Sychophantic (and biased) motoring media?
Discussion
So all the reviews of the new 911 Carrera are gushing with praise and seem to ignore the increase in kerb weight (1500KG now for a Carrera S 2WD), turbo lag, lack of throttle response vs the n/a engine and marginal improvement in real world MPG. The 911 is clearly still a brilliant car, but it does seem that the UK motoring press suck up to Porsche in particular, but also BMW, VW and Ferrari, which are the media darlings. We really need a new Clarkson, not the Top Gear version of recent years, but the acerbic Clarkson journalist of his earlier years where he wasn't afraid to give an unpopular opinion. His Vauxhall Vectra review was the stuff of legend and perhaps cruel but it did force Vauxhall to up their game a bit. Does anyone else feel that the motoring press are increasingly lazy these days and particularly biased towards their favourite brands?
I think the only way people can form an opinion is to drive the car themselves.
Far too many people have an agenda, and will stick to it when doing reviews etc. They are probably scared that if they say something negative, they won't get the next car to take a look at.
It's a bit like the gushing praise for a certain motoring journalist (non Top Gear related) on here. To some, he is the best thing ever. Each to their own though.
Far too many people have an agenda, and will stick to it when doing reviews etc. They are probably scared that if they say something negative, they won't get the next car to take a look at.
It's a bit like the gushing praise for a certain motoring journalist (non Top Gear related) on here. To some, he is the best thing ever. Each to their own though.
GreenArrow said:
So all the reviews of the new 911 Carrera are gushing with praise and seem to ignore the increase in kerb weight (1500KG now for a Carrera S 2WD), turbo lag, lack of throttle response vs the n/a engine and marginal improvement in real world MPG. The 911 is clearly still a brilliant car, but it does seem that the UK motoring press suck up to Porsche in particular, but also BMW, VW and Ferrari, which are the media darlings. We really need a new Clarkson, not the Top Gear version of recent years, but the acerbic Clarkson journalist of his earlier years where he wasn't afraid to give an unpopular opinion. His Vauxhall Vectra review was the stuff of legend and perhaps cruel but it did force Vauxhall to up their game a bit. Does anyone else feel that the motoring press are increasingly lazy these days and particularly biased towards their favourite brands?
Jaguar and Landrover seem to be able to do no wrong. 1500kg is not bad considering the new focus rs is 1600kg.Maybe the cars are pretty good? The press hated the 991.1's EPAS and manual 'box, both of which seem to be vastly improved in the new car.
Certain manufacturers make great (driving) cars, notably JLR, Porsche, BMW, Lotus and Caterham. To get a bad review is pretty rare but I do believe the press and the views of certain journalists. In fact, I do base my buying decisions on what they say and have never been disappointed.
Whilst I am not a fan of modern cars in general, I do think certain manufacturers produce some great cars. I would however like to see a proper comparison between new and old e.g. a brand new 991 vs a fit 996 etc. as I do think the new stuff is ultimately not as exciting to drive as older cars, particularly on the road.
Certain manufacturers make great (driving) cars, notably JLR, Porsche, BMW, Lotus and Caterham. To get a bad review is pretty rare but I do believe the press and the views of certain journalists. In fact, I do base my buying decisions on what they say and have never been disappointed.
Whilst I am not a fan of modern cars in general, I do think certain manufacturers produce some great cars. I would however like to see a proper comparison between new and old e.g. a brand new 991 vs a fit 996 etc. as I do think the new stuff is ultimately not as exciting to drive as older cars, particularly on the road.
funkyrobot said:
I think the only way people can form an opinion is to drive the car themselves.
Far too many people have an agenda, and will stick to it when doing reviews etc. They are probably scared that if they say something negative, they won't get the next car to take a look at.
It's a bit like the gushing praise for a certain motoring journalist (non Top Gear related) on here. To some, he is the best thing ever. Each to their own though.
Agreed, personal experience is best. Although having read hundreds of mags I tend to know which writers I can trust to have a similar grasp of cars as myself.Far too many people have an agenda, and will stick to it when doing reviews etc. They are probably scared that if they say something negative, they won't get the next car to take a look at.
