Best cars for 2013 from Consumer Reports

[steve2470]

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/best-cars-for-2013-from-consumer-reports-2013-03-30?reflink=MW_GoogleNews&google_editors_picks=true

It's a slideshow. I'll note the first four, rest at link:

1- Midsize sedan: Honda Accord
2- Sports cars: Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ
3- Budget car: Hyundai Elantra
4- Green Car: Toyota Prius

[talkingmime]

1. Those four suck moose cock. Consumer Reports sold out LONG ago.

If you want a midsize that's reliable and has performance, go with a Ford Fusion. Anything Consumer Reports recommends just screams "RUN AWAY!!!!!"

Consumer Reports called the Chrystler K-Car the "Car of the Year". It was the biggest piece of shit that EVER came out of Chrysler. Doors fell of of the damn things. They never published anything in the coming months that recanted their endorsement.

The only reason Consumer Reports exists is because companies pay them to give positive reviews for their products. Whoever pays the most gets the best rating. I guess Honda forked over the most money on that one.

[Ruby the Liberal]

5. I am not in the market, but this is a really great looking vehicle!

http://www.ford.com/cars/fusion/

[talkingmime]

9. Yeah, that's hot for an economy car. I'm more in the Ford Flex category now.

I know it looks like a truck, but it is the ONLY station wagon any company makes now. I like station wagons. I've got a 68 Galaxie in storage (my grandfather bought her new). She can't hold plywood, but she kicks ass on the street.

Ford is way ahead on all levels. When the Tempo came out everyone thought it looked weird. It was the first mainstream car that didn't have a square torso. Now EVERYTHING looks the same, and the Tempo ushered that in. I'm not sure that was a good thing. We've got a 93 Sable (the decendant Tempo) wagon that is still running great. She's sporting a 3.8 ltr. It's fun to blow little rice burners off the line in a station wagon. My 3.4 Pontiac minivan can outrun them too.

Ford was the first major car company and they still make the best cars. The late 70s and early 80s were'nt so great, but they are on top of things again. The Fusion isn't their best of show, but it is a nice car. I'd buy one if I needed another car. We're pretty well set with our old cars.

[Ruby the Liberal]

10. Mine is a 2007, so I have 6-7 more years to go before I even think about it.

But thrilled to see Ford producing such well-rated and cool looking cars! Well done, Ford.

[politicat]

62. Subaru Outbacks, made by AFL-CIO labor in Lafayette, Indiana.

If you want a station wagon, they're also available, and really reliable. In my part of the world, where snow and hills are just Monday, they're the most common car on the road.

[talkingmime]

79. Throw a set of Michelin HydroEdge tires on it and you can go anywhere.

I put those on my Montana and DAMN did it make a difference! I don't recall the traction control kicking on since I put those tires on it. They even grab on ice. Another thing I was rather shocked by is the change in handling. It was always great on curves, but now it is like I'm in a sports car.

The last set was Han Kook and they were pretty good, but "squishy". My dad's got Han Kook tires on his F-250 and when I used the word "squishy" he broke out laughing because that's how he described them. They're good tires for a nice quiet and comfortable ride, but they don't let you corner well and aren't made for snow.

[Warren DeMontague]

31. My wife was in the market for a new car not long ago, and seriously considered the Fusion.

It is a good looking vehicle.

I admit. I have spent most of my adult life hating American cars. Fine, yes, throw things at my head and call me Un-American. I do. I've rented brand new Fords with less than 200 miles on them and had them just up and fucking die on me in the middle of nowhere, for no reason. I hate the way they smell, I hate the way they handle, I hate the styling and the way the interior often feels like it was stapled together out of plastic and old marlboro boxes.. they feel cheap, to me. Or shoddy.

But the Fusion wasn't bad. A distinct improvement.

My wife ended up buying a Hyundai, instead. I had nothing to do with it. If you need to blame something, blame The Walking Dead.

[JPZenger]

68. Ford Fusion is now based upon a European design

Ford is making greater efforts to integrate their European models with the US models. The previous Ford Fusion was based upon the Mazda 6. At the time, Ford controlled Mazda, and it was a good car for its time. The new 2013 Ford Fusion is based upon a more recent design from Ford of Europe. Generally, Fords have much better handling that most other US cars.

