New car road test videos suck: Here's why | Auto Expert John Cadogan

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[@jeremybean-hodges6397]

This is one reason I love the reviews at ReDriven on used cars - number one way to judge new car reliability, by looking at used car performance. And it's scared me off ever buying Volkswagen.

[@froggy0162]

Those guys are idiots. Poorly researched and just regurgitates dumb ignorant rumours.

[@marshmower]

Neighbor had a new beetle. I was trying to find the headlamp socket. I realized quickly that I was in for a few cuts while solving the puzzle. Also realized it had a 5 cylinder. The cost of being different.....

[@froggy0162]

@@BubblesTheCat1 Can’t read a workshop manual, or just too lazy to learn? This is why I still maintain my own European cars. I can easily afford to have a mechanic do it, but finding one in Australia that isn’t an ignorant prejudiced spanner monkey that will just make a mess of it is hard… The cars are perfectly easy to work on if you know what you’re doing…

[@froggy0162]

@@BubblesTheCat1 No, experience is not required. You just need to be able to read a book, and not have a “this is crap because I don’t understand it” mentality. I have little experience with Japanese cars and the way they are designed and assembled does my head in. Super weird stuff. But I can still do it and do a clean and neat job because I can read the instructions and can apply a little lateral thought to the task. And because it’s good to learn new things ;)

[@BubblesTheCat1]

@@froggy0162 If Japanese cars does your head in it tells you that you're not as smart arse as you think. I don't work on modern Volkswagen or BMW because all the plastic crap breaks. Brittle plastic parts on the engine. If you didn't know German cars become endless money pit cars as they get older and they're all planned obsolescence and overpriced CRAP.

[@sparkytas]

JC, this episode is genuinely fantastic: educational, philosophical and hilarious. One of my favourites. Thank you!

[@adamandresen9911]

Another great video, with a aircraft technician background myself, I enjoy your engineering factual perspective. Facts, functionality, practical use and fit for purpose. You reviews of new vehicles without the fluffy frills is refreshing. Keep them coming.

[@janstafford1490]

Sales guizzaaaahs would learn so much more by taking some pages from Johns books they’d at least gain respect

[@ivanolsen8596]

@@janstafford1490 But not from those who pay for their lifestyles.

[@enigmaticx326]

Ok, we’ve gone from engineering talk to philosophy. That’s pretty wild but it’s why I like this channel.

[@kippen64]

Please keep doing what you are doing.

[@davidfield4432]

Your going to carry on doing exactly what you are doing John…. A freakin(g) fine job. 👍👍👍👍👍👍👌👌👌👌👌👌

[@just_passing_through]

Back in the day, car magazines (and later, web sites) use to do “comparison” articles, where they would put several vehicles in the same category head-to-head, and you got to see the good and the bad of contenders. I can’t remember the last time I saw one. As you said, it’s all advertorials, and puff pieces now.

[@BubblesTheCat1]

Check out the South African website. There's comparison tests.

[@paulgerrard9227]

KZbin is now riddled by opinionated reviews. After watching ten you start to piece it together

[@kimpiper8654]

Thank you for all you do John. As a 50 something widow who used to rely on my late husband to do 'car research', i greatly appreciate having a car expert I trust to tell me the truth in all things car related as I contemplate buying a new car on my own.

[@BubblesTheCat1]

Be very careful, rather take a knowledgeable car guy with you, or at least if you're going it alone, get a Toyota. You have the best chance of not getting a lemon. Years ago an aunt of mine bought a Ford Sierra 2.0. This car was extremely extremely poorly built, and broke down constantly. She bought it new, and drove conservatively. Services on time, etc.

[@johnleyden3675]

I highly recommend when you decide on the car want, you use the car buying service JC promotes I did and it was painless.

[@davidbrayshaw3529]

@@johnleyden3675 I'll second that. Take a few different vehicles that you might be interested in for a test drive, figure out which one you like and go straight to a buyer's advocate such as John's. Painless is an understatement, and the price that they were able to negotiate was almost too good to be true, in my case. On top of that, the delivery time was exceptional. It might be well worth your while to drop a polite e mail to John just to make sure that your choice of vehicle isn't on a "lemon" list before you commit to a purchase.

[@guringai]

JC hates Tesla's but if you consider the reviews of truly great auto engineers like Sandy Munro he's a great admirer, + there's no dealer nonsense. My wife & l love ours for so many reasons.

[@BubblesTheCat1]

I've just checked. $ 30,000 US for a new battery after 8 years.

[@brianh2476]

John, you’re the best. Thanks for all that you do.

