Greg Mankiw is buying a car for his teenage daughter. So he picked up a copy of Consumer Reports and read their recommendations:
Dead last was Chrysler. CU recommended zero percent of the Chrysler vehicles they tested. That’s right–zero. Second to last was General Motors. CU recommended 17 percent of GM models. By contrast, most other companies had half or more of their models get the thumbs up. Honda was the top ranked brand; CU recommended 95 percent of its models.
He then asks:
Is it any surprise that Chrysler and GM are now in the process of going out of business?
Another question… Is it any surprise that union powered work forces created the world’s worst cars?
Here is a list of the top 5 rates 2009 small cars. I’m pleased to see the the Mini Cooper that we are considering for my daughter (a while off, but it is fun to speculate) is #3.
Unsurprising… nothing from Ford, Chrysler or GM in the top 5.
May 26th, 2009 at 10:39 am
I’d go with the Civic. Better car, holds it’s value better, and is safer. Maybe not as “cute” but definately the best choice.
May 26th, 2009 at 10:52 am
Agreed. Or she could drive my truck. I told her I’d pile a bunch of crap in the backseat, since she won’ be allowed to have passengers.