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.

[xp38]

One of the little ironies of the world is that Mercedes was named after a young jewish girl.

[AndyJackson]

ride, ....handling can't beat it....... These characteristics are subjective

Sorry, but this is a highly refined science - just like the development of a high-performance fighter. You personally may prefer the ride and handling of a jumbo - that is a personal choice - but don't kid yourself that the jumbo will ever out-maneuver a fighter.

Some of us put a high premium on handling (cornering ability) - and the German's get high marks for this. My personal choice was a Jag X-type, but a BMW 3-series was second on my list.

[truth_seeker]

"The X5 and Z4 are assembled in Greer, South Carolina, not far from where I grew up. The engine/drive train for my X5 came from Europe, but many of the components and accessories are outsourced locally."

My Mercedes ML320 was assembled in Alabama. I would say the quality of materials is the same as other vehicles in their line, considering price.

Several plastic pieces have failed, which I hear is pretty much par for the course for most cars these days. It is an adjustment, to take it in stride for a Mercedes.

Dealer is excellent with Mercedes. Resale of my ML320 will fare poorly compared to your X5 (although I find the vehicles, performance, utility, quality pretty close).

I do not find my identity with car companies. I like fine quality, in many things (cars, a woman, music, food, places, etc.).

Thus, I can acquire whatever whets my fancy, be it BMW or some other. I do NOT like the back of the new 7. Worse on the preview of the new 6. The new 5 looks okay.

I looked at VW Toureg, and note it won Motor Trend SUV of the Year. Saw their new Phaeton, too--some big car.

At this time a fair chance exists for Euro Delivery in the next year (ML320 lease expires 10/04).

[oceanview]

a slight change of topic, but since alot of the freeper car fans are on this thread. first real spy photos of the new Corvette C6:

http://chat.autoweek.com/showthread.php?s=202ad82db69dfaf996a1370da564de29&threadid=4798

[q_an_a]

do you think that the merger of Chrysler and MB will help either? I don't and in ten years as the dealership merge all dodge and Chrysler's to fewer and fewer models, everyone will realize that the age of German leadership passed to a sad end.

[desertcry]

.... my personal choice Jag X type ...... Yes indeed, each person have their preferences. BTW the Brits as far as precission handling and suspension design/tuning were way ahead (Lotus GP race cars) of the germans. As for me, I prefer the soft ride with predictable handling characteristics of a Lincoln, than the harsh ride suspension of a Porche. My old body is not suited to being jerk around anymore, beside I don't have the money to throw away, I could barely meet my medical, housing and food bills. I also prefer to do business with America and friends than with those who pretend to be our allies.

[Elliott Jackalope]

My wife drives an '01 ML320, and loves it. The only problem it had was a rattle from the passenger side air bag, fixed on the first try. Other than that it has only been in to the dealer for regular oil changes/maintenance. It currently has around 40K miles on it, we plan to drive it for another ten years if it holds together. It is quiet, comfortable, very capable for medium strength off-road travel, and very sure-footed in bad weather/ice/snow. I drive an '01 Toyota Tundra, which is also absolutely first-rate. We're very happy with our rigs.

[buccaneer81]

Hey,Midwestmidnight, are you still in Hilliard? I lost my house in Hilliard in my divorce and now live in Groveport with my new wife. An adjustment to be sure.

[buccaneer81]

I've owned three 626's. 1986 (went 204,000 miles), 1999 (lost in a divorce, but beat to hell by the ex and still running after 100,000 plus miles), and my current 2002 bought last May with 18,000 miles. I love 'em, but the 6 seems to be more Ford than Mazda, so I may be heading over to Nissan.

[teldon30]

hey hey...don't knock Nissan...for the price, they aren't bad!

[midwestmidnight]

Yep, still in Hilliard. You keep your head down over there. Maybe it's your Ex taking pot shots at cars on 270.

[oceanview]

you really don't come to appreciate what kind of engineering does (or does not) go into a car without servicing them yourself. sure, a ford brake stops a car just like a mercedes brake for the most part.

want to see what goes into a mercedes, browse around here and check it out (need IE with windows media player). you have to go into each section in some depth to really get an understanding of what they are putting into their cars, brakes for example, and then consider that many manufacturers still use drum brakes:

http://www.mbusalearning.com/w211elearning/

[mickie]

I just bought a '98 BMW 528i.
Moving up from a Honda, and I just love it. Smooth running car with power galore!

[XBob]

on timing belts/chains

It has to do with engine design, and valve timing and belt/chain mfg type.

Put simply, follow the manufacturers recommendations.

There are several types of engines, and generally, engines with steel timing "chains" are more reliable, more noisy, and less stressed. Basically the chains never need replaced, until you go in for an engine rebuild. Timing chains almost never break and engines with timing 'chains' generally have a longer stroke and are 'undersquare', so there is no damage if the chain breaks, other than the chain.

Those with rubber timing "belts", which are basically fancy rubber fan belts. They get old, wear out and break. They also generally squeeze more performance out of a smaller engine and are quieter. But many have (if I remember correctly) an 'over square' design, where if the belt breaks, the valves are down, and they literally chew up the whole engine - just throw it away and put in a whole new engine.

So basically, if you are driving more than 60k miles on a timing 'belt', pray before you start it up, each time.

[midwestmidnight]

My RX-7 has never had the timing chain replaced, never dropped a valve, burned a piston, been plagued by bad lobes on the camshaft, no sticky lifters, no clattering rockers,...blah, blah, blah,... It just goes Hmmmmmmmm!

[duckworth]

The 6 is NOT more Ford than Mazda. What happened is Ford gave Mazda engineers a bunch of $$$ to come up with a design that Ford can use far into the future. In fact, the 6 will be the basis of the new Taurus and some Lincolns. I had an '85 626 and a '95 626. I loved them but the new 6 just blows them away. It's an absolute blast to drive.

[skraeling]

So basically, if you are driving more than 60k miles on a timing 'belt', pray before you start it up, each time.

Looks like I better go see the man.

[Indrid Cold]

God, no kidding. I bought two older (88 and a 91) Mercedes this last spring and both of them are up for sale. I went back to a Mitsubishi Montero.

[MarkL]

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.

Well, in 1990, I bought a brand new Toyota Corolla for $9,800. In the 10 years that I owned it, I drove it 197,000+ miles, and the only repairs (other than normal maint) were (from a freak occurance) a cracked exaust manifold, and the radiator from the exahust warping the plastic top (at about 125,000 miles), and one MacPhereson strut (covered under warranty at less than 1000 miles).

While I needed 1 complete replacement of the exaust system (and 1 muffler), and lots of oil changes, tires, and timing belts every 60,000 miles, I only had 1 brake job, and was still on the original clutch! Although it went completely out as I was pulling into the dealer's parking lot to trade the 1990 Corolla in on the 2000 Corolla that I bought. I've now got over 71,000 miles, and other than oil changes, tires, and a 60,000 mile service, no other expenses.

Mark

[skraeling]

Did you also replace the water pump when you changed out the timing belts? What was the bill?