[@davidsargent8780]

Keep doing what you're doing dude, it's a breathe of fresh air in this world when someone can talk without being influenced by big corporations, dude!

[@gordonfukushima60]

Hay, John, regarding the colour scheme of your “Fat Cave” I reckon your being paid by a certain tool co. (B0$cH) coz your subminimal advertising made me bye that colour tool the other day, even thou I have the yellow and black ones.

[@user-ei7zv8uu1y]

I love watching car test videos as they’re quite informative. How else would I get a sense of rear-seat space for example, if not from a reviewer of non-disclosed height sitting behind their own driving position? Anyway, my next purchase will be based on the design of the key fob.

[@ScottMurrayBestFamilyCars]

Some have buttons AND a badge on the back.

[@lesbennett18]

Bravo John, entertaining and informative. I just love it when you lay the facts out.

[@mini_steve]

Testing the e-power Xtrail on a race track would be less educational and more pointless than testing the clothes drying ability of a Hills Hoist at the bottom of the Mariana Trench.

[@antonyborlase3965]

You are so wrong. It would be as funny as walking into a closed glass door. (Would depend on if doing or watching)

[@silverwolf4095]

Strongly disagree. Would be an excellent exercise for the local fire department.

[@daviddarmanin2188]

John keep up your great work mate, it is so great to listen laugh and learn facts and figures from somebody who knows what there talking about without getting influenced by the major car industry operators! First time I came across one of your reviews about the Lexus LC500 V8, I became a believer in you factual reviews. I actually was encouraged enough to go and drive one for myself and found it was an amazing vehicle to drive, those Takumi engineers are unbelievable, and John I ended up buying one with your help through your vehicle buying group! It’s my bucket list car that I have waited 64 years to own and enjoy. Thanks you!

[@madmick3794]

Love your style and reports, never change because it sure as hell helped me. I was considering a Colorado/Dmax in the second hand market around April or May this year, 2022. Hilux was a distant thought though never entertained. Also debated was the wagon option of Prado, prices in my area due to the NE NSW flooding were a little crazy. After hearing of some owners issues including the Toyota DPF saga, Isuzu customer service and front end cracking issues there was a decision made subconsciously of casting the net with facts in mind. I am now the proud owner of a 2019 MR Triton cab chassis with 1.2m tray. We needed a maximum 300kg payload, able to tow a maximum of 2 tonnes (closer to 1.8 now) and a vehicle that equaled that weight, or preferably bettered it, with 5 seats, manual along with a simple to use 4wd system. Cheers and keep it up . . . 😆

[@richardsmith579]

Couldn’t agree more. They spend ages going around the cars pointing out the “aggressive” grill or wheels, as if this is a good thing, when we can all see these things for ourselves. And I don’t need this. I watch lots of these tests and I find them entertaining, sometimes. Then I might visit a dealer myself and look closely at the car, and perhaps take it for a test. After lots of this I fumble my way to some informed understanding of the car and if I’m lucky boredom sets in and I move on. We get very emotional about cars and we need to keep reminding ourselves of this.

[@MadMatty72]

John, FYI, I believe you have an impersonator with name "autoexpertjohncadogan" phishing for subsciber details - you may wish to warn watchers - refer reply to my previous post.

[@gordonfukushima60]

Heads up John, I received a message from supposedly you saying I have randomly won a prize, asking me to replying via “Tele gram”? I gather it’s a scam ‘cos the questionable grammar, emojis etc. is dodgy. Just thought I’d let you know 👍

[@johnblake7129]

My guess is that most people buy into a dream or lifestyle statement and don't necessarily want the shitbox truth. If you are a truthful car company and only selling half the quantity of your bs rival because most people are stupid..at some point if you can't beat them join em is going to kick in.

[@Bazilhatz3773]

I watch your videos entirely from beginning to end and understand, appreciate and actually enjoy your thorough explanation of all the BS from most car makers and the paid and pampered so called test pilots. I'm trying to get through to my 28 year old son that your videos are not just enjoyable sarcastic and funny but also very educational. But as I'm sure you've heard many parents say that their kids fπcking know everything so it's a never ending battle especially when I've taught him nearly everything he knows about car's etc.😁 Thanks John,👍

[@Luscious3174]

