Consumer Reports articles from April 2003

Consumer Reports archives from April 2003

Your letters.
April 1, 2003... Cell phones February's guide to cell phones was great. Now that you've let me easily decide on a new provider (T-Mobile), I will be dropping Sprint. Also, please help pressure the Federal Communications Commission so that phone number...

0-50 years: five decades of consumer reports' annual auto issue. (Introduction).
April 1, 2003... In 1953, the automobile was a far less sophisticated machine than it is today. But one thing has remained the same throughout the past 50 years. As CONSUMER REPORTS' editors observed in the May 1953 issue: "There is no denying the overriding...

Mazda6. (First Look).
April 1, 2003... One of the more anticipated new family sedans is the car on our cover: The Mazda6, successor to the aging 626. We had originally planned to include it in our test of family sedans in January, but it wasn't on sale in time. We've since tested...

Mind that blind spot. (Safety Alert).
April 1, 2003... Kids 'N Cars, a consumer organization working to make it safer for children to be around cars, is calling attention to the problem of the blind spot-that area behind the vehicle that you can't see from the driver's seat. The organization...

Don't let special offers stop you from haggling. (Buying Advice).
April 1, 2003... In our recent survey of new-car buyers, respondents who said they negotiated the price typically saved around $1,709. Surprisingly, 38 percent didn't negotiate, which is up from 30 percent two years ago. Many felt--or were told--that the...

Best bets for under $25,000. (New Cars).
April 1, 2003... A low price doesn't always denote a good value in a car. That's why we put together our list of recommended vehicles costing less than $25,000. To make the list, a recent version of the vehicle must have performed well in our tests, have...

Would you buy that car again? (Reader Report).
April 1, 2003... Owners can provide some of the nest information about a vehicle. That's why in our Annual Questionnaire, we ask subscribers, "Considering all factors (price, performance, reliability, comfort, enjoyment, etc.), would you buy this car if you...

Top picks for 2003: the best models in 10 categories. (Top Picks).
April 1, 2003... Every year, about 45 to 50 vehicles are put through CONSUMER REPORTS' rigorous testing procedure, the most comprehensive of any American publication. From the nearly 160 vehicles for which we currently have test scores, CR'S auto experts have...

New for 2004: a look ahead at new or redesigned models coming this year. (Auto Trends).
April 1, 2003... Most new models emphasize versatility, performance, or both. About 30 new or significantly redesigned models were introduced for 2003, about 20 of which were sport-utility vehicles. For 2004, there's a more balanced spread of new SUVs,...

Blinded by the light: glare from those chic blue HID headlights has many drivers seeing red. Here's why some lights can be a problem and what you can do.
April 1, 2003... Odds are, you love high-intensity discharge (HID) headlights if they're on your vehicle. Lighting tests we've begun as part of our vehicle evaluations show that low-beam HID lights flood the roadway with a wider, brighter, more uniform light...

Tricks of the trade: resist these dealer ploys that squeeze you for more cash than you should pay. (Buying Tips).
April 1, 2003... You want a great car at a great price. The dealer wants to make as much profit as he can. "Any question you pose them about dealer cost or car reliability is always answered like this: 'What response will give us the biggest profit right...

5 tips for buying that new car: expert advice from David Champion, Director of Auto Testing and The Consumer Reports New Car Price Service.
April 1, 2003... 1 Learn the lowest cost Get the Consumer Reports Wholesale Price Here's the real key to your deal: you must find out what the dealer paid for the car so you can negotiate the price you'll pay for it. You have to find out this...

Looking back: special 50th anniversary section.
April 1, 2003... When CONSUMER REPORTS published its first cover-to-cover auto issue in 1953, the automotive world was a dramatically different place. This year we cover a 210-vehicle mix of cars, pickups, minivans, and SUVs. By comparison, our May '53 issue...

Facts and figures.
April 1, 2003... DIMENSIONS Turning circle is the clearance required by the front bumper for a U-turn; a 35- to 40-foot circle lets you turn around in a two-lane road. Weight and % weight front/rear are usually measured on our scales. Some data come from...

Which cars are safer? The CR Safety Assessment compares 85 vehicles in terms of accident avoidance, crash protection, and overall safety. (Safety).
April 1, 2003... Many factors determine the safety of a vehicle. Prime among them are how well it can help you avoid an accident and how well it protects you in a crash. To compare the overall safety of a particular model, you would typically have to go to...

How to read the vehicle profiles: here's the key information to look for in our 210 vehicle profiles.
April 1, 2003... The vehicle profiles that begin on the next page contain a variety of information to help you make a sound car-buying decision. They cover all major 2003 and early-2004 models that are available or will be soon. In each profile, you'll find...

How to read the vehicle profiles. (A-C).
April 1, 2003... Acura CL Body style: Coupe Trim lines: Base, Type-S Price: 52B,200-530,550 Rellability: ** Satisfaction: ** Depreciation: NA This front-drive coupe is a two-door version of Acura's TL sedan. It's a sportier...

How to read the vehicle profiles. (D-I).
April 1, 2003... Dodge Caravan/Grand Caravan Body style: Minivan regular, minivan extended Trim lines: SE, SXT, Sport, eL, eX, ES Price: S20,235-$34,9B5 Reliability # Satisfaction: O Depreciation: # The Caravan and extended-length Grand...

How to read the vehicle profiles. (J-M).
April 1, 2003... Jaguar S-Type Body style: Sedan Trim lines: 3.0,4.2, R Price: S41,850-S61,755 Reliability: ## Satisfaction: O Depreciation: O Beneath its distinctive Jaguar styling, the S-Type is a pleasant but unexceptional...

How to read the vehicle profiles. (N-V).(Product/Service Evaluation)
April 1, 2003... Nissan 350Z Body style: Convertible, coupe Trim lines: Base, Enthusiast, Touring. Performance, Track Price: $26,269-$37,000 E Reliability: New Satisfaction: New Depreciation: NA The new-for-2003 350Z two-seater...

Which vehicles hold up? Feedback on almost half a million cars gives us hard data on reliability. (Reliability).
April 1, 2003... Reliability is one of the most difficult aspects of a vehicle to evaluate, yet it's one of the most important. Our annual survey of almost 3.5 million subscribers provides the most comprehensive reliability information available. The 2002...

Reliability new cars: our in-depth data let us predict how this year's models will fare.
April 1, 2003... The comprehensive reliability histories we compile each year on more than 200 cars, minivans, sport-utility vehicles, and trucks not only give us a detailed picture of how those vehicles have fared, but also allow us to look ahead to predict...

The best and worst used cars.
April 1, 2003... Cars tend to be much more reliable than they were even 20 years ago. Nevertheless, buying any used vehicle entails some risk. You can limit that risk by buying a car with a proven record of reliability. These lists can guide you to reliable...