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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!houxm!hound!rfg
From: rfg@hound.UUCP (R.GRANTGES)
Newsgroups: net.video,net.consumers
Subject: Re: Consumer Reports
Message-ID: <750@hound.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 21-Nov-84 02:26:21 EST
Article-I.D.: hound.750
Posted: Wed Nov 21 02:26:21 1984
Date-Received: Thu, 22-Nov-84 05:24:52 EST
References: <132@harvard.ARPA> <apollo.230166d2.142>, <2375@mcnc.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Holmdel NJ
Lines: 22

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I think three things I can say about CU may be useful.
1. I think they usually try to be objective and honest.
2. If you feel about your (car,bicycle,stereo,whatever) about the
same way you feel about any appliance (toaster, beater, uwave, etc.) then
use CU's advice unreservedly. You can trust (almost) all of it at that
level of consumer interest. If you feel much more involved with a 
product - or want to become more deeply involved - then read CU, but keep
reading everything else you can find.
3. CU gets into trouble when it goes to its (nonresident) "consultants."
These tend to be opinionated and often have an axe or two to grind.
Best example that comes to me is the horrendous (to me) job 
that CU on the diesel rabbit. After operating one for (years?) they
were unable to figure out how to solve the cold weather starting
"problem." Admitting that even VW didn't seem to know how either
until recently (something I also find unaccountable), this deep secret
has not escaped zillions of Americans who had the genius to ask a
diesel trucker how "they" did it. (Keep your glow plugs working and
use a pour point depressant additive, SAE 5-XX oil will also help
in really extreme conditions). CU, I guess, is honor bound to
accept the views of it's consultants, no matter how stupid.