Are local auto reviewers biased? unbiased? neither?

[midinite]

What do you think? Are they biased (as in bought by the auto manufacturers to support specific marques), unbiased (as in capable of telling it like it is) or neither (as in not boat-rockers and will not say anything bad about any marque in fear of advertiser reprisal). Or could there be an "other" let us know.

It may seem like a sweeping statement but it is more the norm rather than the exception we are looking at here. What do you think? it could be validating...or even eye-opening

[ghosthunter]

put it this way, if an automotive "jounalist" publishes a not-so-good review (but truthful) review about a car, he would find it hard to get items for future articles.

[midinite]

put it this way, if an automotive "jounalist" publishes a not-so-good review (but truthful) review about a car, he would find it hard to get items for future articles.

interesting. guess they have more "difficult" jobs than food critics or movie critics...wonder if the public gets the full picture then? would it be safe to assume it is similar in more developed countries?

[OTEP]

Dito sa Tsikot unbiased naman ang reviews ng mga road warriors dito. The reviews are usually stickied on top of the forums.

But most so-called 'automotive journalists' are really crappy. Magaling lang kumopya sa brochure. Just read all the recent Avanza articles. Iisa ang layout. Pati yung mga quotes pareho. Halatang galing sa presskit.

[russpogi]

I agree with GH and Doc on this. When it comes to automotive reviews, I trust Niky and Carlo on this. Or para masaya, sama na lang ako sa kanila during test drives.

[ghosthunter]

interesting. guess they have more "difficult" jobs than food critics or movie critics...wonder if the public gets the full picture then?

The public normally doesn't get the full picture until they have bought the car and stuck with it, especially if its a lemon of a car.

would it be safe to assume it is similar in more developed countries?

A bit but to a much lesser degree since in other countries, there are simply more car brands & models to choose from. This creates more competition from the car makers to get their cars noticed so they will try to put their best foot forward so the magazines will choose their car to be included in the next issue.

Compare the number of car makers & the number of car models in North America to what we have here. Kinda boring, right?

[ghosthunter]

I agree with GH and Doc on this. When it comes to automotive reviews, I trust Niky and Carlo on this. Or para masaya, sama na lang ako sa kanila during test drives.

One of the better ways to know about a car you are potentially buying is to do a test drive. Some car makers have a test drive weekend and others will actually have a test unit you can drive (road test) from their showrooms.

[midinite]

unfortunately pundits in the car industry claim that local consumers are generally nahihiya to test drive since they think they are obligated to buy if they do...it is more a mindset. that is why they rely on the word of others...now if what is generally being conveyed here is true...would the auto "journalist" be doing the consumer a disservice given the "power" they have...wouldnt it be better if they just say...read the brochure...plus if allegations are true arent they just wasting newspaper/magazine space and paper?

maybe they should put - "these are lifted from/ based on the press release from (insert car brand here)"

[nugundam93]

hahahahaha isang tumataginting na "afraid to rock the boat".

[tr1ck5h07]

unfortunately, bluntness and hard facts are incongruent with most auto reviews on tv and print.

[midinite]

what do you think of jeremey clarkson? who of the motor press do you find credible, if any? because from the sound of it the consensus has it that the majority are already "tainted".

[Chip]

A related thread:

http://tsikot.yehey.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28977

My opinion, as stated there, remains the same, i.e. most journalists are afraid to bite the hand that feeds them.

Plus, baka mabugbog ka pa if you say something against a certain brand as Top Gear Editor Vernon Sarne very well knows :
http://tsikot.yehey.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26200

[IMm29]

The public normally doesn't get the full picture until they have bought the car and stuck with it, especially if its a lemon of a car.

I agree. If you were to rely on just the reviews by our so-called automotive journalists, you wouldn't get much more information than what's in the press kit. You'll hear a lot of praises, and just the token rant, so that the article doesn't sound too biased. Then again, why bite the hand that feeds you.

