German Cars Disappoint Car Owners

DW World ^ | 11/29/03 | DW World

[freedom44]

Mercedes and BMW for all their glamour, aren't the preferred choice of German car-owners, according to two surprising new surveys released this week.

When it comes to overall ratings, nothing tops the charts like a Mercedes Benz. But for everyday use, German car-owners prefer Japanese cars to the legendary names of their native country.

The stunning news is the result of two surveys conducted separately by car magazine AutoBILD and German car-insurer ADAC. The so-called Automarxx survey, conducted by ADAC with the Center for Automotive Research at Gelsenkirchen Technical College, asked more than 38,000 car owners to rank international car companies in terms of consumer satisfaction.

The German automobile industry's first entry on the list is Porsche at number eight. Toyota and Honda lead a pack of Asian rivals in the first seven spots.

The study, which will first be released to the public next week, is sure to disappoint the likes of Mercedes and Audi, who apparently enjoy a better reputation abroad than at home.

Not even in the top five

Covering a range of areas from company strength and market position to design and environmental friendliness, the latest Automarxx survey is the first to feature a Consumer Satisfaction section.

The consumer questionnaires looked at both the products and service of 33 manufacturers, and included ratings of electronics, motor power and comfort as well as of cost and standards of garage work.

While German brands Mercedes, BMW, Audi, Volkswagen and Porsche still occupy the top five of the Overall Rating section, they barely figure in the Consumer Satisfaction top ten, beaten by Toyota at number one, followed by other Asian competitors such as Subaru, Honda and Mazda.

Quality over image

The competition is not surprised by the results. Speaking from the Essen Motor Show, which opened on Thursday, Mazda's Peter Tuhl told Deutsche Welle that Mazda's position in the top five reflected the Japanese company's enduringly high technical standards.

He said a Mazda owner experiences "lasting satisfaction." A German car owner, on the other hand, is more like a "disappointed lover who realizes the first promises aren't going to come true".

The survey results seem to back up the mark. Mercedes has no problem with its image, but rather with its follow-through, according to the results.

Dr. Ferdinand Dudenhöffer, who led the survey, said the emphasis German companies like Mercedes place on innovation comes at the expense of production quality.

"Every technical innovation increases the risk of a break-down," he says."In this respect, Toyota is more conservative, which may not be good for its image, but is very beneficial in terms of reliability."

"Made in Germany" loses clout

The AutoBILD survey confirms the trend. The first German entry on the list is BMW at number five, again trumped by Asian rivals.

VW CEO Dr. Bernd Pischetsrieder admitted to AutoBILD that "in technical terms, Toyota is better then us. But not just us."

The results of the Automarxx survey are a blow to Stuttgart-based Mercedes in particular, which comes in at an astonishingly low number 32. Other German manufacturers fared equally badly, with Volkswagen at number 31 and Opel only four places higher.

[martin_fierro]

The Mercedes I owned was the biggest piece of crap EVER.

I'll only buy Toyota and Honda from now on.

[Helms]

The new BMW 5 series is a good reason to buy a 3 or a 7 series. The once great 5 series is now a bulbous cut up
techno lighting extravaganza on 4 wheels. The Nissan Maxima is the better looking car.

[Mark17]

I have had a BMW almost 8 years now. I have only had minor problems with it. The water pump died at 75,000 miles, but that was easily fixed.

[buccaneer81]

This satisfied three time Mazda owner agrees.

[desertcry]

Those who buy german cars have money to throw away. German cars have nothing to offer beyond excessive price, their quality is less Japanese cars or even US made cars. The only german car I ever owned was a VW circa 1960, it was cheap then, though quality, it was not.

[Vesuvian]

I had no problems with my Mitsubishi other than normal wear and tear. My Audi came from the factory with a defective transmission and the wrong trim installed. But, I have to say it's much more fun to drive.

[desertcry]

Yeah, I had an acura legend, it was 9 years old and over 100k miles, I had to change the head light bulbs and that was it.

[Tom D.]

In the fall of 1998 I bought a 1999 Mazda Protage with a 5 speed manual transmission. My oldest child was getting her learner's permit and I wanted her to learn to drive a car with a manuel transmission.

