Consumer Reports articles from August 2004

Consumer Reports archives from August 2004

Double, double oil and trouble.(have you heard?)
August 1, 2004... The second row of the north parking lot at our Yonkers office is reserved for vehicles we've just tested. As I write, the six small cars you'll read about on page 50 are lined up next to July's crew-cab pickups. Godzilla meets Toro Thumb: At...

Which ones clean without cleaning out your wallet? Our annual laundry wash-off.(Upfront: news trends advice)(Buyers Guide)
August 1, 2004... Drum roll, please. Big-name detergents aren't much better cleaners than their competitors, but they can cost two to three times as much per load. You needn't pay that kind of premium. Look first at one of the CR Best Buys from this...

Can 'light' be luscious?(Claim Check)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2004... The claim: Dreyer's and Edy's new Grand Light ice cream tastes as good as full-fat premium ice cream, the company says. Though it has 50 percent less fat and 33 percent fewer calories than the company's regular ice cream, Grand Light is...

Hate panty hose? Try spray-on stockings.(Upfront: news trends advice)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2004... During World War II, when nylon was scarce, women created faux stockings by painting a seam line up the back of their legs. Today, panty hose are plentiful, but so are women who dislike them, especially in summer. Enter Sally Hansen Airbush...

Good buzz on a new, ultrasonic stain-buster.(Upfront: news trends advice)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2004... Tide Buzz, a new stain-removal system from Procter & Gamble and Black & Decker, uses a cleaning solution and ultrasonic energy to clear stains from clothing before laundering. You insert a bottle of Tide's solution into the unit's base and...

Medicare cards: no match for online prices.(Upfront: news trends advice)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... The Medicare-approved drug discount cards introduced on June 1 promise lower prices on prescription medications. But you can get a better deal by shopping online. We compared the cost of five prescription drugs (which were among the top...

Where the deals are.(Upfront: news trends advice)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
August 1, 2004... Where the deals are How Medicare drug-discount cards compare with two major online discount pharmacy chains. Listed in order of increasing price. DRUG DISCOUNT CARDS DRUGSTORE.COM COSTCO.COM (30 TABLETS)...

Two tiny camcorders not ready for prime time.(Upfront: news trends advice)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2004... The newest type of camcorder doesn't use a tape or a disc. It records onto the same kind of memory card that digital still cameras use. These diminutive products are aimed at people who want a simple way to take the video equivalent of...

National Magazine Award.(Awards for Consumer Reports)(American Society of Magazine Editors)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... CONSUMER REPORTS received a 2004 National Magazine Award, the highest honor in the world of magazines, for our July 2003 cover report, "Pets & Vets." It won in the Leisure Interests category, competing against articles in Bon Appetit,...

Real Estate Editors' Award.(Awards for Consumer Reports)(National Association of Real Estate Editors)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... "Housewrecked," our January 2004 report on the serious hidden defects that plague many newer homes, was named Best General Circulation Magazine Report by the National Association of Real Estate Editors, the only professional association in...

Cell-phone complaints: a sorry picture for AT&T.(Upfront: news trends advice)(AT&T Wireless Services Inc.)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Complaint data obtained from the Federal Communications Commission by Consumers Union, publisher of CONSUMER REPORTS, show that AT&T Wireless had significantly more complaints than any other national wireless-phone carrier in 2003. The FCC...

First look.(Upfront: news trends advice)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2004... Product: Volvo $40 Full report: December 2004 The original $40, introduced as a 2000 model, delivered good acceleration, braking, and safety equipment, but it was expensive, cramped, and noisy. The new version is significantly...

Electric espresso makers might explode.(recalls & safety alerts)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Hamilton Beach is recalling more than 20,000 Cappuccino Plus espresso and cappuccino makers because the steam tube inside the appliance could burst under pressure and shower someone nearby with hot water. The problem is likely to occur...

Arctic Flash, Arctic Wind, and Air Elegance air-hockey tables.(Children's Products)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Blower motor under table has opening large enough for child's finger, posing laceration hazard. Products: 15,000 air-hockey tables sold since 1994 at sporting goods and specialty stores for $1,000 to $2,200. Arctic Flash has overhead...

Baby Trend "Passport" strollers sold at Babies "R" Us stores.(Children's Products)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Stroller could collapse, allowing baby to fall out. Products: 11,300 strollers made 7/10/03 to 11/26/03 and sold through 2/04 for around $30. Recall involves only strollers bearing model number 1514 and "SKN" number 190554. Those numbers...

