Returning home from an evening walk with the family, an oncoming car slowed down at it approached us: a 2009 Toyota Camry. I didn’t recognize the sedan as belonging to anyone I know. Then it stopped, the driver’s window motored down, and I immediately see it is one of my neighbors. Before I can say a word he says, “Gene, thank you for recommending the Camry. The previous Camry that I bought based on your recommendation was absolutely reliable just like Consumer Reports said it would be. I put over the 250,000 miles on that car over the last eight years, and it never let me down. So I bought another Camry. Thanks again, Gene, I really appreciate the advice.”

After some small chit-chat, the neighbor drove away. My wife and son think I’m “The Man” for giving out such great advice. I must admit I felt pretty good, too.

We continued walking toward our home when a Honda Odyssey passed us and cut into a driveway. It’s another neighbor, and I can see the mother is remotely opening the passenger-side power sliding door to let in her daughter. The retracting door caught my eye; it was binding on the track as it opens. I heard it scraping against the body-side of the car. I tried to walk by quietly, but then I saw the mother peering out from the rear-view mirror. She saw me. I think that I’m only a heartbeat away from being busted.

As I passed the driver’s side of the car, she opened the door and yelled to me, “Gene, did you see that door open? It’s scraping a gash across the rear panel of the car. I thought you said the Odyssey was a reliable, recommended minivan? That’s the last time I listen to you.” I tried to reply quickly that Honda did have some reliability issues with power doors, but that is not what she wanted to hear. She backed out quickly and was gone before I can get another word out.

My witty wife looked at me and said, “You’re an idiot. From now on, you take your walks alone and don’t give anyone in the neighborhood car advice.”

Yep, in less than five minute I went from expert car guy to just another chump. Such is life. Consumer Reports performs extensive testing and research on cars, though anecdotal problems do occur that defy our results and survey ratings. Hopefully we are making more people satisfied buyers than not.

As for me, I think I will buy a treadmill. Anyone have any advice on a good model to buy?

—Gene Petersen