Consumer Reports

[Peterfurlan]

Just received Consumer Reports 2011 Auto Issue and under used cars to
avoid are the 2003 to 2005 Thunderbirds. The 2002 did not make the list so
is the 2002 the better car? The list is based on reliability and covers cars from 2001 to 2010.
On the brighter side there is an article which states Ford rules Detroit.
Anyone looking for a good used driver check out the Fusion could not believe
the ratings for this car right there with Honda and Toyota.

[jerrym3]

Re: Consumer Reports

Since it's so similar, how did the Lincoln LS get rated?

[2K2BIRD]

Re: Consumer Reports

Let me guess, virtually all the best used cars were Japanese?

I bet it was killing them to give the Fusion a good rating. As soon as they can they will change it. They gave the T-bird good ratings until it became popular to bash them.

CR is a great way to find a good toaster.

[Peterfurlan]

Re: Consumer Reports

Since it's so similar, how did the Lincoln LS get rated?

The only Lincoln LS on the list was the 2004.

There is also a worst of the worst list and I'm happy to say there are no Ford
products on that list. GM and Chrysler have that list sewed up.

[jerrym3]

Re: Consumer Reports

Was the 2004 LS on the "avoid" list?

If it was, I concur.

[Gobird]

Re: Consumer Reports

Paul, You got that right. That's why I canceled my subscription to them about 15yrs. ago.

[law]

Re: Consumer Reports

According to Consumer reports the Japanese should have Won,WW II. BUT
The Grumman F6F & Lockheed P38 had 12 to 1 Kill rate over the GREAT Mitsubishi A6M.

[V8 Cat]

Re: Consumer Reports

Doesn't CR get their data on the reliability of non-current vehicles from the questionaires they send to subscribers very year. I know I get mine and fill it out on the vehicles I have that fit the parameters. They are only reporting what is sent to them by consumers that own these cars. Tell me what is wrong with that? From reading the reliability charts and reviewing the used cars they recommend and those they say to avoid and seeing that those suggestions are from the data they get from readers, I give it some weight. If you just read a lot of the threads and posts on TBN, it would look to the observer that the Tbirds have quite a few problems - some pretty expensive ones if you aren't under a warranty.I know at one time CR recommended the Tbird, but that was probably before the COPs issue came up. What is strange is the the 2002s aren't listed with the 2003-2005s. This could be because they don't have significant/enough data from the 2002s or there were truly fewer problems. I have a theory that it could be the 2002's are more reliable because everyone at Ford all the way down to the assembly line workers were excited about the "halo" vehicle and tried hard to make it great, but when that initial buzz wore-off and the workers realized it wasn't going to continue, they let the quality slide. I do think CR is just reporting facts taken from their readers experiences so that is why I am a long-term subscriber.

[Gobird]

Re: Consumer Reports

Claude, You're entitled to your opinion about CR but I disagree. On your other point, I do think there was a lot more care on the line and with Ford trying to make sure they got the 02 right.

[Southern]

Re: Consumer Reports

Well....if you are going to replace every COP on every Bird.... ONE AT A TIME...........What do you expect the reliability numbers to look like?

[E'sBird]

Re: Consumer Reports

Some time ago on another forum a person wrote: "In 2002 Ford believed it had a Thunderbird. By 2003 Ford discovered it had an Albatross."

We (I include myself) are devoted T-Birder. We are committed to this car no matter what...at least for me. Admittedly the COPs have been a real pain and some of the repairs are difficult. Some maintainence is impossible, like the tranny. Still there is something about driving a Retro-Bird. Personally, I am sold on the car.

[Gobird]

Re: Consumer Reports

I don't know but maybe I fall into this category. They say that manufactures make cars and there is always 1 in 100 or maybe 1 in 1000 that are always better then the others but I can't complain at all with my 02.

[jerrym3]

Re: Consumer Reports

My local dealer says that the TBird's mechanical twin, the Lincoln LS, has/had quality issues.

I, for one, am not changing all the COPS out as long as they are under extended warranty.

[steelblue5505]

Re: Consumer Reports

I have absolutely nothing to complain about with my 2005.
I really to not know what quality issues the retros have. Are the COPs really a problem greater than other autos? If I recall we had a survey not too long ago about the COPs & failure by year.
http://www.thunderbirdnest.com/forum...ght=COP+Survey


It has been my sole employment to be in customer service (the corporation I retired from doesn't matter) point is I have learned it is far far easier for people to complain than to compliment. Which makes automobile based web sites like TBN a great place is to be able to vent & discuss problems. These problems become paramount among the members or owners of the auto and thus the car can become perceived as being problematic when actually they are not.

We all don't think about the good stuff because it is almost taken for granite or expected but let something go wrong and we easily recall the moment and often speak of it with great negativity. It is human nature.

IMHO the retro Bird is a great car and CR magazine can go stuff it!

[V8 Cat]

Re: Consumer Reports

IMHO the retro Bird is a great car and CR magazine can go stuff it!

I still do not understand the criticism toward Consumer Reports. They are only compiling complaints by OWNERS of these cars. The TBird owners that submit the surveys with the complaints are resposible for anything negative published in the magazine in their reliability studies. If you want to look for other trusted non-biased reliability studies on autos, I guess the JD Power and Assoc. reliability studies would be a great place to go.