A bit but to a much lesser degree since in other countries, there are simply more car brands & models to choose from. This creates more competition from the car makers to get their cars noticed so they will try to put their best foot forward so the magazines will choose their car to be included in the next issue.

Compare the number of car makers & the number of car models in North America to what we have here. Kinda boring, right?

Since we're stuck with a relatively shorter list of brands and models to choose from, the car manufacturers, especially the big and hot selling ones, can throw their weight around. If they lend you a unit and you don't make it sound like a good buy, then good bye to your next article.

[OTEP]

what do you think of jeremey clarkson? who of the motor press do you find credible, if any? because from the sound of it the consensus has it that the majority are already "tainted".

Jeremy Clarkson is Jeremy Clarkson. Not everyone has to be like him to make it in the motoring world. Mas panget pa kung lalabas na parang trying hard to be JC.

I find Car and Driver credible enough. They're a good all around magazine. They test everything from econobox to exotica and everything in between.

[mbeige]

Consumer Reports is very objective with their tests, for one.

[OTEP]

Consumer Reports is very objective with their tests, for one.

They're ok as an all around magazine (they even test toasters!). They do have their hits and misses but if you are not really an enthusiast, it's a good rag.

[midinite]

Then again, why bite the hand that feeds you.

Question lang. Isnt the hand that feeds them the public since it is the public who buys the newspapers and mags? and the public they are meant to "serve". Eh di what is the point of writing a "review" when all they should say is why dont you get a brochure and pick it up in the showroom. Just a thought.

However, there are those who can argue that it is advertisers that feed the papers and mags.

Well whichever way you look at it...it probably isnt the car maker who loses out. But then again that is just an opinion.

[OTEP]

Eh di what is the point of writing a "review" when all they should say is why dont you get a brochure and pick it up in the showroom. Just a thought.

Most newspaper motoring sections are pointless. Of course they have to have a 'motoring' section para 'kumpleto' ang diyaryo. Para may mabasa yung mga wala naman masyadong alam sa sasakyan. Sort of like the 'medical' section ng diyaryo. Minsan puro pointless din ang sinasabi.

If a journalist makes a bad review, hindi na siya imbitado sa next launching, wala na siyang junkets abroad, wala nang access sa test unit, etc. Hindi naman ito parang restaurant review na pwede ka na lang basta pumasok sa resto.

Dito lang sa Tsikot minsan nanghihiram pa ng sasakyan mula sa fellow Tsikoteer for testing purposes. hehehe. Wala naman kami sa payroll ng automakers.

[Galactus]

The moment a motoring journalist accepts a free junket from a carmaker, he has crossed over to the dark side. Expect no bad reviews for that automaker's brands. Pag babasahin mo nga yung mga columns nila, proud pa sila to say that they are currently in some exotic place, all expense paid, courtesy of their sponsor.

Buti pa yung ibang food critics, sometimes incognito sila pag kumain sa restaurant (and they pay for their meals), para unbiased talaga yung reporting.

[Alpha_One]

Question lang. Isnt the hand that feeds them the public since it is the public who buys the newspapers and mags? and the public they are meant to "serve". Eh di what is the point of writing a "review" when all they should say is why dont you get a brochure and pick it up in the showroom. Just a thought.

However, there are those who can argue that it is advertisers that feed the papers and mags.

Well whichever way you look at it...it probably isnt the car maker who loses out. But then again that is just an opinion.

Yes, actually, advertisers actually contribute a pretty big chunk of the revenue pie. Moreso for newspapers I believe... that P18 (for a broadsheet) is only for the paper and some!

Anyway, my opinion is that local automotive "reviews" (especially newspaper ones) are more of an announcement of the existence of a certain car model than an actual review (i.e. press release). Also, I firmly believe that there's no substitute for doing your homework.

As for Jeremy Clarkson, he's the most biased automotive journalist there is... but that's why we love him (or hate him for some of you out there). Honestly though, he does show a lot of interest in topics related to engineering<message gets cut due to OTness>