Screw Consumer Reports

Gary Eickmeier · 2006-03-05T03:13:08+00:00

I just picked up (but did not buy) the famous Consumer Reports auto issue which claims no American car was worthy of its top ten rating. I am particularly interested in their description of my Ford Freestar van.I have driven most of the minivans for sale right now, and my Freestar is right up there with the best. The foreign ones, such as Toyota minivan, are fine but weird. Some of the controls, such as the shift on the dash, are silly. They have some good features, but are not better vehicles than the Fords. I drove the Freestar and thought the ride and handling were so good it was hypnotic. Mine has the DVD player with headphones, electric doors, three-zone air conditioning, and on and on. I am thrilled with it - and its paint is second to none and superior to the foreign ones.I glance at the CR reports on all of the cars and minivans every time they come out with some new issue claiming to review the field. And every time they have the same tired description of the Freestar van. They describe it as not up to the standards of the competition, noisy and rough engine, and unsettled ride. I have no idea where they got these ideas, but Ford should sue the bejeezus out of them, because it just isn't true.I wonder if the American car industry's problems aren't partly due to reports from idiots such as these.Gary Eickmeier