When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Maybe stripped down taxis over there in Germany last a while, but all the "fancy" junk that comes with the German cars exported to the USA/Canada probably boggles the durability down.
Yeah. Would be interesting to read what owners in Germany have to say.
Yeah. Would be interesting to read what owners in Germany have to say.
When I was over there in '02 there were TONS of Mercedes taxis in Germany. LOTS of original E-classes (W124) but stripped down, stout AF cars but not luxurious like the ones they sent here. There were lots of C-classes as well, stripped.
This was almost 20 years ago (good lord) but just FWIW.
When I was over there in '02 there were TONS of Mercedes taxis in Germany. LOTS of original E-classes (W124) but stripped down, stout AF cars but not luxurious like the ones they sent here. There were lots of C-classes as well, stripped.
This was almost 20 years ago (good lord) but just FWIW.
There must German cars with better reliability in Europe. Plus the ownership aspect in Europe must be higher compared to North America. I can't see it any other way in Europe
Was perusing Quora. Lots of discussion about Lexus vs Mercedes. Most if not all say, if they were using their own money (and responsible for the upkeep) and not financing or leasing, they would buy a Lexus over a German car. Would that be agreeable on here? Is there anyone on here who consistently buys German cars for cash? There are also some that claim that German cars outside of North America are not always such money pits.
I've had several German vehicles over the last few years and paid cash for them. A couple had good incentives for financing which I took advantage of, and paid off after the 1st or 2nd payment. We haven't had any reliability issues with any of them. Just routine maintenance and a couple of software updates while in for service.
There must German cars with better reliability in Europe. Plus the ownership aspect in Europe must be higher compared to North America. I can't see it any other way in Europe
Or, just possibly, the “poor reliability” of German cars is overblown.
The evidence just does not support that in North America.
How does it not? German brands rank higher in dependability than people give them credit for.
2019 JD Power Vehicle Dependability Study. As you can see, BMW, MB, Porsche Audi and VW all come in above the industry average. Many asian brands are below average.
If you go back 10 years to 2009 you see that german brands have certainly improved, but aside from VW you find they hover around average or above average. Hardly the bottom of the industry as people here would make them out to be.
How does it not? German brands rank higher in dependability than people give them credit for.
2019 JD Power Vehicle Dependability Study. As you can see, BMW, MB, Porsche Audi and VW all come in above the industry average. Many asian brands are below average.
If you go back 10 years to 2009 you see that german brands have certainly improved, but aside from VW you find they hover around average or above average. Hardly the bottom of the industry as people here would make them out to be.
Then why do people not buy the German cars for the long haul? If they lasted as long as a Japanese Lexus, the resale values should be better. The cost of ownership should be better. Their reputation should be better.
It's not just the reliability of German cars that scares me. It's more about the expense when something does go wrong. To me, they seem to be more expensive to fix, even though I believe Lexus is catching up quickly.
Then why do people not buy the German cars for the long haul? If they lasted as long as a Japanese Lexus, the resale values should be better. The cost of ownership should be better. Their reputation should be better.
Who says that they don’t? People on this Lexus forum says that they don’t. I see them being driven around, and there are forums for their owners full of people who own older ones.
Reputations have some basis in fact but are often overstated. The difference between say a BMW or Mercedes or Audi and a Lexus is the ease and cost of repair when repairs do need to be done. German cars aren’t as easy to work on as a Lexus, and not just anybody can work on them unlike a Lexus. If you have a good mechanic who specializes in German cars, I really think in this day and age you can own one long term.
The J. D. Power dependability study is for how many problems occur in the third year of ownership. This last years study was the first time in the last 30 years the German brands were above the industry average. Can they keep it up? What happens after 5 years or more of ownership? Good questions.
The J. D. Power dependability study is for how many problems occur in the third year of ownership. This last years study was the first time in the last 30 years the German brands were above the industry average. Can they keep it up? What happens after 5 years or more of ownership? Good questions.
That isn’t true. Go back and look at it Year over year, this is absolutely not the first time in 30 years German brands were above the industry average. I posted 2009, both BMW and Audi and Porsche were over the average. All German brands. MB was just below.
It's not just the reliability of German cars that scares me. It's more about the expense when something does go wrong. To me, they seem to be more expensive to fix, even though I believe Lexus is catching up quickly.
From my experience, BMW parts are substantially cheaper than Lexus parts.
01-10-20, 04:40 PM
