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]

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.

[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?

[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.

[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.