German cars - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Scotsman · 11-28-2007, 12:00 AM

I've always liked them, probably always will. The design, quality, feel, is largely unmatched by anything else on the market from elsewhere. When you sit in an Audi or Porsche, BMW, MB, even a Vee-Dub, you feel this obsession held by everyone involved in making the car at every phase, from design to engineering. The level of attention to detail is nothing short of obsessive, so much so that you wonder if these people are on meds???

However, the older I've gotten the more I've seen and realized "you've got to pay to play"; the high barriers-to-entry cost, cost of keeping these cars operating after the warranty expires. It's a lot, but then again, you get what you pay for. Many people I know that "have" newer German cars lease because they don't want to be stuck with the bill after the warranty goes, which is stupid since they could probably afford to run the cars long after warranty anyway. At the same time it seems the German manufactures (VW, Audi, Porsche excluded) seem to have engineered their cars to appeal to these temporal customers; high tech gizmos that are sure to crash after several years are jam packed into these cars like the Germans have run out of ideas. Another nail in the coffin for many is the aforementioned "barriers-to-entry-cost", plainly; these cars are overpriced in most cases.

EllwynX · 11-28-2007, 12:49 AM

The person I live with has a thing for German cars. None of them appeal to me personally, but I am pretty sure he'll be in a CTS, Tahoe or Enclave when it comes time for a new vehicle.

Everything I've read has almost always placed German cars below most other manufacturers in long term quality though. Especially VW. The only one I've ever seen score high is BMW.

Scotsman · 11-28-2007, 12:57 AM

BMW was my favorite brand for 10 years, until 4 months ago. Now that pricing for the 1 series has been released and I've seen it, never again.

*DGthe3* · 11-28-2007, 02:10 AM

The germans are excelent engineers, terrible mechanics. They can make something perform beautifully and be the most advanced thing in its class, but it will be expensive and unreliable. The exceptions are when they just go and do something simple like the VW beatle or the rabbit. Also, high tech becomes dated very quickly, practicality never goes out of style. Because of things like that I would rather have a Caddy then a BMW, but I'm not the type to buy a luxury car of any kind anyway. The most high end that I see myself going is Chrysler or Buick when I'm in my 40's or 50's.

swazworth · 11-28-2007, 05:14 AM

Vee-Dub-> air cooled doesn't get much better than that.

ok yes it does alot better->>> but i have alot love for my 61 karmann ghia-> i had it since high school and just started to restore it.....

stovt001 · 11-28-2007, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DerScotsman

BMW was my favorite brand for 10 years, until 4 months ago. Now that pricing for the 1 series has been released and I've seen it, never again.

Agreed. 1 Series pricing is absurd, and I'm upset we're only getting a goofy looking coupe instead of the rolling sculpture that is the 3-door. Part of the high price of German cars is the high value of the Euro compared to the dollar.

Scotsman · 11-28-2007, 10:32 AM

Euro excepted they're still overpriced. The only German I'd ever buy at this point is a Porsche, and maybe an Audi. And that wouldn't be until the age of 55 (the time in my life I could comfortably afford either). As far as the sedans go (3er, A4, C-class), for now and for me the CTS owns all.

All VW group (soon to be Porsche AG) brands are all relatively technically uncomplicated (though advanced) cars. It seems as if there a desire on the behalf of the engineers to make the cars as enjoyable and user-friendly as possible.

11-28-2007, 12:00 AM	#1
Scotsman Auto Pilot Drives: Gunmetal Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: L.A. Posts: 1,307	German cars I've always liked them, probably always will. The design, quality, feel, is largely unmatched by anything else on the market from elsewhere. When you sit in an Audi or Porsche, BMW, MB, even a Vee-Dub, you feel this obsession held by everyone involved in making the car at every phase, from design to engineering. The level of attention to detail is nothing short of obsessive, so much so that you wonder if these people are on meds??? However, the older I've gotten the more I've seen and realized "you've got to pay to play"; the high barriers-to-entry cost, cost of keeping these cars operating after the warranty expires. It's a lot, but then again, you get what you pay for. Many people I know that "have" newer German cars lease because they don't want to be stuck with the bill after the warranty goes, which is stupid since they could probably afford to run the cars long after warranty anyway. At the same time it seems the German manufactures (VW, Audi, Porsche excluded) seem to have engineered their cars to appeal to these temporal customers; high tech gizmos that are sure to crash after several years are jam packed into these cars like the Germans have run out of ideas. Another nail in the coffin for many is the aforementioned "barriers-to-entry-cost", plainly; these cars are overpriced in most cases. Last edited by Scotsman; 11-28-2007 at 12:22 AM.

11-28-2007, 02:10 AM	#4
DGthe3 Moderator.ca Drives: 05 Grand Am GT Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Niagara, Canada Posts: 25,366	The germans are excelent engineers, terrible mechanics. They can make something perform beautifully and be the most advanced thing in its class, but it will be expensive and unreliable. The exceptions are when they just go and do something simple like the VW beatle or the rabbit. Also, high tech becomes dated very quickly, practicality never goes out of style. Because of things like that I would rather have a Caddy then a BMW, but I'm not the type to buy a luxury car of any kind anyway. The most high end that I see myself going is Chrysler or Buick when I'm in my 40's or 50's. __________________ Note, if I've gotten any facts wrong in the above, just ignore any points I made with them __________________ Originally Posted by FbodFather My sister's dentist's brother's cousin's housekeeper's dog-breeder's nephew sells coffee filters to the company that provides coffee to General Motors...... ........and HE WOULD KNOW!!!! __________________ Camaro Fest sub-forum

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11-28-2007, 12:49 AM	#2
EllwynX Drives: 2010 Camaro SS Join Date: May 2006 Location: Southern NJ Posts: 2,259	The person I live with has a thing for German cars. None of them appeal to me personally, but I am pretty sure he'll be in a CTS, Tahoe or Enclave when it comes time for a new vehicle. Everything I've read has almost always placed German cars below most other manufacturers in long term quality though. Especially VW. The only one I've ever seen score high is BMW.

11-28-2007, 12:57 AM	#3
Scotsman Auto Pilot Drives: Gunmetal Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: L.A. Posts: 1,307	BMW was my favorite brand for 10 years, until 4 months ago. Now that pricing for the 1 series has been released and I've seen it, never again.

11-28-2007, 05:14 AM	#5
swazworth the nerd king Drives: 2005 scion xb... Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: phoenix, az Posts: 426	Vee-Dub-> air cooled doesn't get much better than that. ok yes it does alot better->>> but i have alot love for my 61 karmann ghia-> i had it since high school and just started to restore it.....

11-28-2007, 10:32 AM	#7
Scotsman Auto Pilot Drives: Gunmetal Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: L.A. Posts: 1,307	Euro excepted they're still overpriced. The only German I'd ever buy at this point is a Porsche, and maybe an Audi. And that wouldn't be until the age of 55 (the time in my life I could comfortably afford either). As far as the sedans go (3er, A4, C-class), for now and for me the CTS owns all. All VW group (soon to be Porsche AG) brands are all relatively technically uncomplicated (though advanced) cars. It seems as if there a desire on the behalf of the engineers to make the cars as enjoyable and user-friendly as possible.