Is MOTOR™ Magazine Biased??

[nicko_bud]

I picked up the October Motor mag with the "Bang for Bucks" on it.. It seemed Holden polled favourable in most categories. It got me thinking about the other test MOTOR has done re Ford vs Holden and there outcomes..

The question??

Is the Blue Oval getting a fair run in this publication or do I just hate holdens so much its just paranoia?

[Mr Mooch]

I read the article and it seems that the Commodore is blessed in every category. We just got back from Bathurst and my Holden driving/supporting mate thought that my BF XR8 was one of the nicest cars he had every driven.
Motor just seems to be a little biased toward anything with a Holden Badge.

Mr Mooch

[4Vman]

Originally Posted by Mr Mooch

We just got back from Bathurst and my Holden driving/supporting mate thought that my BF XR8 was one of the nicest cars he had every driven.
Motor just seems to be a little biased toward anything with a Holden Badge.

Mr Mooch

Had exactly the same experience, just spent 18 hours driving to and from Bathurst in my BAXR8 with my One eyed Holden mate who owns a Maloo ute and a VYSS and i couldnt get him out of the drivers seat, he said its such a good car that he prefers it over his SS...

[Sapper]

They're journo's. Just remember that they don't have to live with the cars that they drive so they never give the complete picture. Just like having one night stands. I don't think that they're biased towards holdens but i also don't think that their opinions are accurate in any shape or form.

[nicko_bud]

Originally Posted by hot xr6

They're journo's. Just remember that they don't have to live with the cars that they drive so they never give the complete picture. Just like having one night stands.

Yeah your right... just wish they would look at the big picture instead of this goes from here to her the quickest so it is the best..

Originally Posted by aualright

They have been very favourable to Ford in the last couple of years. I haven't bought many issues this year, but previous to that I used to buy it every month for 'bus' reading and I never thought they were bias against Ford.

Maybe its just beacause of the VE launch.. but honestly after driving HSV's and then getting driving a GT or a Typhoon i dont know how they can honestly rate HSV's the winner just because it goes faster

[xr8ute]

Possibly paranoid.

Although, maybe Holden are better at "preparing" their demo cars (for magazines) than Ford.

[McobraR]

Not biased thats for sure, remember when the BA came out they were praising it as well. These journo's drive many different cars so im pretty sure they have an idea whether a car handles and rides better than another.
Mr Mooch, has your friend driven the new VE? he can say the XR8 is the nicest car he's driven, but if he hasnt driven a VE then his comments are basically n/a in this thread which is talkin about the Motor comparison between VE SS and BF XR8

[TZENU]

Originally Posted by xr8ute

Although, maybe Holden are better at "preparing" their demo cars (for magazines) than Ford.

I believe that to be the answer to the question... But what makes them better prepared?

or Maybe a little cash under the table? :

[aualright]

They have been very favourable to Ford in the last couple of years. I haven't bought many issues this year, but previous to that I used to buy it every month for 'bus' reading and I never thought they were bias against Ford.

[Full Spectrum]

I have found both mags to be very contradicting at times with what they right on both sides.
But the VE is in every way better then it's predecessor and it's showing.

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by SlickHolden

I have found both mags to be very contradicting at times with what they right on both sides.
But the VE is in every way better then it's predecessor and it's showing.

Holden just hopes that it sells on the showroom floor.

[Full Spectrum]

Originally Posted by vztrt

Holden just hopes that it sells on the showroom floor.

I think the days of 7000 units in a month is long gone. But 5000+ will be the go now if they can keep it up?. So far it's doing OK and they are getting around.

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by SlickHolden

I think the days of 7000 units in a month is long gone. But 5000+ will be the go now if they can keep it up?. So far it's doing OK and they are getting around.

Remember the 5000 units will inc VZ's. I'm just hearing talk that Holden have been very worried in the last two weeks with dealers not wanting more VE's in their yard.

[nicko_bud]

pick me pick me... my bosses work car is a VE SS... it still sounds like a fart in a funnel

[Donut King]

How many of the people here claiming biases have actually been and driven both examples, or even 1 of the examples? I'm talking a proper test drive too, not a round the block special with a dealer demonstrator.

As someone who was a motoring journalist (no, not with a high end mag like Wheels or Motor - but that doesn't matter) who actually got to drive a variety of offerings from both Holden and Ford you'd be surprised at the differences you find. Unfortunately in a test like Bang For Your Buck the Holdens are going to score better than their Ford equivalent because they are stronger in more of the relevant areas. It's just a fact of life we have to deal with until Ford fix that narrow powerband of the BOSS engines

[MON10A]

take this one we prepared earlier,test cars are usually had special treatment prior to jernos getting them.i had to do a few in qld a few years ago. ford and holden need to lift there game average quality in both for what you pay.