Nah, you're just pissed off because you don't get your hands on the same vehicles your YT counterparts do, and as a result, get less "attention". 1. Even as a buyer dealers are dead set against letting certain cars off their lot for a test drive. Those are the dealers I conveniently walk out from! 2. The same with dealers who allow you to make four left turns out the lot and around the block without a freeway drive. Again, I walk away from these places. 3. Videos are a great way to get more info on top of what the manufacturer has posted on their website. And more reviewers will show different aspects akin to what they notice. There's no bad reason to criticize multiple sources, even if one of them may not be your favorite. 4. You do have car shows down under - go there and haggle the reps on what these cars can and cannot do. I've seen exhibits where they didn't even have the car fully open (trunk locked), obviously to hide an obvious negative of what they were hyping. The same deal that a video would expose hands down. 5. I have no problem with reviewers flown out and paid to review a car, given that these cars will end up in buyers hands - if something about a review is off the outcry from actual customers and comments online would spread like wildfire. 6. As for your "paint the landscape of reality" fairy tale bullshit you need to stop smoking whatever it is your on. Less lip service and more work!!!

[@chadfordham1]

John Tacticaldogan Dude. Great videos lately mate. Keeping these keyboard warriors honest

[@BCNeil]

Yes they suck. 99% are positive reviews. They have to be or they don't get to test more cars. Pointless. Plus I don't really care how fast an SUV can take cliche corner.

[@otterkarman8740]

People need to understand just because a model is out next mouth it doesn't follow it's going to be a better car, than the old model. Those run flats and expensive alloys are just cosmetic, A basic alloy and full wall Tyre is likely a more comfortable ride and protect your alloy better against Kerbs and potholes allowing you not to be broken down. Think sense people.

[@chooki101]

I bought a 50k car based on journalist reviews so I guess they work. You don't make a decision based on one or two reviews but you need to seek out as many as possible, amalgamate all of the data together and make an informed decision.

[@aulddug3634]

I am curious John, the other youtuers I watch are all very adverse to the language you use (not that I mind that language) how do you (honest guy) not get thrown off youtube (thankfully you don't) just wondering

[@Laz_Arus]

23:56 In this episode we learn about things that bug John. 😉

[@timhumphries4355]

Been watching too many Paul Maric videos methinks...

[@Chris_Grossman]

Before my wife bought a Crosstrek we found a dealer who arranged to rent one to us for a week and deduct the rental from the price if we bought one. The same dealer also gave us the lowest quote before we asked about the rental.

[@Travelling_Jonoberries]

Especially one mob that consistently flogs their new Ford Raptor purchase😩

[@Natediggity720]

On a slightly related subject, when car dealers state they are only insured for one or two test drive routes and also time limited, is this b/s or fact?

[@adamtwigg479]

OK, I'll ask. What are those vise grip clamp things for?

[@lisadower8734]

Hi John, I want to upgrade my 2012 Ford Focus around June 2023 and given the current wait times I have started looking now. I’m interested in a mid sized SUV with a full size spare. I moved to Bowral 9 months after buying the focus and I have been stuck in Sydney more than once thanks to the space saver. The three I’m considering are the Subaru outback, Hyundai Tucson and Kia sportage but the big problem I’m having is finding a demonstrator. My local Hyundai and Kia dealers don’t have the diesel that I’m interested in to test drive or even one to take a look at. They also haven’t been able to find one in Sydney or Wollongong or anywhere within a couple of hours drive. I can’t make a decision without seeing or driving the car so I’m not sure what to do next. I know a lot of people will order sight unseen but I’m purchasing for the long term and won’t buy a car I haven’t seen and driven. KZbin test drive videos are interesting but aren’t a substitute for a test drive IRL.

[@jeremybean-hodges6397]

CarSales identifies a couple of dealer demos up for sale across Sydney for the Sportage Diesel - it might not be the grade you want, but at least you could test drive the powertrain.

[@kc510]

. I think you’d enjoy some Savagegeese

[@shardlake]

Great stuff, live in the UK so cannot use your car buying service, just love the no nonsense approach to everything. We do all have to thank those that e-mail you, they provide so much great material.

[@chrishewitt1165]

My Dad sold fords for Klosters in Newcastle in the 50s. He had a great photo of a truck in the dealer showroom by the front window. The body was removed so you could see all the important stuff for yourself. Somewhat different to today's sales focus

[@standupmoto]

Never a truer word spoken.

[@BoleDaPole]

I don't buy any car that isn't the recipient of that years JD Power and Ass. Award.

[@wraithshield]

John, great video highlighting the shortcomings of the magazine and online car review process, particularly the lack of information on reliability and dealer/manufacturer support. Other than watching your videos do you recommend any other sources for getting a sense of how the ownership experience is with each manufacturer - things like the JD Pwer surveys etc? I am not aware of anything Australian specific and am not even sure such a source could exist and be reliable.

