New CNW Research use

Consumer Reports finds that Prius has the lowest cost of ownership for cars of its size. See their April 2008 issue for details, or here for a summary:
ConsumerReports.org - Consumer Reports' owner cost comparisons reveal some cheaper cars may cost more to own than higher-priced alternatives

 

Do a good search here and other forums for CNW and you'll find plenty of facts and logic to refute with, including some external links. Look especially for some of Bob Wilson's posts on GreenHybrid (user name bwilson4web). He has refuted CNW's junk science repeatedly and convincingly.

As a AAA member myself, I might write them as well.

 

You might consider responding by canceling your AAA membership.
I am canceling mine this month and switching to better world club.
Better World Club - Roadside Assistance, Insurance and Travel

 

I didn't realize people would still take that seriously. I had thought of putting a blog together at evworld some time ago but thought it better to let it die a natural death.

Okay, I'll put something together this weekend, because there's a lot of holes in CNW's statement (including their own 2007 update which reverses that statement for the 2006 model year, but that's rarely noticed, and not exactly pushed by CNW).

 

Isn't the research part supposed to come first, followed by conclusions? Seems like CNW's going about this the wrong way.

 

That is due to their cranial-rectal inversion.

 

Definately call AAA on it.

 

I wrote to them about the article "Sizing Up Energy Footprints":
AAA New York - CarandTravel - Sizing Up Energy Footprints
The article had no byline but turns out to have been written by automotive editor, Joseph D. Younger. He can be reached care of: carandtravel (at) aaany.com He replied to me via an assistant a few times. He stopped responding when I questioned the dust to dust report.

 

I would second that. I switched to BWC several years ago from AAA after reading some of the articles on AAA. They gave discounts to hybrids and seem to focus a lot on reducing our enegy use/carbon footprint. IMO, it is completely irresponsible for AAA to republish that garbage two years after it has been debunked numerous times. I never had to use BWC and let it lapse after a year. Will probably rejoin when the Prius gets a little older.

 

I put together a blog at EV WORLD called
CNW’s report that will not die

Also see the sticky on debunking CNW in the hybrid news forum.

 

Third that. BWC gives good service and their heart is in the right place.

 

This is an interesting thread--especially the comments on AAA. My wife and I have belonged for years, largely for the road-assistance benefits but also for their travel services: traveler's checks, foreign currency, international drivers' licenses.

But we've noticed that AAA is really more of an insurance (which we don't use) and finance operation than an automobile association. We've got an AAA credit card, but we NEVER use it, because the interest rates are higher than the normally usurious rates charged by other card providers. And their so-called newsletters are such drivel that we haven't bothered to read them for years.

Perhaps it's time to check out BWC. Do they operate here in Massachusetts?

--Joe

 

At Better World Club - Roadside Assistance, Insurance and Travel it says:

"Better World Club is currently quoting in Arizona, California, Connecticut, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah and Washington only. Watch this space."

 

At Better World Club - Roadside Assistance, Insurance and Travel it says:

"Better World Club Provides Nationwide Roadside Assistance. We are the Nation's Only environmentally friendly auto club. Membership Includes eco-travel Services, Discounts on hybrid cars, insurance Services, Free Maps, Auto Maintenance discounts and bicycle roadside assistance. We donate 1% of annual revenues toward environmental cleanup and advocacy."