Auto journalists can't be taken seriously anyway. Their opinions are no more valid than mine. I eventually stopped buying Motor magazine back in the early 80s when I realised this.
If you like fiction, enjoy what they churn out, but trust your own experience always.
To his credit, Jeremy Clarkson was always realistic about how much influence he had as a motoring journalist. He called the Ford Orion one of the worst cars ever made and urged people not to buy it. Conversely, in common with his
Top Gear co-presenters, he heaped praise on the Renault Avantime, calling it a "fantastic" car that he "adored". The Orion was a best seller, shipping 70,000 models a year in the UK. The Avantime sold 447 during its run!