[@gordonclark7632]

I watch a lot of car reviews for enjoyment and actually use it to get info on a vehicle I may be considering purchasing. However, I take them all with a grain of salt acknowledging that the tester is either biased, paid off by the manufacturer or just filling in the time frame of the video. 'Look at the flowing grill' he says "I really like it" while i am thinking I don't like it. Subjective! When looking at a purchase, I search all the spec sheets to see which suits me and then look at owner sites to see if there are any problems being reported.

[@theairstig9164]

Bit hard for someone wanting to buy a new HCCI engine

[@BubblesTheCat1]

I like reading user reviews if there's any available. Not as biased towards the manufacturers.

[@anakinskywalker4113]

John I respectfully disagree. In order to give a proper opinion you need to road test the car in real world conditions. You can talk all you like about facts & figures from a specs sheet. Until you drive the vehicle that you are reviewing what is the point in giving us a stream of numbers which are meaningless to mr & mrs average. We care about how the stupid thing drives in real word conditions not what the freaking spec sheet says. As a buyer I am looking at two things number 1 is it practical can it fit all my belongs inside without too much compromise. Number 2 can I live with the driving experience in real word conditions not some staged press release. Forget what the car makers claim and all the BS they put on brochures & specs sheets they mean jack S$)). If the vehicle satisfies my requirements that is all I care about. The other crap is just marketing BS.

[@AutoExpertJC]

Respectfully disagree all you want. If we had a public debate about this, and that was your pisition, I'd gut you with it. Your premise that all I am doing is reiterating the spec sheet is catastrophically flawed. As are the two points you raised.

[@anakinskywalker4113]

@@AutoExpertJC The two points I raised are perfectly valid ones. I understand your position about objective facts. However I have bought & sold many cars and not because they were objectively the best in class. They did what was required at various times. I am a mechanic by trade so do know a thing or two about cars my first being I don’t trust anything that the dealership shows on a glossy brochure. I also have different needs to you. When buying a car there is always an element of subjectivity in that decision. Yes the Nissan e power is a crap design & is does not stack up against the Rav 4 on purely rational grounds. I counter that a lot of customers do not always use rational thinking when buying a car. Otherwise why would the likes of Audi & VW be so successful objectively that are not great products yet thousands buy them. Therefore my argument is for you to give us a proper road test of more vehicles because you are a trusted independent source of knowledge. People trust you & I would appreciate it if you could without all the fluff do more road tests. They are informative even if you don’t think they are.

[@froggy0162]

Best new car review channel is savagegeese. Factual and technical (and amusing).

[@MrAndrew1953]

John I wouldn’t be too concerned about said ‘rock throwing’ comment as it’s provided you with the perfect platform to launch a devastating response to said rock 🪨 thrower. There’s a lot of bling with road tests like in depth analysis of the grill,shape of headlights etc. What I look for are alerts about tiny batteries to power an overweight energy system that’s a bit of a wank anyway. I’ve owned an ‘85 Subaru wagon, worked for the Australian importer as a detailer for four years so I had a pretty good idea about the XVs good/ bad points before I bought it. The general public have to look beyond the grill , work out what they want to do with the car and which car best suits their needs. Credible print /KZbin videos will at least raise alerts about design problems,faults,limitations. My battle with Mazda Australia over a diesel particulant filter was an ordeal I will never put myself through the wringer on again. Subaru notified me in writing with an issue with the parking brake. Booked the car in with the dealer, dealt with efficiently as were two other recall items-reasonable for a 2018 mass production car. NB Two days after I bought the car it was hit from a rock throwing cement mixer driver with a sick sense of humour on the Ring Road I allege . Brand new red cars attract that sort of demographic.

[@preston963]

OMG John as a mechanic 40+yrs WTF do these new car buyers ( especially the electric tree hugger wankers expect)? I've got 3 05 BA Falcon's & 1 (the wagon ) has had a very hard life with helper springs to cope with the load of my tools & it's still going very strong, Umm it's called regular full fluid changes/maintenance through out 570,000Km can't kill it n it doesn't leak or burn a drop of oil, so why people buy this plastic fantasic shit that's been around now for well over a decade let alone this new unproven crap is totally beyond me. Would I be correct assuming your a 64 model if so I goy 12mths on you!... love ta have beer with ya mate!

[@WombatMilk]

Road tests absolutely do not suck. In fact they should be the gold standard for car reviews. Journalists who lack any semblance of ethics or impartiality to present unbiased findings to their audience, they are pretty sucky.

