Keeping the reviewers honest
Over the weekend I posted a link to a Saab 9-3 Convertible review published in the Brisbane Courier Mail, a newspaper here in Australia.
I was quite interested in the reviewer’s thoughts about the navigation system in the car (Saab are trialling a new nav system for Australia and press cars are fitted with this nav system at the moment). As I didn’t think too much of the review itself I decided to focus primarily on the nav system remarks.
One of our regular readers and commenters here, cdp88, did think more about the review, however, and decided to write to the publisher through the comments section attached to the story.
I generally write a critique of reviews when I think they’ve misinterpreted something or just got something plain wrong. Occasionally they’ll see this and whilst they may not change the actual article, at least it will give them pause for thought when they next drive and write about a Saab.
cdp88 has done exactly that in this instance and I think he’s done an excellent job. Here’s the final point, politely and forcefully made, but you should click through and read the whole thing. cdp88 has done a great job of summarising and respectfully questioning some of the vague points in the review.
I think the value of the opinions expressed in the article is decreased by the lack of research and reference to facts. Whether the author liked the car or not is up to him but to present this story with these inaccuracies is irresponsible.
Back in the late 1970s an Australian named Don Chipp formed a third political party on the basis of wanting to “keep the bastards honest”. Despite that party’s recent poor fortunes, it’s still a popular concept here.
If you see a review in your area, or online, and there’s a chance to provide feedback either through an email link or a comments section, I’d highly recommend that you do so. Many of these reviewers just don’t “get it” when it comes to Saabs - the philosophy behind them and the pleasure of owning them. It’s up to the Saaby Army, with all due courtesy and respect, to let them know.
Well done to cdp88 for setting the bar at the right level!
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An excellent response, well done.
I remember reading an (American) car magazine, where 8 sporty luxury cars were in a shootout. The BMW was ranked #1, the SAAb 9-3, dead last. There was some sort of weird brake failure in both the SAAB and BMW, but they used the data from a previous review for the BMW’s score. I was so irritated, until I realized that the cars could get a bonus of up to 25 points (!) in some ridiculous category like “gotta-have-it factor” The BMW got all 25 points, the SAAB got sh!#. It was so corrupt and artificial, to mix hard data, and bullsh!#. I am more disgusted that none of the hardcore car fans/readers, who will write massive letters over minute issues, did not call them out. I never bought another issue, and wont. I cant believe GM didn’t pull advertising from such a fraudulent magazine, or even protest. I wish I had kept the issue. Does this sound familiar to anyone? Id love to read it again and post it here. It was either motor trend or car and driver. The SAAB in the article was metallic turquoise or similar.
That would be this one, Robert. It was difficult indeed.
Probably the journalist testing the 9-3 vert (Did he really?) was not invited to Kiruna to drive the 9-3 XWD and therefor badmouths Saab..
Cheers/Tompa
I left a comment too, but mine wasn’t published…
How can a review be wrong? isn’t a review just a couple paragraphs of a persons thoughts?
…No offense of course
Jeff, a review also contains things that are usually supposed to be facts - stats about the car, etc. If the review is factually incorrect then you’ve got to wonder what the opinion’s based on. Did they really drive the car and think about what they were driving?
In the case of this convertible review in the Courier Mail, he mistook this car, the TiD, to be the twin turbo TTiD in his description. Big, big difference there.
I believe your response was very well written, and I hope it is getting plenty of exposure on the Brisbane Courier / News.com.au website.
I believe the Car & Driver article is this one: http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/comparison_test/sedans/35_000_sports_sedans_comparison_test
The internet gives the reader an unprecedented ability to check and criticise the writer and editors. Journalism is no longer the one way medium it once was.