09/09/10

There are three primary ratings produced by RV Consumer Group:

1) Reliability
2) Highway Control
3) Value

All ratings are on a 1 to 100 scale but each one is established by totally different criteria.

RV Reliability is generated from a database that consists of input from consumer satisfaction polls and staff evaluations. The results are further broken down so that the end score reflects 1/3 input from the evaluations and 2/3 from the satisfaction polls. The results from the satisfaction polls are calculated using equally the summary of averages from both brand and RV manufacturer.

An example of reliability rating:

Brand A, Brand B, and Brand C are manufactured by Manufacturer Z . From a total of 450 satisfaction polls, the average score received for Brand A = 70; for Brand B = 75; and for Brand C = 79. Thus, Manufacturer Z's average satisfaction score from the satisfaction polls is 75.

If the staff has had an opportunity to evaluate Manufacturer Z's brands by physical inspections, those scores are entered into the database. For this example Brand A received an evaluation score of 65, Brand B received 70, and Brand C was not evaluated.

Results for Brand A: Brand A consumer satisfaction score = 70; Manufacturer Z's consumer satisfaction score = 75; RVCG staff evaluation score = 65. The total for Brand A = 210, which divided by 3 will give Brand A a reliability rating of 70.

Results for Brand B: Brand B consumer satisfaction score = 75; Manufacturer Z's consumer satisfaction score = 75; RVCG staff evaluation score = 70. The total for Brand B = 220, which divided by 3 will give Brand A a reliability rating of 73.

Results for Brand C: Brand C consumer satisfaction score = 79; Manufacturer Z's consumer satisfaction score = 75; RVCG staff did not evaluate Brand C. The total for Brand C = 145, which divided by 2 will give Brand C a reliability rating of 77.

Our database is programmed to search for duplicates by name, email or other data. We also do a record-by-record "eye" search to keep the database as clean as possible. We are firmly convinced that this rating is 95% pure when reflecting reliability.

RV Highway Control is generated with data received from the RV's manufacturer, often supplemented by information furnished by consumer users. Because most handling characteristics have been proven to be a result of good or bad engineering and assembly, it is relatively easy to show that driver control can be easily lost when the RV is overloaded, out of balance or, in the case of motor homes, designed with an inadequate wheelbase for the vehicle's length.