[@paulgerrard9227]

Mazda dealer had me drive a super short distance on a very empty tank sitting beside me babbling on about how good the car was when it drove badly. The suzuki guy handed me the keys and let me go. Full tank. I drove a long block and it sokd itself. He said....that wss quick take it for 20 to 30 mins if you want. The fuel use helps sell these cars and i can sell another while you are out ...great to drive and nobody says otherwise. No reviewer said...the mazda 2 manual drives like a three legged dog. I found it out in the short drive.Yet 2 of 3 buyers dont test drive a car.

[@ralcool5932]

"Kill something everyday just to maintain operational proficency, just sayin' ".. Got it... Metaphorically speaking... Kill something! Do a thing, a task, a job.... Just don't do bullshit!

[@simon-peterhedditch3416]

I’m not even that into cars, sure I’ve been driving them for decades but it’s hardly a hobby. What I am into is the fantastic honesty of independent media, all delivered with the darkest sarcasm. Keep up the great work John.

[@phillipmarnik]

I'll only take you seriously when you can tell me what the top speed of the X-Trail e-Power is in reverse. I might be halfway to dingo piss creek and need to reverse back home to get the Olight from the fat cave. Lift your game bro.

[@mnkybndit]

If only there was a way to harness the energy of the click clack of key presses from the peanut gallery in your comment section. You'd never have to pay for fuel again.

[@bentullett6068]

If anyone wants a laugh watch the Goodwood Motor Racing Circuit YT channel reviewing a VW ID.4 Castrol GTX heavy EV SUV and saying it's a replacement for the VW Golf GTI.

[@tonybennett638]

As long as e-power has lots of soft touch parts and a shit load of cup holders all is forgiven..

[@theairstig9164]

USB ports

[@CrapToCream]

Where is that clip on how to use the steering wheel properly please, I can't blasted well find it again.................................

[@RodneyW]

This is an excellent video John! Having been "in the market" recently, I can attest that I found nearly all of the car reviews to be of (very) limited value. They are full of opinions, and short of verifiable facts. As a Grumpy Old Man, I miss the days of car magazines that used to publish useful (verifiable!) data about the car (such as real measurements of interior space or in-gear acceleration or braking distances). From a "video" perspective, the Peter Wherrett (as he was once known!) used to demonstrate useful things like emergency braking stability, or handling when swerving. Almost nobody bothers to talk about reliability or real world costs of ownership, or the real risks associated with becoming a customer of certain companies. Thank you for providing such a valuable service!

[@jeremybean-hodges6397]

One of the things that I really dislike about new car reviews is the way that each and every car - regardless of application - is judged severely by its handling ability when driven quickly along a twisty road. That's really relevant if discussing a Focus ST or an i30 N. But a Sportage, a Yaris or a CX-3? It's probably all of 1 in every 1000 trips that involves driving on a twisty road in a fun manner. 90% of the driving is going to be done in urban locations, in traffic, on the rat run, and the rest on a freeway. So, what matters more in a car like that? Interior comfort, control lightness, quietness, load space, maneuverability, fuel consumption, and safety. Not engine performance, not grip and handling.

[@oldcodger4672]

In the Australian there is a review headed “A sexier, family-friendly version of a tank”, by James Jennings, about the Hyundai Palisade. Hyundai marketing could not have written a better puff piece. Whether an article in the paper, or a KZbin video, we need to have our BS antennae turned up to the max. Genuine comments are invaluable, but beware of the sycophants’ contributions. Keep up the good work, and would appreciate less blasphemy, thank you.

[@Alaster-]

I'm really interested to test the new X-Trail, mostly cause I like technology and this is different. Probably won't buy it though. Car reviews are mostly BS (my driving experience with cars are normally different to any I've read/watched) and haven't trusted them since the 90s. And John's beloved facts never tell the whole story. It's near impossible to tell how a vehicle will drive looking at a spec sheet. Fuel economy also seems very subjective, and while it's a lab tested thing, it doesn't explain why some vehicles manage to meet their ratings in real world, and others can't get close at all. Even the simple things that should be more just facts, like Emergency Assistant Braking are all implemented differently. Many people seem to check it off as a win - even though some brake for the freaking slightly angled driveway when you're pulling into Woolies. Every, damn, time!

[@thisnthat3530]

1.9kWh battery supplying 41kW of power would last a whopping 2 minutes 47 seconds assuming it could be discharged all the way from 100% to 0%.

[@peterscott2662]

On the road, you simply can't demand 100KW continuously, that isn't a mismatch that matters. The VAST majority of the time, your car will be using less than 30KW giving plenty of excess power from the engine to handle road use, and simultaneously charge the small battery. The real issue with epower is indeed the poorer efficiency compared to a hybrid that has a physical connection from the gas engine to wheels.