"Trails End," "Cottage Retreat," and "Stages" bunk beds made by Ashley Furniture Industries.(Children's Products)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Pose strangulation hazard. Products: 22,476 bunk beds sold at furniture stores nationwide from '00 to 2/04. Recall involves the following: Trails End models B383-58T (about $700) and B383-57T ($300), sold since 12/00; Cottage Retreat...

'98-04 Audi (various models).(Vehicles And Equipment)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... If driver's knees push against knee bolster under the dashboard, electrical short circuit and tire could occur. Models: 172,866 cars including A6, S6, and Allroad Quattro, made 8/97 to 2/04. What to do: Have dealer install protective...

'03-04 Buick Rendezvous.(Vehicles And Equipment)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Rear liftgate could open in severe crash, allowing occupant to be ejected from vehicle. Models: 103,956 sport-utility vehicles made 9/02 to 3/04. What to do: Have dealer reinforce liftgate in area adjoining latch assembly.

'04 Cadillac SRX.(Vehicles And Equipment)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Antilock brakes might not respond as quickly as expected, resulting in increased stopping distances. Models: 11,375 sport-utility vehicles made 3/03 to 1/04. What to do: Have dealer reprogram ABS electronic control unit.

'04 Chrysler Pacifica.(Vehicles And Equipment)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Engine could stall suddenly, increasing risk Of crash. Models: 34,561 sport-utility vehicles with NGC-1 powertrain control module made 1/03 to 7/03. What to do: Have dealer install revised engine controller software, which will...

'00-03 Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable.(Vehicles And Equipment)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Rear stop lamps could stay on all the time of not come on at all, confusing drivers following the car and, possibly, lead to crash. Also, if stop-lamp switch or associated wiring fails, driver may not be able to move shifter out of Park of...

Our independence matters to you.(recalls & safety alerts)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Did you know that CONSUMER REPORTS accepts no paid advertising? In fact, unlike our competitors, CONSUMER REPORTS accepts no free samples of the products it reviews, no free trips, no free lodging, no freebies at all. CR is published by...

The trouble with recalls.(CR Investigates)
August 1, 2004... A dangerous, defective, or unhealthful product could be in your driveway, kitchen, playroom, or medicine cabinet right now--even though it has been subject to a government recall. In recent years, the number of recalls has risen...

Custom kitchens for less: lower prices and a little legwork make luxury affordable.
August 1, 2004... You can easily spend $100,000 for a kitchen remodel like the kind you see in home-decor magazines. Or you can spend a fraction of that price for a kitchen that only looks as if you splurged, thanks to an array of sleek, top-performing...

Kitchen cabinets: 'custom' goes mainstream.(Buyers Guide)
August 1, 2004... How can you tell a premium kitchen cabinet from a basic one? In the past, if you saw dovetail joints inside the drawers, you knew you had a high-end model. But that distinction has blurred as manufacturers offer premium features at lower...

Countertops: high design at lower prices.(Buyers Guide)
August 1, 2004... Falling prices for granite and other tony materials mean that you can now get a custom-look countertop for about what you'd pay for solid surfacing like Corian. You'll also see new products as high-end options hit the mainstream. ...

Ranges: turning up the heat.(Buyers Guide)
August 1, 2004... The cooking appliances you choose for a kitchen remodel set the visual tone for the entire room. At one extreme, a smoothtop range complements modern cabinets. At the other, the strictly business look of a pro-style range works with...

Cooktops & wall ovens: flexible style.(Buyers Guide)
August 1, 2004... If you're prepared for a top-to-bottom kitchen remodeling, you might be considering a cooktop and a wall oven. Separate appliances give you the flexibility of two cooking areas, with burners placed just about anywhere you want. You also gain...

Range hoods: clearing the air.(Chimneys)(Buyers Guide)
August 1, 2004... A range hood can become a major design statement--and a major expense--in a remodeled kitchen. Custom-crafted hoods can cost thousands. Even readymade hoods can be pricey models that work with hot design trends. Stainless-steel hoods,...

Refrigerators: outside the white box.(Buyers Guide)
August 1, 2004... If you're shopping for a stylish refrigerator, you don't need piles of cold, hard cash. Some midpriced models flaunt the shiny stainless-steel finish and sleek Lines of expensive built-ins, Here are some of the latest trends: Stainless...