[Ruby the Liberal]

70. I can see that now that you said it

its lines slightly look like a German design (thinking BMW).

[Ruby the Liberal]

71. They can throw things at me too.

I didn't like anything on the American market when I traded in my Chrysler, so I bought a Japanese car. If Ford keeps this up, they will be at the top of my list in another few years.

[Warren DeMontague]

72. I've been doing Japanese cars all my adult life. Had good results with Nissans and Toyotas.

But that doesn't mean I'm closed from considering anything else. It'll be a few years for me too, hopefully, though.

[winter is coming]

42. I'm curious about the C-MAX.

By the time we can afford a new car, there should be enough reliability data to know how it's turned out.

[madokie]

44. Our next car

[SheilaT]

19. It is my understanding that Consumers Union, the people

who put out Consumer Reports, take absolutely no money from companies. They make their money from magazine subscriptions and other things they sell. There is also no advertizing in the magazine, if I recall correctly.

They go out and buy whatever it is they want to test, and then do all their tests.

And somehow, I'm doubting that they called the Chrysler K-Car the "Car of the Year". For one thing, they'll name cars that are good buys, but it's other automotive magazines that do the car of the year stuff. But if you've got a link, I'll apologize for my ignorance in advance.

[talkingmime]

22. MAN is it hard to find information about that! I learned a lot more than...

I ever wanted to know about the K platform, but can't find ANY magazine references to it! What I remember (keep in mind I was just out of high school) was that it was called the "car of the year" and I'm almost certain it was Consumer Reports, if not then it was Motor Trend, and the next year the doors started falling off of the things - literally falling off. To be fair, the K platform was a major factor in the resurgence of Chrysler, but that's just the frame, suspension, and engine mount placement. The bodies still sucked.

[SheilaT]

26. I also tried an on-line search for that

and I do think I stumbled across a Motor Trend "Car of the Year" for the K-car.

I actually know a man who works at Consumer's Union (college roomate of my ex's) and what's hilarious from knowing him and talking to him a little about the car testing, is that they seem to want a car with full luxury details of whatever top-line luxury car is out there, but costing about what a mid-level inexpensive car would be. Or they want a sports-car performance in a bargain car.

Every time someone complains about how sluggish certain smaller cars are I ask them if they're driving a stick or an automatic. They'll tend to look bewildered and say, "An automatic, of course." I can assure you that cars CU thinks are sluggish are very lively if you buy the stick. They only seem to test the ones with automatic transmission, because, as the friend once said, "I should let the transmission do the work." Now I understand why many people would prefer an automatic, but trust me, a lot of smaller cars drive phenomenally well in the stick version. I've test-driven a lot of them over the years.

[talkingmime]

28. Yeah, but find a minivan with an manual tranny!!!

I do just fine with a manual, but my wife's never learned to drive one. If I could afford it, I'd get her a Mustang Cobra, but I don't think they make them with an automatic (why bother?)

And in thinking about it some more, I think it probably was Motor Trend. Still, the doors fell off the damn things. The K platform was meant as a replacement for the Aspen (which I owned). The Aspen was a better car. I just couldn't get the damn baby seat to fit in the back seat and it was hard enough to even GET to the back seat. Good car though.

[SheilaT]

39. Bingo. That's an important reason I've never had one.

I kind of think when they first came out a manual was available, but not any more.

I'm over 60 now, and every time I have been looking for cars in the past decade or so, my insistence on a manual really throws the salesmen. Many of them have simply never known a woman who can drive one.

Personally, when I can no longer drive the stick I'll know it's time for me to stop driving.

[talkingmime]

40. I've got a 2000 Pontiac Montana 3.4 ltr and it kicks ASS with an auto.

I'd love to see what it could do with a stick. Yes, I've got a minivan with muscle. I'd never have believed I'd ever be saying that 20 years ago. The 93 Sable has a 3.8 with an auto. Again, I'd love to know what she could do with a stick. Other than sports cars, there really aren't many models of ANYTHING that come with a standard now.

