Are all car review sites bogus?
Discussion
Does anyone do genuine, honest car reviews of run of the mill family cars?
I was reading a review on What Car the other day where car X was criticized for not handling as well as car Y. Go to the review of car Y and it says the exact opposite. I know that reviews are not very objective, but I'm sus on most of the online review sites.
As many cars are based on similar or identical underpinnings, I do wonder if there is really that much difference between them.
So, who does do genuine, unbiased reviews?
I was reading a review on What Car the other day where car X was criticized for not handling as well as car Y. Go to the review of car Y and it says the exact opposite. I know that reviews are not very objective, but I'm sus on most of the online review sites.
As many cars are based on similar or identical underpinnings, I do wonder if there is really that much difference between them.
So, who does do genuine, unbiased reviews?
I think most of them are written by clueless english lit graduates with no interest in cars but no other route into journalism re-phrasing press releases and leaning on a few lazy tropes about interior plastics. Half the time when they try to regurgitate anything technical they heard over their free lunch they get it wrong.
Almost no point in reading them at all anymore.
Almost no point in reading them at all anymore.
I've not bothered with them for years, if I'm interested in anything I spend time on owners forum or Facebook pages. Anything badly wrong shows up pretty quickly, wet belts, rust or structural issues things like that.
As already said the tune changes very quickly so I guess they have an incentive to say the right thing.
As already said the tune changes very quickly so I guess they have an incentive to say the right thing.
richard at home said:
Ha! Yes, pretty much confirmed what I thought!
I'll just pick a few models and go forum hunting, mind you, then you run the risk of only getting horror stories and 'new car owner denial' syndrome!
I think it would help to have some form of unsponsored review system, which in theory should really lend itself to YouTubers borrowing owners cars and reviewing them, but that hasn't worked out as well as it could have.I'll just pick a few models and go forum hunting, mind you, then you run the risk of only getting horror stories and 'new car owner denial' syndrome!
MikeM6 said:
I think it would help to have some form of unsponsored review system, which in theory should really lend itself to YouTubers borrowing owners cars and reviewing them, but that hasn't worked out as well as it could have.
Problem is, if a YouTuber slags off my new model I'm not lending him my next one. And so the problem perpetuates. Unless you're Top Gear levels of fame, you can't really get away with an honest review if it's negative. I remember reading motorcycle reviews when I was younger annd more naive. Clearly looking back they were all absolute b
ks.
Now has 5 valves for more power at higher revs! Fastest bike ever!
Next year… 4 valve head for great torque! Old bike is slow!
Next year… over square bore for more power at higher revs!
Next year… greater stroke for more power in the midrange!
Following year…exhaust valve for more power at higher revs!
Etc
Complete and utter dross
ks. Now has 5 valves for more power at higher revs! Fastest bike ever!
Next year… 4 valve head for great torque! Old bike is slow!
Next year… over square bore for more power at higher revs!
Next year… greater stroke for more power in the midrange!
Following year…exhaust valve for more power at higher revs!
Etc
Complete and utter dross
MikeM6 said:
I think it would help to have some form of unsponsored review system, which in theory should really lend itself to YouTubers borrowing owners cars and reviewing them, but that hasn't worked out as well as it could have.
Problem is that without sponsorship, you'd have to pay for the review.Who is going to do that in the modern day? And the point raised above that without the endorsement of the industry testers won't get invited to release events.
You are absolutely right to be sceptical of many mainstream car reviews—especially from commercial outlets like What Car?, Auto Express, and Carbuyer—because they are often influenced by manufacturer relationships, advertising, and press events. Many reviews feel like recycled PR material, with contradictory handling assessments, vague criticisms, and a lack of real-world perspective.
Also press cars are not the same as the ones you or I would buy off the dealer forecourt. Manufacturers carefully prepare and optimise them, making traditional reviews even less reliable. For example, Porsche is known for having hand-finished press cars, sometimes even slightly tweaked engine maps...and the "journalists" are often "surprised" they are faster than the official figures ...
The best way to get an honest review is to test drive the actual car you want...
Also press cars are not the same as the ones you or I would buy off the dealer forecourt. Manufacturers carefully prepare and optimise them, making traditional reviews even less reliable. For example, Porsche is known for having hand-finished press cars, sometimes even slightly tweaked engine maps...and the "journalists" are often "surprised" they are faster than the official figures ...
The best way to get an honest review is to test drive the actual car you want...
There's always going to be good and bad as well as people that align with your own outlook more that others.
You definitely can't trust them all.
https://www.jalopnik.com/boris-johnson-was-the-wor...
You definitely can't trust them all.
https://www.jalopnik.com/boris-johnson-was-the-wor...
Used to like parkers for reviews back in the day.
Topgear website is completely predictable. Every car will get an 8/10 by default. Point generally deducted if lexus or Toyota. Anything Chinese will be 5 or 6, a reluctant 7 if its a performance one. If its stupidly expensive and hideous to look at but keeps them in a job, then a 9/10, if it's a premium German SUV then a 7.
Carwow quite possibly the worst.
.
Topgear website is completely predictable. Every car will get an 8/10 by default. Point generally deducted if lexus or Toyota. Anything Chinese will be 5 or 6, a reluctant 7 if its a performance one. If its stupidly expensive and hideous to look at but keeps them in a job, then a 9/10, if it's a premium German SUV then a 7.
Carwow quite possibly the worst.
.
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