She learned how to drive on that car as have my other two kids. They drove that car to school everyday (35 miles each way).

This car has been driven hard. It has over 173,000 miles on it and has only had routine maintenance. It has been one tough car.

Why anyone would buy a car from Germans, who are not much above the French, is beyond me.

[PolishProud]

I have a 1986 Mercedes and had the following problems: replaced valve seals twice at 5K and 6K miles, alarm went off when car unlocked, radio kept thinking it was being stolen and would cut out, replaced ignition twice at 5K and 10K miles, spring in seat broke at 6K miles, head light unit hinged open one cold night because plastic male connector broke (fixed with door spring hooked to frame otherwise huge cost to replace unit)and nurmerous oil leaks. A 67 Chevy was the best car I ever had.

PS: The Mercedes only has 98,000 miles. I never drive it. Its for sale, cheap.

[pt17]

The Mercedes I owned was the biggest piece of crap EVER

I've a friend who had the same experience. We have, though, a 3 year old BMW 3 series that's one of the best handling/driving cars I've ever owned. So far we've had no problems and it hasn't cost us a cent in maintenance (free oil/filter changes and no tune-up till over 100K miles :-) I wouldn't own a 5, 6 or 7 series, though. What I'd really like, though, is a 4wd Accord if they made one.

[Mark17]

Why anyone would buy a car from Germans, who are not much above the French, is beyond me.

I love my BMW 328is, and I would like to have another, but I am sure I will get a Toyota or Honda next, simply because of the price. The Bemer is nice, but too expensive for me. I still have this thing against Mazda, and maybe I shouldn't, but I bought a 1972 Mazda RX 2, and the engine blew up at 40,000 miles. I vowed, never again, and maybe I shouldn't have, but I did.

[whattajoke]

I, too, owned a Mitsubishi beater for 8 yrs otu of college... I absolutely destroyed that car, no care for it whatsoever. Almost every single non essential thing on it broke (power locks/windows, stereo, sunroof (not factory though), AC, paint, interior lights... but it always ran perfectly fine. (and a great snow car too, owing to the fact that it was pretty much the heaviest 4 cylinder car made in the 90's.)

I just got a Audi A6 this summer, and so far, I'm enjoying it. When the turbo kicks in in 2nd, it can snap your neck pretty good... which I love.

HOWEVER, I am biding my time and waiting for something to break, as I've been warned a million times.

[sinclair]

“I have had a BMW almost 8 years now. I have only had minor problems with it. The water pump died at 75,000 miles, but that was easily fixed.“

1994 Chevy Camaro Z-28 - everything on it works - 1 brake job - 2 turn signal lights - 1 headlight - 1 tune up - regular, normal maintenance. 118,000 miles. Paid $20,500. Comes to $176.00 per month for 116 months. Beat that.

[Vesuvian]

Cool! I figure you have a 2.7T. How do you like it? That's a fast car, just baby those turbos- let them warm up and cool down. You might also want to use a synthetic motor oil. Since there are 2 of them, if one goes, both have to be replaced.

[Eva]

My husband owned a '75 Camaro with a 350 engine and a manual transmission that he put over 200,000 miles on. We have no idea exactly how many because the odometer was disconnected for a while. There were quite a few things that wore out over the years (like the ignition that no longer needed a key to start it), but the engine just kept going like the ever ready rabbit.

[BradyLS]

A friend had their Toyota totaled in an accident. Before the week was out, they were driving the same car bought with the inusrance check!

[cmsgop]

A-6 Nice Ride.

My 2000 Jetta has been Flawless (70,000) I love it, I want to find a used A-4 next. This from a former Chevy guy too.

[PhilipFreneau]

>> We have a 3 year old BMW 3 series that's one of the best handling/driving cars I've ever owned. So far we've had no problems and it hasn't cost us a cent in maintenance (free oil/filter changes and no tune-up till over 100K miles :-) I wouldn't own a 5, 6 or 7 series, though.

My wife and I drive 2001 BMW's purchased new: mine is an X5; hers is a 525. Superb cars. Not sure what a 6 series looks like.