[@tectorama]

I find that a lot of those doing road tests have an agenda, and a bias. It's difficult to find a car reviewer who likes Hybrid vehicles, or you did until there were so many coming on the market. To a man (or woman) they don't (or didn't) like CVT gear boxes, which most Hybrids now use. Every new saloon has to be compared to a BMW/Merc, or any other German make.. It goes on

[@frankgooding443]

Too easy John, Love the use of basic science and physics to prove your points. The grammar and punctuation digs work well too. You must really wind up some of your viewers ;-) My father in law is car shopping and mentioned self charging hybrid. Really annoys me.

[@marshmower]

Tech package: AGM battery. Real copper wire. Working ECM. Manual windows for when none of that works.

[@oliverlaw02]

A recent 1,000 page alternative energy investigation undertaken for a Finnish Government agency by Associate Professor Simon Micheaux concluded that the world does not have enough lithium and cobalt to replace batteries with only a ten years battery life.

[@guringai]

That's why there are many people looking at alternatives. Lithium is plentiful & cobalt is completely unnecessary in EV batteries, which is why leading manufacturers are not using it, IE LFP batteries.

[@Ozsmallbore]

@@guringai LFP batteries still use Lithium. And there is nothing new coming any time soon in alternate battery tech, at least nothing that can be made at a viable cost and sufficient quantity.

[@matthewrafferty4117]

I watch road tests of cars purely for entertainment and have never bought anything based on the review of others. They have their place and are handy for getting a good look through the interiors and the layout but that's about it as far as I'm concerned. I recently had a Jeep Compass loan car for 2 days and put 380km on it driving in both city and rural environments. For what it was I thought it drove very well and handled the poor rural roads extremely well. The fuel economy was decent for a 4cyl petrol in a small SUV averaging 7.3L/100km while I had it. I then watched a review of this car and as per most Jeep reviews it wasn't great. The thing that got me though was the fuel consumption claims in the review were way higher than what I had achieved in my mixed driving which only tells me that the reviewer wasn't driving it like 99% of the owners would. It would be hard driving new vehicles and finding faults though in the short space of a few days I would think as reality is most new cars are at a very high standard these days. As for the purveyors of mediocrity the all mighty Toyota it can't be denied a purchase of one of their products is less likely to leave you disappointed over 5 years than most. They have the best dealer network and the best fixed price servicing program in the business not to mention their great depreciation or the fantastic appreciation of the Rav 4 hybrid. We bought a 2021 Rav then sold it after 15k and 7 months to a dealer for thousands more than it cost us. The wife then bought a Hyundai Tucson Highlander N-line Diesel which she loves but will be getting out of next year to get back into a Rav 4 hybrid as the cost of ownership will be much less.

[@macgibbon]

Cadogan: My flaw is I'm honest Viewers: I don't think that's a flaw Cadogan: I don't give a fuck what you think

[@nevarran]

That's one of the reasons why I watch the car reviews only to see a car and its details. I cannot care less about what the reviewer thinks about the "sporty handling", or the "soft comfort", or whatever. It's why I like the more detailed reviews, like Autogefühl, where the guys show the cars in all detail. I can see how the car looks, hear some technical specs, and then if I'm interested, I can go to the local dealer and try it myself.

[@gregchandler8001]

When I choose a new car I always make sure the large water bottle fits in the door pocket, otherwise I walk.

[@Acceleronics]

I don't have anything new to add, so here's a comment to drive up the comment engagement metric part of The Algorithm. You've earned it! Well, now that I'm here, I'll mention that UK English treats corporations as plural whereas in the Land of the Free they're singular. I thought you guys hanging off the bottom of the planet would side with the UK.

[@AB-yt4hd]

Yes, most tests are crap and useless. I know only one tester doing a good job testing cars, it is Bjorn Nyland. He will make many videos on a car (1 video on the trunks, 1 video on the range, 1 video on the noise (with measurements)...). It is not perfect, but much better than the so called pro car journalists.

[@mindfreeze0838]

Mr Cadogan, with all due respect, people look to auto journalists for their opinions as they are supposed experts on automobiles. These people supposedly have driven more vehicles than most punters will in a lifetime and may have noticed a few things about how cars drive. I am not disputing the fact their is a paid bias being exercised by some journalists which by right should be stated, but it doesnt dispute the fact that people want to get an informed opinion before signing that dotted line. On a final note if journalists are really on the take then i think its easy to determine who is paying the big bucks as many of them only like vehicles that have plush interiors, rides as soft as Pillow's but at the same time as stiff as steel(which must also have and Australian tune), turbos only(and not that 1l nonsense,2l and above thank you very much), DCT or ZF boxes only, all the radars and sonars you can place on a car and all for the measly sum of 50k and above, because all car buying Australians can easily afford such a paltry dum

[@jamesmedina2062]

Car and Driver was my goto mag because they quantified objective facts and they were amusing at least in their pontifications of the fluff! Facts are important John! Without them I want to puke.🤮

[@camberwellcarrot420]

John, you used the word spend as a noun in this video. As you are an (in)famous stickler for this type of thing, I wonder if you can justify your choice of that word versus, say, spending or expenditure? Yes, this is an obvious troll, but I still want to hear your justification, as it makes my ears wince.

