German vs. Japanese?

[KTF]

Korean > Japanese > German

The Germans still have the branding and snob value but the Koreans have the reliability of the Japanese without the dullness.

The Koreans do seem to charge German prices for their servicing though...

[JamesD1]

I think the stereotyping of reliability is a bit silly.

i've found reliability to come from how well looked after a car was regardless of brand, that said you can get a bad car from any marque regardless of how well looked after it is (dad's mini cooper for example).

[Jazzy Jefferson]

Debaser said:

German for me. They tend to be better set up for fast driving.

On a motorway or A-road. I couldn't agree more.

On a twisty road in England, with all those potholes, I'll take a Type-r, Impreza or evo thanks

[Catatafish]

Generally germans tend to over engineer whereas the japanese optimise designs in my experience.

[CaptainSlow]

lbc said:

Most Jap cars are so boringly reliable and no fun to drive. They are great for people who don't like cars.

Yep, buy a BMW MX-5 instead.

[SaqibCTR]

Japanese. No status symbols here. Posers and badge snobs need not apply.

[cocopop]

Catatafish said:

Generally germans tend to over engineer whereas the japanese optimise designs in my experience.

I've found the Japanese over engineer cars far more than the German equivalent. Well, certainly 10 years ago.

[Leins]

The collective of great German cars ever made does more for me than that of any other country - Italy, and definitely Japan, included

Would I prefer a 218d to an Auris Hybrid? That's very close to the top on my "What was the question again?" scale

[Leins]

SaqibCTR said:

Japanese. No status symbols here. Posers and badge snobs need not apply.

Why did Toyota feel the need to create a separate brand to export for the luxury US market then?

[SaqibCTR]

Leins said:

SaqibCTR said:

Japanese. No status symbols here. Posers and badge snobs need not apply.

Why did Toyota feel the need to create a separate brand to export for the luxury US market then?

I did think of Lexus there after I posted that...

[flatso]

KTF said:

Korean > Japanese > German

The Germans still have the branding and snob value but the Koreans have the reliability of the Japanese without the dullness.

The Koreans do seem to charge German prices for their servicing though...

With Peter Schreayer (ex Audi) as head of design for Kia, it looks as if the Koreans are starting to find that compromise between reliability (7 year warranty), quality attractive looking interiors and acceptable design. Driving dynamics are probably not first rate yet, but at the rate they are progressing ze germans better get their act together.

[cerb4.5lee]

Owned seven German cars and one Japanese but the Japanese one was my favourite of all of them, respect both though and there are good and bad from both.

[Leins]

SaqibCTR said:

I did think of Lexus there after I posted that...

I do get your original point though, and have to admit that there is truth to it in some cases

[Daston]

Jap for me please

However I have only ever owned the crazy turbo stuff from the 90's....and love it!!

[CDP]

Leins said:

The collective of great German cars ever made does more for me than that of any other country - Italy, and definitely Japan, included

Would I prefer a 218d to an Auris Hybrid? That's very close to the top on my "What was the question again?" scale

Not so sure, I think Italy and Britain are both more than capable of seeing off the Germans when it comes to building desirable cars. Four failed cylinder heads on my VW due to design faults makes me question the reliability being any better too but it was durable.

Alfasud v. Golf MK1
Maserati Quattroporte v. S Class
Jaguar XJ v. A8
Mini v. Polo
Range Rover v. Q7

[Leins]

CDP said:

Leins said:

The collective of great German cars ever made does more for me than that of any other country - Italy, and definitely Japan, included

Would I prefer a 218d to an Auris Hybrid? That's very close to the top on my "What was the question again?" scale

Not so sure, I think Italy and Britain are both more than capable of seeing off the Germans when it comes to building desirable cars. Four failed cylinder heads on my VW due to design faults makes me question the reliability being any better too but it was durable.

Alfasud v. Golf MK1
Maserati Quattroporte v. S Class
Jaguar XJ v. A8
Mini v. Polo
Range Rover v. Q7

You missed the word "collective" in my post. And I wasn't going to include a Polo, A8 or Q7 in that

I'm thinking more about 300SL "Gullwings", Ruf CTRs, 959, Alpina B10 BiTurbos, etc. Very subjective of course, but then this thread asks for a personal opinion

[Sump]

CDP said:

Not so sure, I think Italy and Britain are both more than capable of seeing off the Germans when it comes to building desirable cars. Four failed cylinder heads on my VW due to design faults makes me question the reliability being any better too but it was durable.

Alfasud v. Golf MK1
Maserati Quattroporte v. S Class
Jaguar XJ v. A8
Mini v. Polo
Range Rover v. Q7

Trust me, the British are pants at making cars.

Beautiful designs but the engineering? God awful.

[Howroyd]

MX5 praise alert

Six previous cars, first five German, last an MX5

German ones all had notable and expensive faults, and very oil hungry engines

MX5 - nothing, bar lots of rear tyres...

Tom

[OldBob]

Jap favoured by my past garage, last series of German/Jap cars:
Nissan Sunny GTI - Very underrated, capable
Nissan Primera GTI - Warm Repmobile
VW bora V6, 4motion - Absolute sh*te
Mazda 6 mps - Actually very good, no issues
Evo X - rattly trim but who cares
Nissan GTR - still excellent

Wifee:
Mazda MX5 - budget sports, actually ok
Pork CaymanS - Excellent can't be talked about in the same league

Lads:
Seat Ibiza FR TDI - Actually very good
Golf mk7 R - very impressed currently
Pork Cayman R - still excellent

Had some interim frog, ital and "brit" which were actually ok for day to day
Never owned an Audi or Bimmer - Would only be tempted by M4,5 or RS6 versions otherwise I seem to demonstrably have an aversion to them; too bland/generic/stereotypical?

[GetCarter]

German reliability seems to have improved over the past couple of years. Having said that, I've had 9 from new in the past 20 years and only 2 have broken down (M3 and RS6).

I'd buy a Jap Evo if the build quality was good enough, but sadly, it doesn't come close, plus they don't do places for dogs!

Edited by GetCarter on Thursday 2nd October 12:54