Today's News From the Cars.com Family

Until regulations make electronic stability systems standard, you'll still have to research which vehicles have the safety feature and which ones don't. Today, Ask.cars.com does the work for you, at least when it comes to Hondas and Volkswagens. MotherProof.com reviews the 2008 Acura TL Type-S and comes away with a dull impression of the sports sedan, wanting more storage capabilities and all-wheel drive for Colorado winters. PickupTrucks.com reports that the compact Ford Ranger will indeed continue production into 2011, contrary to previous expectations that put 2009 as its last year.

Do all Volkswagens and Hondas have an electronic stability system? (Ask.cars.com)
2008 Acura TL Type-S Review (MotherProof.com)
Ford Ranger Production Extended Through 2011 (PickupTrucks.com)

Comments

[eagle2x]

FOMOCO has an ideal opportunity to exploit the Ranger icon and continue building this small pick-up. However, they must get serious and design a safer Ranger (side airbags, ABS, stabiity control, stronger roof structure, etc). Ford should enhance the economy and performance of Ranger's 4 cylinder gasoline engines and mate a six speed automatic with its V-6 engines. Lots of potential exists for Ford to make a modernized winner of the Ranger. But I doubt it will happen due to the company's feeble strategic vision.

[Paul K.]

Cars.com has a pregnant woman review an Acura TL Type-S? The powers to be should change the name of this site to Cars-soft.com. Clearly this site is not run by any real men.

[Opponent]

Cars-soft.com? Any real men? You're kidding me, right?
This isn't a macho site; it's for consumers that need practical information, pregnant or not. Grow up.

[Capeplates]

Remember - recent events show that "men" can get pregnant as well as women. Maybe the site is for real "men"

[Joe Keyson]

Even though I think Paul went over the top with his post I do agree with him. Having a pregnant woman review a Acura TL is nothing short of idiotic. It shows a lack of seriousness by cars.com. Then again I'm assuming that cars.com wants to be measured by the experts in the field - ie Motor Trend, Car & Driver, etc. If that's the case they fell short with this article.

[CinciBrit]

i have been driving my acura tl since 2005, i have the standard model. The seats are the most comfortable I have ever sat in save the mercedes clk that my Dad has but that is $40k more. For the price I think the TL is a great car especially when compared to the BMW, Infiniti and Lexus, all of which are many $$$ more. The Acura is known for its Technology and it does not let you down. The TL-S which I have driven does put alot of horsepower down through the front wheels and does have alot of Torque Steer, but that is changing. The 2009 will have AWD, so instead of reporting on a car which is coming to the end of its production, why not wait for another couple of months and review the 2009.

[Dave T.]

Paul K,
Clearly you missed the name of the site the story runs on, it's called MOTHERPROOF.COM

Regardless, I don't think there is a problem with showing a woman's point of view on or off of Cars.com proper and in fact we would like more. Women make most car buying decisions one way or the other and to say they don't know about cars is kind of ummm... antiquated thinking.

You also must have missed her stories about the Audi R8!

As far as competing with Motor Trend or C&D we have absolutely no desire to compete with them. Our competition is entirely the folks in the consumer space not the enthusiast space. We maintain an editorial policy completely at odds with the enthusiast media as well to keep our reviews and editorial content unbiased.

[Paul K]

Dave,
Test driving a Type-S while being 8.5 months pregnant is simply stupid, not to mention that she's pregnant and that alone does not make you a mother. It's refreshing that you have no desire to compete with Motor Trend and C&D as it appears you don't have the writers to do so. I would also add to the list Edmunds.com as I don't believe they would ever hide behind, "Our competition is entirely the folks in the consumer space not the enthusiast space." Lame, really lame.

[Dave T.]

Paul K.
You're argument isn't really valid when you keep saying women aren't able to review cars. That's pretty sexist/ignorant in my book.

I didn't say Edmunds by name, but obviously they are a competitor in the consumer space, while Inside Line goes after enthusiasts.

Edmunds recently retooled their entire consumer side to differentiate it from its enthusiast side. They also have female writers from mother's perspectives in a blog as well. I think they have a clear understanding, as do we, of the different consumers out there that would like reviews written for them. Clearly you would find their work as offensive as ours.

I think you can hold the expert reviews on Cars.com up against any out there in either space. I don't think I was hiding behind anything when I said ours are for consumers. The point I'm making is that when a Motor Trend or Inside Line reviews a car they don't care about consumers or shoppers. They care about their readers who want to read about the car's performance, specs etc above the consumer aspect. We highlight things differently while still addressing performance etc. Read a review of the Challenger by Joe Wiesenfelder and I don't think it is inferior to any I've read by enthusiast publications.

http://www.cars.com/go/crp/research.jsp?ASSET_TYPE=Affiliate+Review%2CBuying+Guide%2CVehicle+Profile&revlogtype=17§ion=reviews&makeid=12&modelid=510&year=2008

[Charlie09]

I believe the guy's point was that if a woman is eight and half months pregnant she's probably not the right person to judge a sport car (sedan). I agree with him and it has nothing to do with sexism. In my twenty-five plus years of reading car reviews I don't ever recall a pregnant lady reviewing a sports car (sedan).

[Dave T.]

Just because you've never read it before doesn't mean it isn't legitimate. So you're saying if she wasn't pregnant it would be ok? Pregnant women shouldn't drive? Shouldn't be able to continue working?

I'm curious as to how you think auto writers review cars? Do you think a motor trend for example is thrashing a car so thoroughly it would injure an unborn baby at 8.5 months?

Even if those guys take a car on a track (and for most of them THEY DON'T!) this is an Acura TL Type S. I'd hardly call it a sports car. I don't think Type S owners are hitting the track, they just want a slightly better performing version of the TL. AND if you're a typical family, like the Motherproof.com reviewers and their readers, you're definitely not driving the Type S to the track. You have to take the review in context.

Again, did you read her take of the R8?

It's a different site for a different audience but I'm still perplexed about this pregnancy thing. Do you think women shouldn't be driving at 8.5 months? Do you know any pregnant women?