[Grasshoppr]

I love this type of crap... :

Anytime Ford loose a camparision some people on here cry, "biased magazines" : No one complains when they print "F6 - Wins PCOTY"

We do know that Holden (with proof from Motor magazine) have previously provided them with "enhanced" cars for certain tests but that is hardly the fault of the magazine.

Can everyone just accept that sometimes... SHOCK HORROR... the Ford is not the best car in the camparison... as someone else stated when the BA came out it was the Holden guys who cried that the magazine was biased to Ford and they had paid huge bucks to ensure they finally won something. Jsmilie:

[XAGSV8]

Originally Posted by BLKPhoon

I love this type of crap... :

Anytime Ford loose a camparision some people on here cry, "biased magazines" : No one complains when they print "F6 - Wins PCOTY"

We do know that Holden (with proof from Motor magazine) have previously provided them with "enhanced" cars for certain tests but that is hardly the fault of the magazine.

Can everyone just accept that sometimes... SHOCK HORROR... the Ford is not the best car in the camparison... as someone else stated when the BA came out it was the Holden guys who cried that the magazine was biased to Ford and they had paid huge bucks to ensure they finally won something. Jsmilie:

I'm with him. Get over it.

[Dave_au]

Originally Posted by BLKPhoon

I love this type of crap... :

Anytime Ford loose a camparision some people on here cry, "biased magazines" : No one complains when they print "F6 - Wins PCOTY"

We do know that Holden (with proof from Motor magazine) have previously provided them with "enhanced" cars for certain tests but that is hardly the fault of the magazine.

Can everyone just accept that sometimes... SHOCK HORROR... the Ford is not the best car in the camparison... as someone else stated when the BA came out it was the Holden guys who cried that the magazine was biased to Ford and they had paid huge bucks to ensure they finally won something. Jsmilie:

Well said. The Falcon is certainly by no means the final word in motor vehicles and some people need to accept that sometimes credit is due elsewhere, which I think has been an issue AFF has struggled with in the past.

[MITCHAY]

I wouldn't buy any of these magazine other than for some pictures of them. Really you're not going to buy a car based on what a magazine says are you? Put your bum in both and come to your own conclusion

[2kool4u]

I think everyone just doesn't like or can't handle the fact that the holden product is better as a performance car (excluding the F6, which motor rate better then the clubby anyway) therefore they accuse MOTOR of being biased.

[merlin]

I think MOTOR is performance biased - there is no secret that the Holdens with the exception fo the XR6T and F6 have had the edge here for a number of years and continue to do so until Ford stops being so conservative.

[Polyal]

Originally Posted by merlin

I think MOTOR is performance biased - there is no secret that the Holdens with the exception fo the XR6T and F6 have had the edge here for a number of years and continue to do so until Ford stops being so conservative.

Yeap I agree, they go with the flavour of the month which is fair enough.

But sometimes what they say shytes me.

Example: That recent test with the VE SS, BF GT, 300C SRT8. At the bottom a negative for the GT was that it looks to much like the normal falcon. Yet for the 300C they said that the design was different, or something like that; I haven't got the mag next to me.

The SRT8 looks excactly the same as a normal 300C other than the badging and rims! The GT makes alot more effort.

Unfortunatley its not one journo that tests one type of car, so even there own guys will condradict themselves.

[Bucket]

Originally Posted by Polyal

Yeap I agree, they go with the flavour of the month which is fair enough.

But sometimes what they say shytes me.

Example: That recent test with the VE SS, BF GT, 300C SRT8. At the bottom a negative for the GT was that it looks to much like the normal falcon. Yet for the 300C they said that the design was different, or something like that; I haven't got the mag next to me.

The SRT8 looks excactly the same as a normal 300C other than the badging and rims! The GT makes alot more effort.

Unfortunatley its not one journo that tests one type of car, so even there own guys will condradict themselves.

I remember Motor Saying that the GT looked the most like A V8 Super Car and the meanest of the Lot... :alien2:

[flappist]

Did any of you people ACTUALLY READ the BYFB or did you just skip to the holden and ford bit?

The VE SS was not the fastest, it was not the quickest, it was not at the top of ANY of the lists at all.

It was, by the parameters of the test at a price of $45,000 (75% of a f6), the best BANG for your buck, not the best performer nor the nicest to drive.
After reading the complete test I agree that by their definition it won.
They also listed previous winners. Almost all are turbo rice bubbles.

