10/23 Wall St. Journal review misinforms about 2010 Prius

[anniea]

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...ions_lifestyle

In this comparison of the Prius and the 2010 Fusion and the Altima, the writer says: "For the record, I drove a 2009 model since the 2010 version wasn't available in time for my review -- but the only differences between the two will be minor and barely noticeable cosmetic changes." He does, however, correctly cite the price and mpg ratings of the 2010.

[tumbleweed]

Not really a very good article at was it. I like the Wall Street Journal but they really ought to stick to what they know, business and finance, when it comes to cars they are at a total loss. Unfortunately a lot of their readers don't know that and, like the fans of any big newspaper, if it's in "their paper" they are likely to believe it.

[LeadingEdgeBoomer]

I could not find the quote you include in your posting about the WSJ article. Perhaps the author has already received enough feedback to have edited it.

[dc202]

Originally Posted by anniea

Hybrid Car Review: 2010 Ford Fusion and Nissan Altima - WSJ.com

In this comparison of the Prius and the 2010 Fusion and the Altima, the writer says: "For the record, I drove a 2009 model since the 2010 version wasn't available in time for my review -- but the only differences between the two will be minor and barely noticeable cosmetic changes." He does, however, correctly cite the price and mpg ratings of the 2010.

It's called lazy journalism practiced based on artificially imposed deadlines instead of offering your readers what they pay for and deserve.

[fuzzy1]

I could not find the quote you include in your posting about the WSJ article. Perhaps the author has already received enough feedback to have edited it.

No, it is still there, the end of paragraph #12.

PS -- NB. As a WSJ commenter points out, the sentence in question refers to the Altima, not the Prius.

[ggood]

If you look at the comments, someone did call him on it.

[anniea]

PS -- NB. As a WSJ commenter points out, the sentence in question refers to the Altima, not the Prius.[/QUOTE]

Wow--You're absolutely right. Funny--I read it several times and didn't realize that. I read it as though he'd driven the 2010 Prius at some earlier point, and then used the very similar 2009 when making the comparison in this article, for no apparent reason. I don't think the writing is great, but I still should have understood it better than I did.

[asj2009]

I very much doubt anyone's going to base their buying decisions on some moron's writing in the WSJ. Case in point, sales of Prius have continued to overshadow (by a wide margin) every other hybrid car out there no matter how much hype and reviews try to get people to buy other cars.

[G3priusV]

Originally Posted by anniea

Hybrid Car Review: 2010 Ford Fusion and Nissan Altima - WSJ.com

In this comparison of the Prius and the 2010 Fusion and the Altima, the writer says: "For the record, I drove a 2009 model since the 2010 version wasn't available in time for my review -- but the only differences between the two will be minor and barely noticeable cosmetic changes." He does, however, correctly cite the price and mpg ratings of the 2010.

Just 'cosmetic changes'? Poor those Japanese 200 engineers' (as mentioned on an article found by Tideland) hard work got so understated like this? He needed to do a little bit more research before writing this!

[tiztim]

Originally Posted by tumbleweed

Not really a very good article at was it. I like the Wall Street Journal but they really ought to stick to what they know, business and finance, when it comes to cars they are at a total loss. Unfortunately a lot of their readers don't know that and, like the fans of any big newspaper, if it's in "their paper" they are likely to believe it.

Don't forget and an OT comment I cannot resist is the WSJ's enthusiasm and trust in the administration of GWB: good for the barons of Wall Street, bad for the country and the rest of us. The WSJ has its tone of infalibility down cold.