Car of the year goes to the highest bidder

[carman]

Did you guys know that there's a big rumor(and it's probably true) that MT gives car of the year award to the highest bidder?

[Steveo]

I've never heard of that.

But hey, doesn't mean it wouldn't happen.

Å£

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The Artist formally known as Ahkmid Lickachicken.
http://psxi.tripod.com

[paul]

I believe it, I also heard that Porsche pays people off (the people who test their cars for magazines).

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- Lotus -
For The Few Who Know The Difference

[igor@af]

Autos is a DIRTY market my friends, dirtier than politics.
"Money doesn't make an evil person, greed does"

[nizmo]

How the hell else would a shit box like the PT Cruiser get MT Car of the Year?? That thing failed so many collision tests, it built quailty is garbage... yet it is the car of the year. FUQ U MT!!

[JD@af]

All good points.. and while I don't doubt that commercialized magazines like Motor Trend are given money one way or another to endorse certain products or brands, I also do not doubt that the Car of the Year is largely picked by simply the popularity of the new cars on the market.

The PT Cruiser was I'd say the most coveted car on the market (NOT MY ME MIND YOU!!!) this past year. And despite any contingent issues such ability to survive a crash, move with the flow of traffic, etc., MT clearly based the merit points this year on popularity.

They did, for example, pick the 300M in 1999, and I've got nothing bad to say about that. While that too was a popular new model, it is a powerful sports sedan that is very competitive among its peer automobile group. So Mr. Popularity does not always wind up being Prom King.

[HeadBanger]

Well folks, I don't know about you, but I'm not going to rush right out and buy a car just because it's MT's car of the year.
I like to research everything before I buy, especially a car.

Despite how they come up with their final decision, MT is still a great magazine and I'll continue to subscribe..

[Scott85]

I kinda like the PT. Not really by the way it looks, but by what it is overall. It drives nice and has alot of retro styling in the interior. Its comfortable & build quality is good. I'll bet some of you are just "bench racers" and haven't even been in one, let alone drive one. I thought that the car was going to be another piece of Chrysler junk, but its actually a good car/truck/whatever it is.

[i_rebel]

stop the madness . . .

what'd you do? accept a payoff like MT?

Point of this is that Motor Trend is not exactly the best choice of reading material if you're looking for the most objective point of view on automobiles . . .

[hermunn123]

i dont think the PT isnt that bad of a car. i should sure hope so cuz my parents bought one! but how many of you have actually sat in/driven/looked at one??? im not saying its the coolest car ever but i am saying its not bad.

[primera man]

I wasn't a big fan of the PT when it first came out. It was like WTF ???
But after seeing a few around they are starting to grow on me a bit. Still dont think i'd want one though.

I think they are more of a kind of "cult" car maybe.

[vettemaan]

if you belive they take money for it you must be an idiot.

[FYRHWK1]

Originally posted by vettemaan
if you belive they take money for it you must be an idiot.

more like if you don't realize they do you are . . .

it's obvious, anyone who's been reading MT for long enough can see the total shift from domestic only to import only, theres always questions about interiors or handling problems with domestic cars, when the stock Z06 outlapped a stock 911T, they make excuses for the porsche by claiming the porsche driver is more used to driving "race" porsches, not that the Z06 is plain faster. unless the numbers outright make it impossible for them to fudge, assuming they dont purposly slow the car down, they will never admit a domestic is better, car & drive, autoweek, road & track, auto, they're all even worse about it.and if you don't think part of it is payoffs you're living in a dream world.

[|Banchi1O5|]

its obvious that motor trend is the biggest sell out in magazines
every one of their reviews has no usefull information and is completely biased

didnt they used to be owned by the ford motor company back in the 60's?

[SilverLotus340R]

i sure as h%ll wouldn't pay ne money to be named Motor Trend Car of the Year.the mag sux