The truth about automotive reviews,...

[donpaolo1]

Sour grapes! Exactly

So why'd he fly to some European country to attend the launch of the M3 before if thats what he feels? I saw that issue when i was getting a haircut some years back.

Yes, I have that issue also. It was the issue or two issues after he bashed the other car mag...inconsistent si boss hehe...well, I bought the nov and dec issues this year and in one of them, he flew to another country (New Zealand i think) to test drive the new Kia Sportage. Probably on Summit Media's expense

now he doesnt complain as much

[dr. d]

people change. priorities change. only the dead don't change their priorities. heh heh.

[niky]

Actually, I don't recall if he started that war, or if the whole thing started when somebody from the other side slated TGP for using press release photos for articles.

The good thing to come out of that other flame war is that TGP now has an excellent group of photographers and photoshoppers on their staff.

[zephaniah]

very interesting thread..

[myk384]

It seems that most automotive reviews here are a bit more on the positive.... Hey!! I want to see something squibbling againstt one car (or negative comments)

Like slow acceleration (even for a V6 one), and the big things, not the small ones (like the cupholders that dont hold a cup of Starbucks Venti sized coffee)

PASSIONATE WRITERS + LESS MEDIA AND ADVERTISING SUPPORT = GOOD AUTO MAG/REVIEW

[ghosthunter]

It seems that most automotive reviews here are a bit more on the positive.... Hey!! I want to see something squibbling againstt one car (or negative comments)

Like slow acceleration (even for a V6 one), and the big things, not the small ones (like the cupholders that dont hold a cup of Starbucks Venti sized coffee)

PASSIONATE WRITERS + LESS MEDIA AND ADVERTISING SUPPORT = GOOD AUTO MAG/REVIEW

Unfortunately most media writers are just employees of magazines and/or of newspapers. Few actually have primary jobs besides being a journalist so keeping in good terms with the car companies keeps them in the "loop".

If you start publishing bad stuff (even its true) about the cars, you will quickly find yourself not being invited to events, launches, testdrives, etc.

From how I have experienced it so far, it's a very political state of affairs.

[tidus1203]

Only TOP GEAR UK seem true to what they believe in cause they get TAX PAYER money to create the show and its the advertisers who want to advertise with them instead of them courting advertisers...

Pero sa local motoring scene, NADA its too small to be vibrant and independent...

[myk384]

Just by browsing the Topgear.com.uk website at grabe ang pagbanat sa mga cars. May iilan hindi pumasa (below 10 out of 20) but iilan ang above 15. Yung mga verdicts nila may humor and comparison nga eh. Edmunds.com ok rin, may iilang kotse na nireview na binigyan ng forget about it (or in translation, check out other alternatives).

If reviewers were as fiery as Clarkson's team, i'll be happy. Tsikot forumers, why not make one??? I want to see the other side of the automotive industry!

[fejilex898]

Nakakatuwa ito, at least buyers would know kung binobola na sila or what? I personally believe that reviews are just there as a guide, people still have different opinions on different things. In the end, ikaw pa din naman ang masusunod eh. Mas okay pa din siguro kung manggagaling talaga siya sa mga araw gumagamit nung sasakyan. Yun sigurado mas credible.

[jut703]

I just stumbled upon this thread, and I feel that it serves to highlight the importance of critical thinking, even in motoring literature. It's very easy to agree with everything written in Top Gear or C! because they're recognized local publications, but as illustrated here, these people have asses to kiss too. Well, all journalists have, but it's a matter of how much ass-kissing you allow to get in the way of an unbiased review.

At the end of the day, it's still all about heavy research (reviews, user input, etc) and critical thinking. Sad though that a lot of buyers don't bother, and these are the people that these sellout journalists prey on.