M17 Tiguan - Australian Reviews

[Gladbach]

They all seem to say pretty much the same thing as well.

[Bassik]

They all seem to say pretty much the same thing as well.

Yeah they start with "It's a Golf GTI on stilts" and end with "It's not like a Golf GTI on stilts" lol

[REXman]

I'm synical even at my most optimistic of times (Hoot to be around). I've been reading a few reviews for the Tiguan (who we kidding, I've read nearly all of them). Anyway, I thought I was hallucinating and found it very coincendental that more than one review mentioned that "this is not a GTI on stilts".. pretty much to the letter, so I started reading reviews across different websites, and they all read very similar. Almost just.. paraphrased.

So then I looked at the photo on each website - and noticed they are using the exact same photo.

I mean:

CarAdvice
Motoring
WhichCar
WheelsMag
Drive

Haven't read the other sites yet.

But the photo across the websites are also identical. Is it not weird that some pretty reputable websites have apparently covered off on a full review of a car, but have not got a real photo of the car that they drove?

They are certainly implying, at the very least, that the car that they drove is the one in the photos - which is false. What a joke!

I know some people think that all these reviews are paid advertisements - well it's certainly looking as such.

Anyone seeing this differently?

[Transporter]

Agreed.

You should never trust the reviews. Drive and check the car yourself, ask the owners who already own it, preferably in person, at the car parks, petrol stations and whenever there is a good opportunity. I always do.

IMO, many reviews (not just for the cars) are fraud.

[tigger73]

More than likely they are all provided with the same marketing spiel/information/professional location photos by VW and were too lazy to come up with something original themselves.

[Flipper Dog]

I'm synical even at my most optimistic of times (Hoot to be around). I've been reading a few reviews for the Tiguan (who we kidding, I've read nearly all of them). Anyway, I thought I was hallucinating and found it very coincendental that more than one review mentioned that "this is not a GTI on stilts".. pretty much to the letter, so I started reading reviews across different websites, and they all read very similar. Almost just.. paraphrased.

So then I looked at the photo on each website - and noticed they are using the exact same photo.

I mean:

CarAdvice
Motoring
WhichCar
WheelsMag
Drive

Haven't read the other sites yet.

But the photo across the websites are also identical. Is it not weird that some pretty reputable websites have apparently covered off on a full review of a car, but have not got a real photo of the car that they drove?

They are certainly implying, at the very least, that the car that they drove is the one in the photos - which is false. What a joke!

I know some people think that all these reviews are paid advertisements - well it's certainly looking as such.

Anyone seeing this differently?

Yeah, so I just had a look at Go Auto's review (which is not noted above) 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan 162TSI | GoAuto - Overview and low and be hold again the exact same photos. It is so bad that even the shot of the Sat Nav view within the driver's instrument area has the same trip km's (228.3km), time (18:48 ) and location.
So were these the "official" VW media released photos which are provided to reviewers at the press launch? I also guess that some form of "official" media directions were provided to allow reviewers to form their own unique versions of reviews as all stories follow the same basic layout.
Of interest the Go Auto review failed to state "this is not a GTI on stilts", shame on them.

I think Transporter is on the money, these press events appear to be paid for by VW and have no independent comments allowed. The only true reviews we are going to see are on sites like this forum or talking to real people who drive the vehicle.

[Gladbach]

It's pretty common practise. They car manufacturer has a launch day, invites a bunch of auto journos, briefs them in the car and provides some spec sheets etc, photos (a media pack) and then let's each journos drive a car for about an hour. The intention is for the journos to do a "first drive" piece. Most of these articles are going to be similar, not because they're being paid or anything, but because it's easy to regurgitate what they were just told by the car manufacturer.

Most journos will be overall favourable but reserved, I.e. give 5 or 6 pleasing attributes and one or two minor things that might be slightly negative

After a few weeks, theyll then be given a car for a whole weekend. It's then when they can do a far more in depth and honest* review.

*Honest to a point. The fact is that good reviews get more clicks, where as poor reviews may cause the reader form a negative opinion on the car magazine/site. So you usually won't see absolutely damning reviews, even the negative ones will usually finish on a positive note.

[tigger73]

I think sometimes the comparison tests have some merit, though again are probably highly influenced by the amount of advertising $ that the manufacturer spends with the media outlet.

Again do your own research, drive the vehicles yourself and find out what the actual experience others have had by visiting places like this

Of course new models are always going to be hard to know what you're going to get in terms of long term reliability. But if you're concerned about long term reliability that's why you don't buy the new model. Get the old one as it's getting run out and has been on the market for 8 years.

[Chocolate_Bear]

I think sometimes the comparison tests have some merit, though again are probably highly influenced by the amount of advertising $ that the manufacturer spends with the media outlet.

Again do your own research, drive the vehicles yourself and find out what the actual experience others have had by visiting places like this

Of course new models are always going to be hard to know what you're going to get in terms of long term reliability. But if you're concerned about long term reliability that's why you don't buy the new model. Get the old one as it's getting run out and has been on the market for 8 years.

Couldn't agree more with going out there and driving a few cars and making your choice based on personal feel. It's you that needs to be happy with your choice...


Tiguan 162tsi rline (May 2017) - NSW, Northern Beaches

[TungstenR]

My initial issue with the first Australian review(s) was that it did not refer to personal experience, but was often referring to what was (already) written/said about the car. My personal experience after 3000km (break-in now complete ) is quite different from my initial personal impression, both on the good, and on the bad side.