[SheilaT]

48. Hondas. Civics and to a lessere extent Accords.

I happen to love Hondas. The last time I was car shopping, about 6 years ago, it was with great regret that I passed on a top-of-the-line Accord with a stick because I wanted the better gas mileage of the Civic, as well as its livelier handling since it's a smaller car. I don't any more regret not getting the Accord, but it was a sweet car.

[talkingmime]

51. If I can't put a full 4'x8' sheet of plywood in the back, AND close the hatch, I'm not interested.

Sorry, but that's just me. I like large cars (not SUVs) that get great mileage (which on its own excludes SUVs). Even my 84 Colony Park wagon got 20 mpg and she could hold 96 (yes, 96) banker's boxes. I know that because I helped a friend move and that's how many fit into the thing. And I didn't even use the space where the flip up seats were, or the luggage rack. That was just the cargo bay.

I killed the engine (150K, young thing) on a two hour trip after a radiator hose blew. I had to make it home and drove her without coolant, in the summer, for over 100 miles. She made it, but that was her last trip. You can't do that with ANY modern engine of any make. The aluminum heads will pop. Her 5.0 got me through and she sacrificed herself in doing it.

The same wagon got me from NH to PA with a trailer that was loaded way over weight capacity, every inch of cargo space used, a X-Cargo box on the luggage rack, and ladders hanging over the sides. My neighbor called me Jed Clampet. If I find another one, I'm buying it. That was the best station wagon model ever made. I called her "The Enterprise".

[SheilaT]

61. I can't find my tape measure right now,

but I expect you could fit that 4'x8' sheet of plywood in the trunk of my 2004 Civic. The trunk is HUGE. It's a two, possibly a three body trunk I constantly tell people. It's much larger than the trunks of many other, supposedly larger cars.

Probably not 96 banker's boxes, I'll admit.

I get around 30mpg, so to me 20 sounds low, but then I'm not hauling around a lot of stuff. Sounds like you are, so you need the vehicle you own.

[talkingmime]

78. Actually, my daughter's Camry has a huge trunk too, and is a fairly large car, but...

I really wouldn't want to try to shove a sheet of plywood into it. It serves her purposes and seats 5.

[SheilaT]

84. I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if my

trunk is bigger than hers. It's larger than cars you wouldn't think it's larger than.

[talkingmime]

85. Yeah, I always thought of Camrys as small cars, but they're a good sized sedan!

I stick with US made cars, but it's her car, her choice. I've driven it and it handles well. The steering is a little loose for me, but it's still okay to drive. But hey, she likes it and that's all that matters.

[quakerboy]

101. Take the Camry, make it a hatchback

And you have a Matrix. With room for moving furniture, and your brother in laws giant tube TV that you cannot for the life of you understand why he would keep around in this day and age.

Plus if you pick the right year of matrix, they were made at the NUMI plant in California by union workers. Toyota engineering, pontiac designing, Union Manufacturing. Fits in tiny parking spaces, but can carry virtually anything home from the hardware store(including, if you've a mind to do so, a half ton of cement blocks, as i know from experience) Whats not to love?

And if you look around you can find a Pontiac Vibe. Which is identical to the matrix, with different badging. But it costs less, due to the Pontiac name.

[talkingmime]

103. I don't have a fucking clue what you meant by any of that. The Matrix is a piece of shit.

[quakerboy]

104. Wow.

The matrix, as i understand it, was built on the Camry frame. Though maybe it was the Corolla. either way, the main difference would seem to be increased cargo area, and the ability to move furniture or plywood or cement blocks.

The engine and mechanics, by my reading, came mostly from Toyota.

Through 2009, I believe, they were built in California by union workers

As for it being a "piece of shit", I respectfully offer that you haven't a clue what your talking about. Its been a kick ass car for me. I'd but it up against anything anyone else has to offer. The only part I have been dissatisfied with is the mileage.

Also, I don't know what the deal is, but you come off really abrasive, for no apparent reason. the tone would appear to be attack/provocative, and I cannot see any reason for it in my original posting that you responded to.

[tabasco]

94. I pull a 1200# capacity trailer with a Toyota Echo

Brought home lots of plywood.

[talkingmime]

95. Yeah, I've got a class 4 hitch on the Montana. It will pull anything.

But it's rather cumbersome to deal with a trailer when you can just throw it in the back of the van instead.

