how plastic the interior was. I can see VW going this far as the new Jetta really sucks.
11-23-11, 05:13 PM
#17
Lexus Fanatic
There are indeed many things that can be changed once at port
11-23-11, 05:18 PM
#18
I think the logic behind what VW was doing here was simple: impress the reviewers with attention to detail.
And I'm sure every brand does this one way or another when they loan their cars for testing purposes. A good review from a magazine still holds credibility today (I prefer to drive the cars I am interested in first, then decide but that's a different story...).
I believe Ferrari was accused by Chris Harris of doing something similar with the cars they handed out for testing. And in the '80s many people blamed GM for fixing up the Chevrolet Citations they loaned to reviewers...
And I'm sure every brand does this one way or another when they loan their cars for testing purposes. A good review from a magazine still holds credibility today (I prefer to drive the cars I am interested in first, then decide but that's a different story...).
I believe Ferrari was accused by Chris Harris of doing something similar with the cars they handed out for testing. And in the '80s many people blamed GM for fixing up the Chevrolet Citations they loaned to reviewers...
11-23-11, 05:37 PM
#19
1Sicklex, you are correct. I can't remember who but one of the car markers used to import a boxed cab truck to the USA only to remove the box once in the US and slap on a pickup bed. I think it was Nissan who did but I can't remember. .
There are indeed many things that can be changed once at port
There are indeed many things that can be changed once at port
11-23-11, 05:47 PM
#20
Lexus Fanatic
I could not remember who it was for sure. I thought it was either Toyota or Nissan. For a few minutes there I thought it might of been Ford.
11-23-11, 05:55 PM
#21
Lexus Fanatic
I am not sure if Toyota still does it, but they used to allow a lot of port installed options in the Japan made cars that were built into the design of the car but were not added at the factory.
11-23-11, 11:05 PM
#22
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Ford does the same thing with Transit Connect. They're built with passenger seats and windows in the back, then all of that is removed at port.
11-24-11, 12:11 AM
#23
Lexus Test Driver
I'm not too worried. If VW is playing around with their test fleet, then CR should disect it and compare it back to back with one they bought. Put everything to rest right there.
11-24-11, 06:13 AM
#24
CR is making a mountain out of a molehill. This has been reported before and they're probably just experiencing this practice for the first time. Automakers have a number of press vehicles they loan to journalists for reviews and a team of folks who prep, maintain, and track those cars. Giving a car to an automotive writer subjects it to abuse far worse than an airport rental car. When that car comes back, it's the job of the team to return the car to like-new condition for the next review. I'm sure that process goes far beyond what a rental car agency or CPO inspection does. I'll bet someone from VW saw a "missing" plastic cover and assumed it had fallen off. They did their job.
Nothing to see here, next...
Nothing to see here, next...
11-24-11, 06:45 AM
#25
Lexus Fanatic
I would like to add that there are times where the vehicle for review with the journalist is an actual pre-production model.
11-24-11, 08:29 AM
#26
Pole Position
The article reads to me as a self promoting ad for how wonderful CR is. And I agree they are very good at what they do but seriously a piece plastic that was on a early media car that doesn't make it to the production models is not enough evidence to jump to the assumption that computers have been flashed or engines blueprinted. It's is pretty thin argument for sure. .
Show me the proof. That's what it boils down to. Otherwise it's just another conspiracy theory.
11-24-11, 08:46 AM
#27
Lexus Champion
I suppose if CR hadn't mentioned this and then it was later revealed, some people would say the mag is favoring VW and VW is buying them off by not letting people know what's going on.
A damned if you do and damned if you don't scenario.
A damned if you do and damned if you don't scenario.
11-24-11, 08:47 AM
#28
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CR is making a mountain out of a molehill. This has been reported before and they're probably just experiencing this practice for the first time. Automakers have a number of press vehicles they loan to journalists for reviews and a team of folks who prep, maintain, and track those cars. Giving a car to an automotive writer subjects it to abuse far worse than an airport rental car. When that car comes back, it's the job of the team to return the car to like-new condition for the next review. I'm sure that process goes far beyond what a rental car agency or CPO inspection does. I'll bet someone from VW saw a "missing" plastic cover and assumed it had fallen off. They did their job.
Nothing to see here, next...
Nothing to see here, next...
11-24-11, 10:29 AM
#30
Lexus Fanatic
Is that the only detail you're looking at? I would think that all sorts of other "details" would be different between the two cars then. Just tell us what they were. But one thing, and hinge cover to boot?! Color me unimpressed with CR reporting.
Show me the proof. That's what it boils down to. Otherwise it's just another conspiracy theory.
Show me the proof. That's what it boils down to. Otherwise it's just another conspiracy theory.
If anything, CR should know that in the brochures and on car maker websites, it usually states that they reserve the right to make changes.
As a matter of fact, we are looking a buying a Tacoma truck, and in the brochure it states "A vehicle with particular equipment may not be available at the dealerships" and "Prototypes shown. Actual production vehicles may vary". CR needs to calm down.