German Cars Disappoint Car Owners

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

[sinclair]

D*mn American made junk < /sarcasm >

[PhilipFreneau]

>> German cars have nothing to offer beyond excessive price, their quality is less Japanese cars or even US made cars.

An opinion, not a fact. We get Nissan loaners (typically the Maxima) from time to time when we have our BMW's serviced. The Nissan is a pile of junk compared to the BMW.

[whd23]

I know I'm jinxing myself here, but my 10.5 year-old Acura Integra (147k miles) is still running with it's original headlight bulbs.

[midwestmidnight]

I'm Still Driving my 1984 RX-7 GSL SE. Still has the original starter, alternator, AC, radiator, paint... I just keep the oil clean and full.

Was thinking about repacing it with an RX-8 but, I think I'll wait a few more years.

[truth_seeker]

"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."

First you criticize the product. Then you state you owned only one, about 43 years ago.

Such reasoning is very revealing.

[Dasaji]

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.
______

When the new 5's hit the streets, I thought the same thing - and that they look like an Altima.

[desertcry]

An openion, not a fact Please look at the reliability records for BMW and Acura for years 1990 to 1997. It's available in the internet. Any search engines on automobile/car relaibility. Any conclusions on reliability should be based on statistics, not on single experiences.

[Helms]

http://www.bimmer.info/

[Mr. Jeeves]

Buy a Lexus. You will never be disappointed.

[goldstategop]

I own a VW New Beetle. I've had only one problem in nearly the year I've had it.... a CEL light. Its a German car but I'm far from disappointed and I rave about its reliability and the way it handles on the road - fantastic! Of course, not every one will have a glitch free car so I can empathize with those who wind up with a lemon German car.

[desertcry]

It must be because, I drive nights a lot so don't worry about jinxing.

[Helms]

http://www.roadfly.org/bmw/forums/

[Dasaji]

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

Bide your time long enough until you really get the use of the Quattro System. . .you'll never go back to anything else and the minor breakages that happen with ANY car will pale in comparison to the amazing stability a Quattro offers :)

[blackie]

We have '90 full (351 cid engine) size Eddie Bauer Ford 4X4 Bronco with 87K on it ~ replaced the valve cover gaskets, water pump and fan belt idler pulley ~ regular oil changes and maintenance. I did install Bilstein shocks and a Banks shift module plus Banks intake and low restriction exhaust system.

We have an '01 Ford F-150 SVT Lightning pickup with 14K miles on it ~ I installed a SuperChip and a K&N air filter = 425HP. No problems except for the bummed hot shoes that get blown away by a almost 5k lb pickup.

I love Fords!! :):)

[T. Jefferson]

Porsche 944 with 40,000 miles bought in 1987 for $14,000. In 3 years I paid out $12,000 in maintenance. I would have driven it the junkyard if I could've got the damn thing started. In my family, 2 porsches and 2 BMW 7 series have been owned. All were junk, 3 of 4 needed new engines within 80,000 miles. The list of repairs would be pages and pages deep.

Learned my lesson, have owned 2 Nissan Maximas last 7 years. A combined 210,000 miles with total maintenance costs under $1000. Owned 1 Jaguar XJS for 30,000 miles. Not one dollar in maintenance. Jags are the best luxury car by far, but they depreciate so fast it's ridiculous.

If offered a used German car for free, I would pass. The nightmares and maintenance are not worth the stress.

[SVTCobra03]

Well, if I could afford it, I would get a 469 hp E55 AMG; otherwise I will stick with my modified 440rwhp 03 Cobra.

[truth_seeker]

Yesterday I went to look at the just in X3, which is a smaller SUV derived from the 3 Series.

It comes with 2.5 and 3.0 liter motors, like the 3s and 5s. Assembled in Graz, Austria.

It seemed cheap, compared to others BMWs. Maybe it is because it is aimed for a lower price range.

In my opinion, the finest cars in the world are German. Sure they are expensive. You get what you pay for.

I have owned two BMWs, two VWs, a Porsche, a Mercedes and an Opel for German cars.. Also owned three Chevys, two Toyotas, two Fiats, a Volvo, a Saab, a Mazda and an MG.

Daughter two more VWs.

Best of the bunch: The two BMWs. High quality, minimal repair incidence and cost. Worst 1977 Chevrolet Caprice Classic.

Current drives: Mercedes ML 320 (made in USA) and Saab 9-5 (owned by GM).

What do I want next? Not sure, but it is unlikely that it will be American (sadly).

My guess the survey results are weighted towards people that cannot afford BMWs and Mercedes. If you surveyed owners of such cars in Europe, they wouldn't tell you they wanted a Honda.

[skraeling]

I have a 1986 Mercedes

What model? I had a 1986 300SEL that was just great. Sold it at 160,000 miles, but did get to know the service manager on a first name basis in the latter years. Would do it again.

[Bringbackthedraft]

Lexus and Accura! I go to the auto auctions, they always bring in high wholesale. Forget Ford, GM and Chrysler. Don,t even think about Hundai, Kia or Daewoo. German cars are now over rated.

[The Coopster]

That's Honda for you.

I've got an 87 Accord that gets loaned out to family as necessary. It's got 262,000 plus miles on it, and just keeps on going. I got it in 93 with 80 some-odd thousand miles on it, and proceeded to drive the you-know-what out of it.

It's taken it like a soldier, with an average of probably 11 or 12 thousand miles between oil changes/service, and maybe 4 tune ups total. I've been around the world on suspension parts, and I've done a new timing chain and water pump, but that's nothing amortized over 10 years.

Heck, now I wouldn't get rid of it for sentimental reasons.