[tabasco]

96. Its also rather nice to get 40mpg

when I'm not using the trailer.

[talkingmime]

97. Yeah, 40 is good. My wife's Plymouth Horizon hatchback got about 38.

But hey, a trailer hitch is essential. I just got my class 4 installed because the Montana needed a new exhaust system and you have to drop the exhaust to install the hitch. Two-for.

[colinmom71]

73. You can get the Mazda 5 (mini-van) in a manual transmission...

The Sport model of the Mazda5 can be found with either manual or auto. And the auto has the up/down gear shifting feature, though I've never used it on mine.

[RobinA]

90. All The Women

in my family drive or know how to drive sticks. My mother, who still thinks automatics are like the automatic she had in her 50-something Ford, refused to drive an automatic until she was about 75. She finally had to admit that shifting was getting REALLY hard on her shoulder arthritis, so she reluctantly hung up her gearshift. She did find that her shoulder has ached a bit less since.

[Kelvin Mace]

56. Probably "Motortrend"

since they use the designation "Car of the Year" ,and CR does not.

CR will buy a car (anonymously) , then spend many months testing it under a variety of conditions. I do not recall the K-Car getting a positive review from CR, and cannot find any indication it ever did. I will have to swing by the library and check the back issues.

[talkingmime]

58. Yeah, I thought about it and it was probably Motor Trend.

[Kelvin Mace]

64. Someone donw thread

was just claiming that American cars don't get recommended by CR. I just posted a list of over a dozen cars that are on the list, just for 2012-13.

[talkingmime]

80. The Mustang, Charger, Challenger, and Vette didn't make the list? Weird.

[Kelvin Mace]

86. Actually,

In the sports car category, the recommend list includes the Chevrolet Camaro 2SS (V8) and the Ford Mustang (V6).

As I said, I didn't pull a comprehensive list.

The Challenger and Corvette were not recommended due to reliability problems, poor fuel economy and high ownership costs; the Charger due to very poor reliability scores.

[talkingmime]

87. Yeah, I forgot the Camero. It's a pretty sweet ride. But Mustang V6?

Why bother putting a V6 in a Mustang? Go with the V8.

[Kelvin Mace]

88. Don't know

other than it kills your fuel economy, and you can get a lot of power out of a V-6 these days. Let's be honest, we like the cars for their looks. We are not going to buy them because they can be driven at speeds we are not legally allowed to drive.

Well, I won't.

[talkingmime]

89. I've got a 3.8 in my Sable and a 3.4 in my Montana - both V6, but a Mustang?

I don't know. Maybe it's an old bias because of the disturbing period where the Mustang II was around. That was a piece of shit. The 87 was the return of the REAL Mustang. It just screams "V8".

[ieoeja]

67. I believe you are correct about it being Motor Trend.

And Consumer Reports does not evaluate cars. This is only a survey of their customers.

CR does a great job on the things they do test. As the other poster mentioned, they take no advertisements, and therefore no money, from any businesses. This is as up-and-up an organization as you could hope for.

Rightwingers, not surprisingly, believe the Consumer Union is Liberal. It it's honest, it must Liberal to those guys. Which, you know, I'm okay with that definition.

I will never understand those people.

[talkingmime]

81. Yeah, I woke up about 3 in the morning and had a clear memory of it being Motor Trend.

I've also had clear memories at that time that were completely bogus, but this one seemed right. But the doors still fell off the damn things.

[RobinA]

92. It's Obvious

why they think it's liberal. The name has "Union" in it. U-N-I-O-N Clearly liberal, probably socialist and maybe downright communist. Get it? CommUNist, UNion. Buncha Reds, all of them.

[Kelvin Mace]

55. Consumer Reports

is a publication of Consumer Union. It's income comes from subscriptions to its publication. If I recall, they also accept donations from individuals, but such donations are placed in a blind trust, with the editorial staff unaware of the identity of any contributor.

The magazine has been in print since 1936.

[rightsideout]

20. I don't think my Prius is capable of sucking moose cock.

But I know it doesn't suck alot of gas.

