This may have to be in 2 poarts due to size
Some years back Consummers Digest called and talked to me about receiving their "award". As I recall, the basic gist of the conversation, or their "schpeal" (their words were very carrefully chosen) translated to, if I gave them something like $10k they would test our hot tubs and allow me to use their logo for a year (if so awarded). They had no interest in "testing" our hot tubs if I wouldn't commit first to paying to use their logo "if" it was awarded to us.
Consumers reports........... yes they accept no advertising. BUT, did you know they accept donations? Here's some interesting stuff I've aquired over the years..............;
This is the "educated opinion of someone who's post was found on a totally unrelated message board;
Consumer Reports results are more common sense or tainted.
Many years ago they published an early review of scientific calculators and downrated the HP's because of their reverse Polish computation method. A raft of letters from scientists convinced them that they had used the wrong criteria to rate the calculators and they changed their ratings.
They compare apples to oranges; a $299 drill versus a $29 drill. It does not take a mental giant to figure out the better made of the two. But is average Joe going to buy the $299 drill or is that for a professional?
A taller than wide vehicle is liable to roll over. Wow, earth shattering news. This would also be true for the old VW and army jeeps, based on poor wheel support rather then logical observation, but I never saw them report it.
Every time they judge glass cleaners, half the article boasts their home mixture is better and cheaper. I have tried it; it does not work as well as the Gunk glass cleaner I use on my windshield, not even close.
I have read that they have accepted six figure donations from Honda, and I have to wonder, do they always rank Honda the best car because of fact or .... Have you ever noticed how a new model Honda has a top mark in reliability based on manufacturer reputation, while others get a N/A or average mark?
I am not saying all they have to say is useless, it does give you some insight into products, but CR does not play fair ball with the ratings far too often. You cannot place a $100 item in the same category as a $1000 item and expect it to be better. They always decide one of the higher end items are better, but does average Joe need to spend or can afford to spend the money on the higher priced unit? Is a Miata going to compete on even ground versus the Aston Martin Vanquish? And which should average Joe buy?
But they fail to take that last question into consideration. Yet they rate products together that have extreme cost differences.
As for accuracy, obviously if they report that a specific model of car is going to be made, they know something no one else on the planet seems to know. Was this a scientific observation, inside information that BMW shared only with them, or just the misguided opinion of the writer? And how much of that flows over into their product ratings? Is that little circle ratings thing more opinion than fact?
I have purchased products they rated as one of the best and been woefully disappointed, and been delighted on products that they have downgraded for one reason or another, the reason never becoming apparent to me after years of use.
After a few years, I started wondering if the ratings had some hidden agenda to facilitate their conclusions and had to stop paying for their statements of the obvious, opinions, apples to oranges comparisons, and sometimes misguided speculation.
Just my humble opinion based on my observations and experience.
