Are you fooled by these fraudulent ads?

Question

Are you as irritated as I am when you hear a new car or truck commercial in which they say "rated highest in INITIAL quality"?
That statement is absolutely meaningless! Initial quality?
In other words..."it's a great vehicle... until you drive it off the lot!"

You also must ignore claims that J.D. Powers or Car and Driver makes. These companies are in the back pockets of the manufacturers. I would only trust Consumer Reports. They do not accept advertising money.

Answer 1

small print during the first 90 days of ownership. You receive three surveys in the mail one pays you a dollar answer 150 questions one enters you in a sweepstakes you could win prizes! the third asks you to please fill out and return this form all three pages long this is what the initial car quality is from. Hey it is baseless bull. they pay for those advertisements

Answer 2

I actually enjoy car ads--Nissan has some exciting ones--but I don't believe a word. I do use Consumer Reports, but they tend to be a bit on the stodgy and conservative side. In other words, they refuse to acknowledge how much FUN cars are, for people. Of course, they rate my favorite car as FUN and a Good Buy: Mazda MX-5 (used to be called a Miata).

My next car is a Mini Cooper (too old and stiff for the MX-5!) Even if CR doesn't rate it highly--that's what I WANT! I would die if I had to drive a Camry...