Dishwashers: chic choices.(Buyers Guide)
August 1, 2004... Savvy shopping can pay off even when you're buying a workhorse appliance such as a dishwasher. You can get squeaky-clean dishes and a stainless-steel finish for $400 or less, or spend two or three times that if you also want quieter operation...

Child safety gates: extra protection.(Buyers Guide)
August 1, 2004... Some child safety gates are significantly better than others at staying in place and protecting your child, our new tests show. And expensive doesn't necessarily mean better: We found a CR Best Buy for $35. Installed in a doorway,...

Insurance agent scams.(CR Investigates)
August 1, 2004... Every year, the North American Securities Administrators Association, a group of state investment regulators, publishes its list of "Top 10 Scams, Schemes & Scandals." For 2004, 3 of the 10 scams--Ponzi schemes (No. 1), promissory notes (No....

Designer eggs: best way to get your omega-3 fatty acids?(health)(Gold Circle Farms Cage Free eggs)
August 1, 2004... "Vital for a healthy heart" and "particularly important for a healthy pregnancy" are among the marketing claims made by Gold Circle Farms Cage Free fortified eggs. Magazine ads and the labels on the widely available product, one of the...

So long to canceled checks: you should ask for 'substitute checks' as proof you paid.(money)
August 1, 2004... Get ready for an October surprise from your bank. Starting late that month, as a result of a new federal law, your account statement will come with fewer--or perhaps none--of your canceled paper checks, even if you want them. You'll also...

The most bang for your gasoline buck.(engine performance)
August 1, 2004... Consumers no longer have to sacrifice engine performance to get better gas mileage. That's the welcome news coming from our recent auto tests. More vehicles, in almost every category, now let you have it both ways: good fuel economy and quick...

Small packages big decisions: small cars * automatic or manual, sedan or hatchback? Perhaps the easiest choice is the Mazda3, our new top-ranked small car.(Buyers Guide)
August 1, 2004... This month's test of six small cars included sedans, hatchbacks, and a wagon that are new or redesigned for 2004. After reviewing our more-than-45 evaluations, the Mazda3 displaced the Ford Focus as our top-ranked small car. It is one of the...

A victory in fight against insurance redlining.(View point: the consumers union perspective)
August 1, 2004... Many consumers never have to think of doing without insurance for their homes, cars, of businesses. Yet low- and moderate-income communities and communities of color tend to lack access to these essential coverages, according to consumer...

Then & now: no dishpan hands.(View point: the consumers union perspective)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... In 1950s sitcoms, smartly dressed women did household chores while hijinks and hilarity swirled around them. Less amusing was the fact that the average American woman spent 90 minutes a day doing dishes in 1952. In our tests that year, we...

Passport, please.(Selling it: goofs / glitches / gotchas)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... This shirt's sewn-in tag says America Wear, its hangtag says America Wear, its bag says America Wear, and a little U.S. flag waves wherever the name appears. So you might expect the shirt to have come from America's heartland, right? Wrong,...

Barnegat Bay.(Selling it: goofs / glitches / gotchas)
August 1, 2004... Barnegat Bay is an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean in eastern New Jersey where a Pennsylvania reader goes to fish. The red-and-white lighthouse pictured here rises from its shores. But these sardines wouldn't know that, unless they swam more than...

An Oregon reader sent in the black label.(Selling it: goofs / glitches / gotchas)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... An Oregon reader sent in the black label, attached to a bungee cord made by USA Products. Made where, you ask? Taiwan. And the portable stove by American Tool Exchange? Made in China.

Europa Elite.(Selling it: goofs / glitches / gotchas)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Given the red-white-and-blue immigrants shown above, what are we to make of the Europa Elite showerhead? Although the tag says it's made with "European Styling," small type reveals it's not from Europe but Made in U.S.A.

More for less.(Selling it: goofs / glitches / gotchas)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... More than one reader noticed that Brawny paper towels became less brawny some months ago. A six-pack of white towels shrank from 379.5 square feet to 302.5. The reader who sent these wrappers said that he actually paid more for the newer,...

You're never too young.(Selling it: goofs / glitches / gotchas)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Several readers received a sample of Olay Total Effects Visible Anti-Aging Vitamin Complex 7X. The label's warning gave them laugh lines.