It's a bit like the gushing praise for a certain motoring journalist (non Top Gear related) on here. To some, he is the best thing ever. Each to their own though.
There is the point about certain manufacturers taking umbrage with reviews and refusing to let certain mags/writers review their cars......Ferrari and Alfa spring to mind.
There is also the fact that one unfavourable review can 'stick' in the minds of people and become blown out of all proportion. This has certainly happened with some 80s hot hatches and other stuff.
I think going the other way Vauxhall seems to get consistantly average reviews. I had a fiesta eco boost rental which was crap and a Vauxhall Corsa 1.4 rental which was also crap but better than the ford that the press gushes over, worst of all was a VW Polo rental.
Maybe its that I dont spend all day massaging the dash plastics...
Maybe its that I dont spend all day massaging the dash plastics...
Mr2Mike said:
twoblacklines said:
For example AUDI are brilliant but all they get is hate and "go buy a bmw instead innit" comments.
That's because BMWs are (or at least have been) far better drivers cars than anything equivalent that Audi makes.Anything pre 1995 anything that hasn't got a vag badge, any modern German hatchbacks
German big sallon's that are basically just chauffeur cars anything somebody crows about on here
In fact all cars are s
t emphasis on anything vag being the main culprit of corporate overhyped dross with a soft touch cheap plastic dash 
German big sallon's that are basically just chauffeur cars anything somebody crows about on here
In fact all cars are s
t emphasis on anything vag being the main culprit of corporate overhyped dross with a soft touch cheap plastic dash Stickyfinger said:
Mr2Mike said:
twoblacklines said:
For example AUDI are brilliant but all they get is hate and "go buy a bmw instead innit" comments.
That's because BMWs are (or at least have been) far better drivers cars than anything equivalent that Audi makes.I don't want this to be another Audi bashing thread as certain people like that sort of thing but in general they offer very little for the keen driver.
Bit of a stupid question to ask on here in my opinion as most on here value lazy left legs and infotainment as the most important key to a drivers enjoyment oh that and having the fastest drag racing car on public roads 
You won't get any serious answers on here without a load of upset fanboys which is why mostly I like to post a load of tripe
Myself to amuse narcasist self
You won't get any serious answers on here without a load of upset fanboys which is why mostly I like to post a load of tripe
Myself to amuse narcasist self
The mags that focus on sports cars and higher end machinery worry that if they give a negative review, they won't be invited to the next press event.
It's only when a car's successor comes along that you begin to learn about the flaws of the previous generation.
Either you read between the lines and consider what they aren't saying, or you ignore the issue altogether and take whatever's said at face value.
Evo would be pretty screwed if they never got to try out the latest Porsche/Ferrari/Lamborghini etc in the launch events, for instance.
It's only when a car's successor comes along that you begin to learn about the flaws of the previous generation.
Either you read between the lines and consider what they aren't saying, or you ignore the issue altogether and take whatever's said at face value.
Evo would be pretty screwed if they never got to try out the latest Porsche/Ferrari/Lamborghini etc in the launch events, for instance.
SidewaysSi said:
Trying before you buy is all well and good but you can't drive something up to and over its limits on a test drive on the road. Yes, you get a feel for its general ability but a 20 minute test drive is not really sufficient. So yes, I do look for press reviews.
Yeh but you can't drive like that full stop unless your on a track or breaking the law so you could argue what is the point anyway sorry I'm being pedantic, you use all the information available and then adapt that information to suit your requirements, as long as you do that you can't go to wrong just don't get to sucked in to the fashion or what you think willMake you look good as a priority than you can't go to far wrong either sorry I'll stop spouting s
te now carry on loose cannon said:
SidewaysSi said:
Trying before you buy is all well and good but you can't drive something up to and over its limits on a test drive on the road. Yes, you get a feel for its general ability but a 20 minute test drive is not really sufficient. So yes, I do look for press reviews.
Yeh but you can't drive like that full stop unless your on a track or breaking the law so you could argue what is the point anyway sorry I'm being pedantic, you use all the information available and then adapt that information to suit your requirements, as long as you do that you can't go to wrong just don't get to sucked in to the fashion or what you think willMake you look good as a priority than you can't go to far wrong either sorry I'll stop spouting s
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