Our Prius has been a great car. It can hold alot of stuff and 5 people. Best mileage we got is 64 mpg in a trip to Ohio. I even got a speeding ticket in it, twice. It has the same electric throttle my electric Ford Escort and electric dragster has.

[talkingmime]

23. They make an electric Escort? And whoa, whoa, whoa, you've got a dragster?

COOL!

[LanternWaste]

34. Translated to standard English, I believe that means

"Consumer Reports sold out LONG ago."

Translated to standard English, I believe that means, "their list didn't validate my opinion."

[talkingmime]

38. That's not standard English, that's Republican - D'OH! D'OH! D'OH!

[Floyd_Gondolli]

46. Bingo

If the list would have been filled with cars made by Ford or GM the list would have been completely unassailable. Typical DU.

[Kelvin Mace]

57. Agreed

You would be hard pressed to find a more ethical publication.

[Floyd_Gondolli]

41. I have the 2013 Accord

And I can assure you it doesn't suck "moose cock".

It replaced a 2000 Accord with 300,000 miles on it, which also did not suck "moose cock".

[talkingmime]

45. My 91 Escort wagon is in a friend's ownership now and she's up around 350K and still running.

She's got 9 years on your former Accord (which I call "Acorn&quot . I don't see the appeal in those things. Your butt's practically scraping the pavement and my minivan can outrun them. What's the point? And don't come back with the mileage thing. My Montana gets about 26 mpg with 8 people in it in mountain terrain WITH the AC going. It gets better mileage with only one person and no AC. Our 93 Sable wagon checks in around 24 mpg and it's a monster compared to a Honda. I'll stick with real cars, not go-carts.

[Floyd_Gondolli]

47. Have fun

I'm perfectly happy with my car. Hope you're happy with yours.

[laureloak]

49. I bought the Accord 2013

and we love it! We're averaging close to 40 mpg and our butts don't drag the pavement either.

[Floyd_Gondolli]

50. I'm having similar experiences with the mileage

I'm getting right at 30.6 in the city and 37 on HWY. And funny enough, my butt isn't dragging the pavement either. What an absurd criteria for picking a car anyway.

It's early yet but it may be better than my 2000 Accord. We also had an 1981 Accord that was passed around in our family that finally gave out a couple of years ago with close to 600k on the odometer.

[mucifer]

74. My '87 Escort ate transmissions. It was a piece of crap. I think they made them better later.

[talkingmime]

83. So did my 91. I had two of them die on me. They were Mazda 323 transmissions.

Actually, the engine was Mazda too. A mechanic told me the only difference was whether the bolt heads were in metric or US gauges. The threads were all metric. Mazda makes some good stuff, but their automatic transmissions are shit.

Mine was the first model of the new series - it looked like a Taurus/Sable wagon, just smaller. Somewhere I have a picture (35 mm) of our Escort and our Sable (both wagons) together. There are very few differences in the profiles, and both are silver. It was a cool shot.

[quakerboy]

102. Ha

I notice you dont mention the Taurus. The bane of all things reliable. Just driving it onto a block can cause other cars to have transmission problems.

That said, why they swapped the escort out for the focus is beyond me. The focus, in my personal experience, has a tendency to catch fire. Where the escort was a beast. My first car, and It ran for approximately 6 months sans oil before my dad found out and decided it needed a new home. Im pretty sure it would have kept going at least another 6 months before catastrophe.

[Kelvin Mace]

54. Huh?

"The only reason Consumer Reports exists is because companies pay them to give positive reviews for their products. Whoever pays the most gets the best rating."

Could you cite your sources? I have followed Consumer's Union for years and they accept no ad money, pay for their own test products and accept no money from any manufacturer.

Neither CU nor CR name a "Car of the Year", that is done by Motortrend. The K Car did appear on the cover of CR back when it came out, but only because of a story on Chrysler's attempt to get back in the game. The car received poor marks and was never recommended.

The 2013 Fusion is currently scored an 82 by CR, with above average marks in most categories (reliability is not scored since the 2013 model year is a "refresh" The 2008-2012 model years rate "Best" except for minor transmission problems in the 2010-2011 model years.

I don't know where you are getting your info about CR, but I have read the magazine for almost 30 years now, and have found them to be highly reliable, unbiased and openly honest when they makes errors.