If all you want to do is go fast for short periods of time and do not care about comfort, load, economy, safety, resale, style, reliability, or anything else except the MOST stick for the LEAST money in a FACTORY STANDARD motor vehicle then BFYB is a very good guide.

Are MOTOR journos biased? Well they are human (well maybe not Morley) and like all of us the newest toy is always the favorite but despite some of my griping I believe that they do a pretty good job.

I would, however, like to see every car tested get dynoed every time and those dyno figures displayed in the review. This would stop the conspiracy theories (or prevent the dodginess).

[4Vman]

Originally Posted by flappist

Did any of you people ACTUALLY READ the BYFB or did you just skip to the holden and ford bit?

The VE SS was not the fastest, it was not the quickest, it was not at the top of ANY of the lists at all.

It was, by the parameters of the test at a price of $45,000 (75% of a f6), the best BANG for your buck, not the best performer nor the nicest to drive.
After reading the complete test I agree that by their definition it won.
They also listed previous winners. Almost all are turbo rice bubbles.

If all you want to do is go fast for short periods of time and do not care about comfort, load, economy, safety, resale, style, reliability, or anything else except the MOST stick for the LEAST money in a FACTORY STANDARD motor vehicle then BFYB is a very good guide.

Are MOTOR journos biased? Well they are human (well maybe not Morley) and like all of us the newest toy is always the favorite but despite some of my griping I believe that they do a pretty good job.

I would, however, like to see every car tested get dynoed every time and those dyno figures displayed in the review. This would stop the conspiracy theories (or prevent the dodginess).

Thankyou for the logical commonsence post...!
1/4 mile times are focused on too much IMO when looking at what a car has to offer.

[T3ts50]

It depends on which journo writes the article I remember when the tested BA GT against the VY2 GTS, the GT was the winner, a few months later they tested th GT and VY2 Clubbie R8 and the R8 was the winner.

[DJL351]

Not sure where I stand on this one? :

I think they get too caught up in the Hype of the "New Model".
(whatever brand it may be)

I remeber see written - Somethink like:

The BA steering was perfect, yet MkII they say it's not so perfect....
and now the BF is behind the VE.
(rack and P/S part numbers have not changed from BA)

I have driven a VE SS Manual.

* preps flame suit!

Good car! Much better than the VY-VZ.

The motor has the goods, more poke from lower down. (nothing a few mods on a BA-BF can't change... sort of!)
Steering feels weird, but I guess I'd adjust if I had one full time.
Brakes are the same, pedal has nowhere near the "feel" of a Falcon.

Handling is so much better over the VZ. But feel like it is only on par with what we've got now. (BF)

What I have noticed, is poeple expect different things from the same car.
People say the suspension in my GT is too hard... while I'm looking at new springs and shocks to try and sharpen up the old girl.

[Bucket]

Originally Posted by DJL351

Not sure where I stand on this one? :

I think they get too caught up in the Hype of the "New Model".
(whatever brand it may be)

I remeber see written - Somethink like:

The BA steering was perfect, yet MkII they say it's not so perfect....
and now the BF is behind the VE.
(rack and P/S part numbers have not changed from BA)

I have driven a VE SS Manual.

* preps flame suit!

Good car! Much better than the VY-VZ.

The motor has the goods, more poke from lower down. (nothing a few mods on a BA-BF can't change... sort of!)
Steering feels weird, but I guess I'd adjust if I had one full time.
Brakes are the same, pedal has nowhere near the "feel" of a Falcon.

Handling is so much better over the VZ. But feel like it is only on par with what we've got now. (BF)

What I have noticed, is poeple expect different things from the same car.
People say the suspension in my GT is too hard... while I'm looking at new springs and shocks to try and sharpen up the old girl.

My Dad has just taken ownership of a VE Omega (Company Car)
He said that "it drive's ok and is Very quiet."
I walk past a black Omega every day on my way to work...and its sort of like that hot girl with the long middle toe in Shallow Hal...the one that when he looks at her, all he sees is her toe.
The car may look pretty good, but i can't take my eyes off the ride height _

[9lives]

As a subscriber to the mag i find it great but i do think they favour anything new wheather it be ford or holden i think they are giving more notice to the VE because its the latest thing out...

They were spot on with the evo9 winning its section but.... i cannot stress enough how bloody fantastic they are around a track even if a little hard to live with day to day....i cant imagine it with a set of semi slicks (like the sti)wikid car. :sm_headba