I have never trusted Consumer Reports. There are just too many variables to measure reliability, etc. However one CAN get clues about a brand's general direction. Most of us would hardly object at the findings of CR when for many years, they rated Honda and Toyota pretty highly and the American automakers relatively low during that period. And in doing so (plus the public's outcry, and the loss of sales) the Americans were prompted to better their quality. Only one that has done so IMO has been Ford.
Having said that, it is also common to hear people "defend" their own particular brand favorite when it shows low ratings. Always "some other way" that they should have evaluated it. It was present in this thread as some defended BMW that way.
Also, simply asking consumers their opinion can be biased in several ways. First the "group" that they selected to ask. Also, how did they "adjust" the findings to better reflect the overall group based upon the relatively few opinions submitted. How were the people giving their opinions selected to participate? How were "occurrences" evaluated? A loose screw certainly may not be as important as a transmission freeze-up. Now-a-days, virtually ANY electronic failure will leave one frustratingly stranded. Also, how did they adjust for human tendencies? For example. people who purchase something, especially something costly, often hide their purchase's faults, because they want to influence someone else to purchase the same thing. Then, on the other hand, people will sometimes go the other direction. One negative experience, and they then want to blast the whole product.
I does seem to me, that the overall tendencies (over a long period of time) show superior reliability from the various Japanese manufacturers (including both motorcycles and autos) and lower satisfactory results from the Euro brands, followed up with the lowest marks for the American made products.
Having said that, it is also common to hear people "defend" their own particular brand favorite when it shows low ratings. Always "some other way" that they should have evaluated it. It was present in this thread as some defended BMW that way.
Also, simply asking consumers their opinion can be biased in several ways. First the "group" that they selected to ask. Also, how did they "adjust" the findings to better reflect the overall group based upon the relatively few opinions submitted. How were the people giving their opinions selected to participate? How were "occurrences" evaluated? A loose screw certainly may not be as important as a transmission freeze-up. Now-a-days, virtually ANY electronic failure will leave one frustratingly stranded. Also, how did they adjust for human tendencies? For example. people who purchase something, especially something costly, often hide their purchase's faults, because they want to influence someone else to purchase the same thing. Then, on the other hand, people will sometimes go the other direction. One negative experience, and they then want to blast the whole product.
I does seem to me, that the overall tendencies (over a long period of time) show superior reliability from the various Japanese manufacturers (including both motorcycles and autos) and lower satisfactory results from the Euro brands, followed up with the lowest marks for the American made products.