Wow, C&D in their current issue rated Lexus IS over BMW 3-series!! For years, the Toyota fanboys have argued (ignorantly IMHO) that BMW paid C&D to rate it higher than Toyota/Lexus counterparts. If these folks bothered to do any half-assed research, then they would see that C&D have given Toyota/Lexus the nod more than a few times. Instead of READING & UNDERSTANDING C&D's emphasis and reasoning, they cry foul.

So, what do these fanboys say about the current issue? If you're gonna stick by your guns, then it is CLEAR that C&D is being paid handsomely by Toyota/Lexus. And I guess Cadillac must be behind on the bills to C&D because they ranked last.

Car magazines have to play nice with car companies, or they won't get new vehicles to test, won't get invited to press events, won't get industry info, etc.

They don't get as much PAID as they get influenced heavily to write their drivel... I mean opinions.

Regardless, I'm no boy racer. I'm a grown man who wears man pants and has a man job.

If I were to shell out 40-50k for a car, I really don't care if some doofus in a Golf can beat me off the line. I want something comfortable to ride in that can be sporty when I want it to be, otherwise it should be comfy, quiet, and composed.

But I drive an off roader because I live out in the country and my daily drive would kill most cars in a month.

Car magazines get paid by advertisements and subscriptions. Although the influence may be there, are you saying that whatever car companies pay C&D the most will win all comparisons? THAT is obviously not true. If people read into the actual testing procedures and what is weighed, then it is clear why the winner won the comparo. Unfortunately, this art of reading is lost on fanboys all over.

I'm saying that Car and Driver is less harsh on certain companies based on advertising revenue... like BMW and Honda.

But their love affair with BMW and Honda is straining recently.

Give me an example. You mean that Honda Accords winning over Camrys? Well, given that Accords are more a driver's car AND C&D being a driver-oriented magazine, this surprises you?? Sure, Camrys are quieter and more comfy...no one has ever doubted that, even C&D. I tend to buy Camry over Accord because of that...but I don't fault C&D for ranking Camry behind Accord. Instead, I read the reviews looking for what I want in a car. For example, if I want a sports car, then I will put more emphasis in C&D rankings. Another example is when I was buying my minivan. Odyssey won almost every comparo vs. Sienna. Did I go buy Ody? No. From all comparos, it was clear that Sienna was quieter and more comfy. THOSE are what I am looking for. But, do I b!tch and moan why Sienna didn't win? No, I knew what C&D was focusing on. I accepted the rankings...because I actually read and comprehend what was being tested.

Same goes for BMW vs. Lexus. What did you expect? C&D emphasizes sports car. Can you name me a decent production sports car from Lexus (exception being current IS, LFA, and other special edition rare cars)??

C&D (and R&T, MT, etc.) don't focus on reliability nor comfort because those are harder traits to score. Everyone's butt is different. And since C&D usually tests cars when they first come out, there is no reliability data to judge. And don't JD Powers and Consumer Reports already do that? Why do you need C&D to do that also?

This needs to be in Off-Topic.