Consumer Reports gave rave reviews to the Contour/Mystique even as late as the 1999 model year. Their review of the Mystique as the best of the domestic mid price cars swayed me to buy mine. But a couple of years later, as used cars, the same cars are on Consumer Reports lists of 'cars to avoid'.
I used to accuse CR of being biased against ANYTHING I owned...be it cars, TV's, or whatever. Never depended what I bought, CR didn't like it. I almost wrote a letter to their editor, asking them when they were going to relocate their offices to Japan, since they obviously were in bed with anything Japanese.
But in all honesty, the numbers seem to support their opinions. The Camry is the most popular car in the US. My next car will probably be Japanese, because reliability and durability are going to be my number one priority. I feel betrayed because I bought my Mystique because of CR's recommendations, then the next thing I know, they are trashing it. I've owned Fords all my life, but everything I'm hearing about them lately scares me off from buying another one.
