When True Delta recently had a 20-year birthday, publisher Michael Karesh asked if any readers wanted to help bring a new burst of energy to his website, which provides practical resources for car buyers.
“One member recently got in touch with an offer to upgrade the site’s code and fix SEO issues. Would anyone else be interested in working on the site?” Karesh asked in a Facebook (2024) post. “If so, in what capacity? Feel free to message me.”
Karesh (2024) noted that any new initiatives would need to have more people involved. “Earlier we tried to do just about everything with two people and there was far more that needed doing than we had time to do properly,” he wrote. “To be clear, at this point I’m just exploring possibilities.”
A number of people appear to have responded, but Karesh has not yet announced what he has in mind for the future of True Delta. The website might be best described as a small-scale alternative to Consumer Reports focused specifically on cars. Karesh (2010) has argued that his methodology for measuring vehicle reliability is more rigorous.
Not a full substitute for Consumer Reports
In addition to reliability data, True Delta has a number of other useful features, such as an “ask an owner” section. Karesh has cultivated an intelligent and civil group of participants. He has also published reviews of new cars. They have struck me as being reasonably detailed, objective and well written.
All that said, I don’t see True Delta as a substitute for Consumer Reports. For one thing, Karesh only covers automobiles. In addition, Consumer Reports is unique among the automotive media in not accepting ads, buying its own test cars and operating as a nonprofit.
I am not implying that Karesh is less “objective” than Consumer Reports. I have a lot of respect for his work. However, in the long run might True Delta be better able to live up to its ideals with a structure more like Consumer Reports?
True Delta hints at difficulties of small-scale publishing
Full access to True Delta’s features requires a subscription. It looks like a worthwhile investment for those in the market for another car. However, I have never subscribed because I don’t buy new cars — and have tended to hold onto each of my used cars for as long as two decades.
If I were to brainstorm ways to expand True Delta, I wonder if it could better address sustainability issues. That might include data about a vehicle’s carbon footprint, the recyclability of components, and usage of nontoxic interior materials. Traditional car enthusiasts would likely not be very interested in such information, but more environmentally oriented shoppers might.
I have always found Karesh to be among the most ethical and thoughtful people in the automotive media, so I am glad to see that True Delta has made it this far. However, his recent query also underlines the difficulties of small-scale publishers. They simply don’t have the resources of the big boys, and so their efforts can end up functioning as a labor of love rather than a lucrative business.
If you are inspired by what Karesh has been doing, I would encourage you to think about ways to participate in True Delta.
True Delta | Facebook
- Free access to parts of the website; membership required for some services
RE:SOURCES
- Karesh, Michael; 2010. “2010 Consumer reports Survey Analysis: Part One: Insufficient Data.” The Truth About Cars. Posted Nov. 1.
- ——; 2024. Facebook post Sept. 20.
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