[@alexromanov9437]

John, can you please add some seconds of silence/conclusion/ending part at the end of each video? The rationale is that if I know the video is ended, I usually open the player and like/dislike/comment, etc. the current ending is somewhat nonexistent, so KZbin immediately switches to another video. And it’s too much effort to go back and like and all that.

[@WazzaG076]

Thank you John for telling it as it really easy. We are so lucky to have you looking after our interests as car consumers. Please carry on as you do. Maintain the rage.

[@merkeynerk]

You mean road test videos aren't purely for entertainment? I only watch the ones that are amusing (like CarWow or that Doug bloke) or might actually have real information (like SavageGeese who usually look underneath). Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be any local content which is either of those.

[@scotttravis3831]

Terry Gilliam of Monty Python's Flying Circus fame may offer some guidance in regards to connect disparate bits of your video content.

[@MrBenHaynes]

I grew up loving Muppets. They were my favourite TV characters. Now they are much maligned.

[@balkanleopard9728]

It's well past time to have this discussion - especially in the transitional period we are now in. Every review of every electric vehicle (ev) is essentially rubbish. If you are to believe the reviewers every vehicle is a "game changer" - which is possibly true if you want to degrade any long distance motoring experience to the extent that any rational person would take the train. What we are watching is a ev money spinning joy ride of free lunches. I just wish we had more objective assessment. like those done by Auto Expert and a (very) few others out there.

[@songforguy1]

John what you have experienced is nothing in comparison to big pharma, they do the same thing but are more thorough than most would imagine. Not only do they give financial incentives to the common GP but they go up the whole chain of command and pay the big bucks to talented medical mouthpieces, for example the medical journals and their editors receive millions of dollars which are seen as the bible for the regular GP, also do the same to the universities. This all started when Ronald Reagan handed power to big pharma to regulate and oversee their own studies which opened the door for the fox guarding the hen house. They have simply cornered the market at every turn making the automotive industry look like child's play in comparison.

[@petermacgregor2004]

Do you have an opinion on how good or not so good a 2022 Porsche Cayenne GTS Coupe is? I have watched a number of videos on it but like you say, the reviewers might be under pressure to give it the big tick.

[@jimmychin8313]

So how did Nissan conceive E-Power? Surely they must have at least one competent engineer to conclude that such a system cannot work! I hear that Honda's new hybrid Civic also uses this concept.

[@LordandGodofYouTube]

Hi John, maybe instead of car reviews you could do some videos on how to safely operate a car and road etiquette because let's face it we are pretty crap drivers as a whole population. Doing this kind of video might take a bit less time to make and change the bad driving habits of a few people, possibly even saving a life or two. I know before I did an advanced driving course I had bad habits I wasn't aware of, keeping a safe following distance was a big one for me, people sitting beside a car in the right lane really annoys me, a lot of people drive at night out near Dingo Piss Creek without a thought of wildlife, there's a shitload you could address.

[@fredjashar9586]

Yes please John. Keep doing what you're doing. We need your objective opinions to overcome the bullshit.

[@alistairshanks5099]

I will make one more comment John and it's in relation to presenting the Facts from an engineering, value, or competitive stance in today's consumer world. How it is put together and the quality of its parts are not on the radar of most of the people I discuss machinery with unless you are talking to a Farmer or a contractor that will use it. Once I start talking to people about how a machine is built and the quality of its construction their eyes glaze over but if you want to talk about what it looks like or how the infotainment system works or how many widgets it has and if it can park itself or don't those 20" mags look grouse then they become very vocal. Mechanical data and facts on a machine are treated just like politics, tell someone who cares. Car makers rely heavily on this fact though.

[@warrenpitt6205]

Hey John, please talk to the ACE EV guy. Win, lose or draw, would appreciate your insight.

[@revhead929]

The cynic in me says that systems like E-Power were never there for real-world benefits, they exist purely because the manufacturer needed "something" to meet an emissions target. The tiny battery is because someone calculated that was all they needed to do well, in a test with very specific parameters. Pretty safe bet that battery is likely on electron fumes at that point, but by that stage it's done its job.