[upaloopa]

76. In my opinion my 2013 Ford Mustang is the best car for me.

I don't pay attention to what the reports say unless it says the car I like is a piece of dog doo doo.

[Logical]

98. Why in the hell would you use that language? Disgusting and childish. Wow, failure. n-t

[d_r]

2. No thanks

I'll keep an American car

[LAGC]

12. Indeed.

My Chevy Cavalier runs just fine after 115K miles, gets decent mileage, figure it will last another 10 years with only minor maintenance.

Hopefully full-blown electrics become more competitive and efficient by then, able to drive 400+ miles on a single charge.

[Skittles]

14. I've never had a car with better AC then my Chevy Cavalier

I really miss it during Texas summers

[LAGC]

16. It warms up pretty quick too.

And doesn't fail to start in ultra-cold temperatures like my Subaru often did.

[RobinA]

29. This Is True

At my job we have a hunk of junk Cavalier to drive for work. It's pretty cheesy in every way, but turn on that air conditioner and the car is a refrigerator before you get out of the parking lot. And that's with it sitting in the sun all day.

[Skittles]

75. when I got a Civic

I took it back a few times complaining the AC didn't work.....in retrospect I realize it DOES work - it's just that it simply is nowhere near as great that the AC in that damn Cavalier - you are correct - I was refridgerated in that Cavalier in no time, even though the car sat out in the Texas sun all day

[RobinA]

93. Believe It Or Not

my Mazda's AC is WORSE than the Civic's I had before it, and I considered the Civic AC pretty bad. I almost took the Mazda back the first summer I had it, but after driving the car from Philadelphia to the Outer Banks and having it cool down by the time I was mostly through Virginia, I realized it wasn't broken, it just sucked. Doesn't help the interior is black. Otherwise I looved my Civic, and mostly love my Mazda, except it eats tires.

[DollarBillHines]

3. My '90 560 SEL will still be running when those cars are in salvage yards.

And it will still hit 135MPH, 0-60 on less than seven seconds.

[cherokeeprogressive]

4. My '72 Chevy Blazer will pull them out of ditches all day long.

They all think their front-wheel drives somehow give them magical traction in the snow.

[lumberjack_jeff]

6. I drove my 70 chevelle to work on Thursday.

I'm used to people waving fingers at me so the thumbs-up (I counted 4) was a novelty.

Definitely not a snow vehicle. Got a Subaru loyale 4wd for that.

[cherokeeprogressive]

7. Power windows, automatic headlights, and cruise control...

Who needs 'em?

[lumberjack_jeff]

8. Hell yeah. n/t

[bluedigger]

11. Heck, it's almost nice enough out to take off the roof and doors.

Only in a Jeep.

[cherokeeprogressive]

13. Nuh uh... I can go topless too.

Been talking to a friend who's a killer fabricator about making some fully functional doors out of 1" square stock for the summer time.

[bluedigger]

15. Old school Blazer.

Yup, you're good to go. Don't forget to relocate your mirrors.

[parkia00]

77. It sure will.

As long as you are careful about the notorious plastic chain guides on the M117 engines that can suddenly break and jam an engine in the most unpleasant way. Bruno Succo all the way!

[otherone]

17. VW

I wish VW still made these..

[Mnpaul]

25. They have a really cool version now

but it is expensive. The doubleback

[Marr]

91. I like the ground clearance on the old one. :(

[Warren DeMontague]

33. It's not complete until you slap some Dead stickers on it.

Serious. That was the way to go.

[longship]

18. 1995 Volvo 940 wagon.

Safe, stable, unbreakable drivetrain, comfort, (especially in winter). Over 200,000 miles, drives like a dream. No rattles. Just cannot beat four cylinder Volvos for value. Too bad they stopped making them.

[flvegan]

21. Boring and horrible.

Yes, if you have no clue as to what to buy to get you from A to B, by all means. Get a Toyota/clone car. Easier than thinking, having an opinion or the desire to enjoy the drive.

And keep your slow, plodding ass out of the far left lane.

[Fawke Em]

24. What a nice change!

And I don't mean the tired, old list in the OP.

