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.

[MarkL]

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

No, and I don't remember... I've had this car for 3 years, so it's been nearly 4 years since I did that... And the new Toyotas have timing chains, rather than belts, and according to the Toyota service manager I spoke with, the chains are good for about 125,000-150,000 miles, and in some cases, more.

Mark

[q_an_a]

that is a very cool link. thanks. my comments are not about technology at the various companies, but how they market. I assert that the people in Europe have a disadvantage to America because of their political environment. Thus retailers who can only have one sale per year do not understand why we sell so much. Therefore they use their marketing background to sell her and this is how MB is killing Crysler.

It will take time but in 15 years the Toyota pickups, built in Texas, will end that profit center at MB. At the same time the fact that Toyota and Honda are considered by the german driving public to be better cars, shows that style and cool features do not overcome the overall cost of operation.

[cjshapi]

Somehow I doubt that. But all the German car's I've driven aren't all they're cracked up to be.

[bvw]

on belts and chains:

I guess I didn't read that to my Olds 2.3 Cutlass's timing chain. Which had the decency to break a link while starting up one cold winter morning, thereby limiting the damage to the cylinders. A $2700 rebuild. I forget how many miles were on the engine, maybe 115k.

[skraeling]

the new Toyotas have timing chains, rather than belts,

Wish this '97 Geo had a chain. It's only used for teaching Grandchildren how to drive and as an extra car for visitors over Christmas, etc. At 93Kmi I'm getting a little nervous about the belt but hate to spend $500 for a new one (& water pump) as an "insurance hedge" against a value of less than $4,000.

[XBob]

116 - "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."

I had an 1983 626 5 door, grand touring model - absolutely loved it - more than any car (even my BMW 2002, Alpha Romeo Spyder and Porche 912) I have ever owned. It drove like a sports car (McPherson Strut suspension, rack and pinion steering, fully independent suspension [adjustable suspension too], looked great, and loaded like a station wagon ( I could haul 8 ft long 2x4 studs with the rear hatch closed). Seats were great with lumbar supports, and I could haul my Mother and kids too.

It finally wore out a number of years back, and stupidly I thought I could get another one, just a newer model. Apparently the new Mazda6 is it's replacement, but it doesn't have a hatch back. Do you know if they have or plan any hatchbacks?

[XBob]

124 - "I guess I didn't read that to my Olds 2.3 Cutlass's timing chain."

I am not familiar with that engine, per se. However, if it is one of those 'half' endines they have built at various times - 1/2 a v8, the only car I do remember with timing chain problems was an olds V8 in the 70's, which had plastic 'shoes' on the timing gear to make it run more quiet and smoothly. Sometimes the plastic would come loose and jam the chain/gear, which would break. It was always wise to change that gear at about 100,000 miles.

[MarkL]

Wish this '97 Geo had a chain. It's only used for teaching Grandchildren how to drive and as an extra car for visitors over Christmas, etc. At 93Kmi I'm getting a little nervous about the belt but hate to spend $500 for a new one (& water pump) as an "insurance hedge" against a value of less than $4,000.

Do it! At 93,000 miles, you're probably tempting fate. I'd be suprised if the timing belt were more than about $500, but if it goes, or if it slips a tooth or two, you could bend valves, or even damage a piston and the cylinder walls. What would a new engine for that car cost? If you're going to keep it, I'd spend the money.

Mark

[Lazamataz]

Somehow I doubt that. But all the German car's I've driven aren't all they're cracked up to be.

I know it.