Consumer Reports

My first car, a nine-year-old Ford I bought before my junior year in college, lasted me the two years I needed it to hold a part-time job until graduation. Not bad considering I paid just $50 for the clunker, all I could afford. I also had to carry jugs of water in the car. Every five miles or so I had to stop, open the hood and pour water into the radiator so the engine wouldn't overheat. After graduation, I sold the car for $35. I warned the buyer about the car's condition, but he let it overheat and die in the middle of downtown Miami three days later.

In a blow to the company that is poised to be the largest automaker in the world, Toyota Motor Corp. fell so far in Consumer Reports' annual reliability survey that the magazine will no longer automatically recommend the company's new cars and trucks to readers. The Toyota brand slid from first place last year to fifth place in the 2007 rankings, which were released yesterday, and Honda replaced Toyota in the No. 1 spot. What's more, "below average" ratings were given to two of Toyota's vehicles: the six-cylinder Camry sedan and four-wheel-drive Tundra pickup truck.

WASHINGTON -- If there's an eternal optimist still floating around the offices of Detroit's automakers, it might be wise to keep him away from Consumer Reports' latest overview of the best and worst cars and trucks. Sure, the bible of consumer reviews had some positive words in its annual auto issue released yesterday for Ford Motor Co.'s mid-size sedans, and it noted some improvement in the fit and finish on General Motors Corp.'s newest models. But, as occurred last year, no Detroit vehicle ranked in the magazine's 10 Top Picks, in which Toyota Motor Co. and Honda Motor Co. had seven models.

Consumer Reports, the magazine millions turn to before shopping for everything from cosmetics to cars, is under fire from two auto makers in lawsuits that constitute the most serious attack ever on the 63-year-old publication.Judges in Southern California could decide as early as this week to send the federal cases to trial. Some legal experts say the lawsuits could have a dangerously chilling effect on the media's willingness to publish negative product reviews.The product-disparagement suits, by Japanese auto makers Suzuki Motors Corp.

CONSUMER REPORTS, that always sensible and steadfastly neutral tester of the things we buy, is out with a report on educational toys, just in time for the holidays.This year, the organization tested 30 toys marketed for their educational value, and 350 kids helped pick the winners.Don't worry, Consumer Reports magazine says, if you bought the Spice Girls and tried to convince yourself that they have learning value. "Even the ubiquitous Beanie Babies can have a place in a child's development," advises CR.Sunday, we'll look at some of the toys designed to foster better reading.

The grind: A survey conducted by the American Society of Chartered Life Underwriters & Chartered Financial Consultants and the Ethics Officer Association found that 57 percent of more than 1,600 U.S. workers polled report lost sleep or insomnia due to workplace pressure. Forty-eight percent of the respondents said they had headaches, while 37 percent reported workplace pressure made them depressed. Thirty-five percent said the pressure had made them gain or lose weight.Going retro: The idea of driving a station wagon might make you feel like Ward Cleaver, but Consumer Reports magazine says, "don't count wagons out yet."

FRESH ideas as May opens:ALONG WALL ST.: In the last decade, May's stock market performance topped that of every other month."Dow Jones industrial average climbed 5,000 points since 1980 despite five bear markets. This expansion is longest on record." (Consumer Reports, May)"Warren Buffett bought 160,000 shares of Property Capital Trust (ASE) around $8.75, April 2-12, his stake now 6.7 percent." (Income Digest, April 22)Ticker Warning: Before you rush out and buy the above, ask yourself: "How will I know when he sells?"

Washington -- So you're dying to know what the new neighbors down the street paid for their house, but you don't want to ask and you're certainly not taking a trip to the county courthouse to check?Or maybe you're trying to figure what your own house is worth with an eye to refinancing or selling later this summer? You need what real estate agents call "comparables," but you have no access to computerized property sales databases, like local multiple listing services (MLS).Or perhaps you're considering a job offer that would require you to relocate to a community 1,500 miles away.

Much of the raw seafood sold in stores is contaminated or mislabeled, according to a six-month Consumer Reports investigation released today.The study was based on 113 samples of fish and clams that were purchased in 40 randomly selected supermarkets and specialty fish shops in New York and Chicago. The group found that 34 samples were spoiled, 50 were contaminated with fecal coliforms, and eight of 20 samples of swordfish had more than the permissible level of mercury. What's more, one-third of the sample, taken from a number of different stores, was misidentified, usually as a more expensive variety.

If you're racking up those frequent-flier miles, wouldn't it be nice to know that you're doing it with an airline that's giving you a good shake?The people who publish the Consumer Reports Travel Letter think so. A reliable friend to bargain-minded travelers everywhere, the Consumer Reports Travel Letter (subscriptions: [800] 999-7959) frequently ferrets out the best and worst in travel, and it recently turned its attention to the airlines' frequent-flier programs.Which one is best for you?