[@w.walker5156]

Drinking game. Take a drink every time he picks the papers up and take a drink every time he puts them down.See how long you last. You'll need a rather large bottle

[@MattSwann1]

Nailed it, dude!

[@Alpha_7227]

Hi John, I was having a whinge about the new road rules regarding visual displays and smart watches when I watched your video on trying to make a call with a phone its cradle or using the inbuilt system. Needless to say I think they are necessary.

[@martinavery3979]

Only road tests I watch are used cars. They night not be quite the same as current models but at least you can get an idea of how different makers products age.

[@Cloxxki]

Doug Demuro says he pays for his own tickets, airports and food. Likely a very rare diamond in the coal mine.

[@wilson2455]

at least most reputable dealerships now let you take the car out for an hour or so, sometimes longer. Remember when test drives were around the block with some fat, sweaty salesman sitting next to you.

[@stephenridgway2720]

They should drive them in the peak hour to let us knows how they handle in the stop & go routine… keep chucking those facts around, it happens to prove your point.

[@scroungasworkshop4663]

You are spot on John. Before buying a Sahara back in 2020 we road tested quite a few vehicles and one of those vehicles was the Ranger because I had read a review where the author was raving about how well the Ford engineers had setup the suspension to give an excellent, smooth and quiet ride. We took it to our usual test road full of twists, turns and potholes and we almost burst out laughing. It was horrible, rode like a billy cart, the back end skittered and bounce around on sharp bends and was it noisy and rough. I said to my wife “the bloke that did the review on these must be on f*cking drugs”. Now I realise it was even worse, he was taking the money. I completely gave up on car reviews when the 300 series was about to be released. I watched the pre-release video put out by Toyota and they were going on about all the improvements they had made especially the reduction in weight. Then the reviewers started to get hold of them and they all made a big deal about how they had managed to get hold of a 300 before anyone had been able to buy one. Obviously Toyota had lent them one. What I noticed was that not only did they all follow the same script but that script was near identical to the Toyota pre-release video. Only one reviewer out of the dozen or so I watched mentioned the new one piece tailgate and he said that the Land Cruiser had finally moved into the 21st century. The rest didn’t mention it. Most, not all, but most LC owners prefer the two piece tailgate but as a lot of the development was done to save weight it would have been nice to explain the real reason for the change which I believe was weight. The two piece tailgate is quite heavy and I am betting the one piece is considerably lighter and cheaper to make. Saving 200kgs on a 2700kg vehicle seems almost pointless to me. Apparently because the car is now lighter Toyota can use a smaller, more efficient and more powerful V6 engine and because the engine is more efficient they can fit a smaller fuel tank but still get the same range as the 200. I’ve never heard such a load of bullshit and one reviewer slipped up and mentioned that with the claimed fuel consumption figures provided by Toyota the 300 series would be 90kms short of the 200 series. That’s a f*cking long walk if you run out. Now that people are buying the new Cruiser there are some reviews coming out, mainly overseas that are starting to point out some of the negative issues. Cheers

[@ScottMurrayBestFamilyCars]

Ride comfort on utes is comparatively shit until you put about 150kg in the back because that's what they're designed to do. Carry stuff. The reason Toyota went for a one-piece tailgate is cost. It's cheaper to design and build for two gas struts, two hinges and one latch instead of four, four and two. Also cheaper is cutting out one door, not two. LC300 weighs 2.6 tonnes. Weight is not their concern. Toyota does things for cost.

[@scroungasworkshop4663]

@@ScottMurrayBestFamilyCars Hey Scott, I picked up a Hilux Workmate 3 weeks ago to bang around town in and 150kg makes no difference to the crap ride but I knew what I was getting. We do long trips in the Sahara but there is no way I would do the same trip in any dual cab. Agreed that Toyota is cost driven but the main feature they went on with was weight saving. Maybe they killed two birds, one stone. Cheers

[@glennmcgrath4345]

I can see a thread gauge, an a micrometer, An imperial , why not a metric? Can you still buy thread gauges? .

[@mortofromoz1]

Yep. Why should I believe a review based on the need to curry favour for another overseas junket?

[@faithlessnomad054]

Come on dude … fair suck of the sav … road tests are awesome … they get you out of the office on the company dime and the sales team love ‘em … just don’t say anything nadty

[@_bodgie]

It's interesting to see how people take honest opinions or opinions based on verifiable facts and can call them rock-throwing

[@peregrinemccauley5010]

Peter Wherrett did excellent road tests , back in the days when automobiles weren't so ugly .