I mean the support of the newer, innovative and modern American cars!

When I was on DU under a different user name moons ago, the cheerleading from the anti-USA/pro-Toyota crowd drowned out any hope finally seeing that American cars actually provided better-bang-for-your-buck!

How refreshing!

[Sheldon Cooper]

27. They cannot bring themselves to pick an American car, can they?

[alarimer]

30. Their tests are objective and thorough

American cars lack quality. It is noticed all over the world how shoddy they are. Maybe better than they used to be, but not by much.

I trust Consumer Reports above anyone else and I will continue to make purchasing decisions based on what is best for me and my wallet, and not just buy American for feel-good reasons. The fact is 6 years of owning Mazda has resulted in not a single repair bill. Nothing ever went wrong with those cars. Every American car I have owned or my parents have owned has been in the shop repeatedly. Every Dodge or Ford truck I've driven for work has been a piece of shit.

There is literally no American car I would be caught dead in. They are BORING, among other things.

[ieoeja]

65. CU does not test cars. It is just a survey. n/t

[Warren DeMontague]

32. Not everyone sees everything through the lens of a pre-determined ideological agenda.

Maybe they picked the cars they thought were the best. Imagine that.

[Mnpaul]

36. Well the Accord is built here

So is the Odyssey and the CRV. The Accord tops the list with 75% US content.
http://www.cars.com/go/advice/Story.jsp?section=top&subject=ami&story=amMade0712

I don't think any are made with union labor.

[steve2470]

37. that's good information nt

[steve2470]

35. Not a single American vehicle made their list

I'd really like to know their reasons for eliminating American vehicles. Yes, 30 years ago American vehicles arguably had deficiencies. Things have changed pretty drastically since then.

[Sheldon Cooper]

43. They never pick American vehicles.

They've always been extremely snobby about it, too. So I ignore them completely, which is funny because I drive a Mazda.

[One_Life_To_Give]

60. Accord vs Silverado from the underside

By comparison the Silverado was a disappointment from the first look underneath. Accord was all nicely painted everywhere. Chevy already had rust showing, poor paint quality. It did however have grease fittings which Honda didn't bother to put in.

At this point the Honda has given me less grief and still looks better underneath than the truck.

[Kelvin Mace]

63. Really?

Just went over and logged in to my account. The following American models are on CR's "Recommended" list:

Cadillac CTS (V6)
Chevrolet Cruze Eco
Chrysler 300 Limited
Ford Fusion
Lincoln Zephyr, MKZ
Chevrolet Avalanche
Chevrolet Silverado
Dodge Ram 1500 (V8)
Ford F-150 (V8)
Chevrolet Volt
Ford Fusion (Hybrid)
Mercury Milan
Buick Enclave
Chevrolet Equinox (V6)
Chevrolet Suburban
Chevrolet Traverse
Dodge Durango
Ford Expedition
Ford Flex
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Lincoln Navigator

And that was just a cursory look, there are plenty more.

So yes, there are American cars on CR's recommend list. They don't all have the highest scores, but they are recommended.

[steve2470]

66. ah ok

I was commenting on the slideshow list. Thanks for the info.

[Kelvin Mace]

69. The story is going to focus on the top scores

but American cars are routinely recommended. They just don't happen to be in the top scores. I have driven American cars on CR's list, but still prefer the Japanese/Korean cars because they tend to be more "driver friendly".

[justanidea]

52. Only cars worth owning on that list are the BRZ/FR-S

The rest are all slow and boring.

(Except the 328i. And Cadillac ATS > BMW 3-series, IMO)

[Manifestor_of_Light]

53. But they make Japanese cars here!

I have never owned nor wanted a Ford, but I've owned 2 Mazdas, so they probably had a lot of Ford parts, since they've had a partnership for a while.

[JNelson6563]

59. Thanks, I buy union made American cars.

[madokie]

82. The last time I let CR help me make a decision

it was one of the worst decision of my 65 years.
No way will that happen again. In fact I'll pretty much do a one eighty.

[Logical]

100. LOL, no logic in that decision but good for you. Many others would disagree with you. n-t

[Logical]

99. I love my Ohio built accord. And my BIL loves working there. Best job he ever had. n-t