The Big Three automakers need a bailout because we don't buy enough gas-guzzlers. The Wall Street Journal reports the government has less gas tax revenue to pay for bridges and roads because we've been driving less. Now we hear that retailers will go out of business if we don't shop till we drop this holiday season. Enough. Consumers have done more than their fair share to keep the economy afloat for years. We have the debt to prove it. It's time to let others lift up the economy. Or, as ethicist Bruce Weinstein says: It's OK to be a tightwad.

The economy may be forcing consumers to pull back on spending overall, but it is not expected to stop people from braving long lines and crowds for today's post-Thanksgiving deals. The hope from retailers is that customers will open their wallets and spend. Price-conscious shoppers worried about rising utility and food prices and falling home values are expected to crowd stores today in larger numbers than in recent years as they look for the best bargains, according to retail experts.

It's early November, but it's not too soon to make sure your holiday spending won't get out of control. To avoid going overboard, you will need to plan your purchases so that you won't get carried away with holiday spirit once you hit the stores. More than three-quarters of adults recently surveyed by Consumer Reports said they intended to cut back on holiday spending, often by buying fewer gifts. So you'll have plenty of company. And if you start to waver, remember: Your friends and family won't want you to go into hock for the holidays, at least if they care about you. Plus, if you're upfront about being frugal, that gives them permission to do the same.

HINTS ON BUYING INSURANCE Tips for buying homeowners insurance: *Shop around. Get quotes from several companies or agents, and consult consumer publications (Consumer Reports) and online sources. Also, ask friends and relatives for recommendations. Note that some banks, employers or special-interest groups offer insurance to members. A buyers guide and rate comparison chart for Maryland can be found at www.md insurance.state.md.us. *Get price quotes. Make sure you give each carrier the same information so that you can make "apples-to-apples" comparisons.

T HE Q: Identity theft has topped the Federal Trade Commission's annual list of top consumer complaints for several years running. Not surprisingly, several companies have popped up to help ease your worries by offering consumers a secure way to safeguard their personal data from evildoers... for a price, of course. Reader Renate Thorssell wondered if it was "worthwhile to subscribe to any of the credit protection programs out there?" "With identity theft so commonplace, it would be comforting to know that someone out there is looking out for us for a change," Thorssell said.

WASHINGTON -- Foreign automakers dominate the market for reliability and design in the eyes of Consumer Reports, while a Detroit model cracked the magazine's top picks for the first time since 2005. In its annual automotive report, the influential magazine last week applauded Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Corp. for making improvements. The lone Detroit model to win a category was the Chevrolet Silverado in pickups. The reviewers lauded Ford for improving quality, and praised some of GM's newer models, such as its midsize sedans.

Rep. Elijah E. Cummings announced yesterday that he has asked Mattel Inc. to stop using lead in its toys. Speaking at a news conference at the Union Baptist Head Start Center on Druid Hill Avenue, the Baltimore Democrat accused the company of not doing enough to keep children safe. He focused on the Fisher Price Medical Kit, which according to research by Consumer Reports, contained pieces with lead concentration five times the federal standard. Fisher Price is a subsidiary of Mattel.

Too often this week, Xavier Henry would look across the racks of sweater dresses, skinny jeans and other trendy clothing at his Melrose Place Boutique and see few, if any, customers. It's indicative of the sluggish holiday shopping season. Consumers stressed out about high energy, gas and food prices have cut back on their spending. Retailers such as Henry, whose store is at Security Square Mall, are hoping their bottom lines will improve starting today. It's the final weekend of the holiday shopping season, when procrastinators and those holding out for the steepest discounts are expected to crowd stores for last-minute shopping.

My first car, a nine-year-old Ford I bought before my junior year in college, lasted me the two years I needed it to hold a part-time job until graduation. Not bad considering I paid just $50 for the clunker, all I could afford. I also had to carry jugs of water in the car. Every five miles or so I had to stop, open the hood and pour water into the radiator so the engine wouldn't overheat. After graduation, I sold the car for $35. I warned the buyer about the car's condition, but he let it overheat and die in the middle of downtown Miami three days later.

In a blow to the company that is poised to be the largest automaker in the world, Toyota Motor Corp. fell so far in Consumer Reports' annual reliability survey that the magazine will no longer automatically recommend the company's new cars and trucks to readers. The Toyota brand slid from first place last year to fifth place in the 2007 rankings, which were released yesterday, and Honda replaced Toyota in the No. 1 spot. What's more, "below average" ratings were given to two of Toyota's vehicles: the six-cylinder Camry sedan and four-wheel-drive Tundra pickup truck.