french cars crap, german cars good. why?
Discussion
Its cos theyre cheap bastards and rely on the sale of parts to score a profit on what would otherwise seem to be a bargain for the money. It isnt.
Having worked for ALL the french manufacturers, i can tell you that quality is not a particularly well understood term from the french perspective.
The only french car with any kind of build quality is Renault, but they too have many quality issues.
Couple that with the fact that all french cars are designed by men hating lesbians, that would tend to back up my feelings regarding them.
For the doubters, it shouldnt take 4 hours to replace a 306 clutch cable, but it does.
Having worked for ALL the french manufacturers, i can tell you that quality is not a particularly well understood term from the french perspective.
The only french car with any kind of build quality is Renault, but they too have many quality issues.
Couple that with the fact that all french cars are designed by men hating lesbians, that would tend to back up my feelings regarding them.
For the doubters, it shouldnt take 4 hours to replace a 306 clutch cable, but it does.
Don't know, what's so crap on French cars. Citroën built some terrific cars, each special to its own; the 2CV, the HY, the ID/DS and the DS. All have top styling and sophisticated details - in innovation, engineering or serviceability. Undo one bolt, and get the rear wing off a DS.
For later French cars, I'd take a Pug 306 Cabrio over each competitor's; be it Opel or VW.
I'm not sure about the latest releases though, but then I don't like new cars at all.
Maybe it's all because I like olde British cars
For later French cars, I'd take a Pug 306 Cabrio over each competitor's; be it Opel or VW.
I'm not sure about the latest releases though, but then I don't like new cars at all.
Maybe it's all because I like olde British cars
IMHE French cars are only talked about as cars in which people have some unusual/memorable/funny adventures.
I will always remember the beige R4 of my cousin the peasant as a four wheeled greenhouse with the originally brown dashboard turning grey/black because of being actually mistaken for the missing ashtray.
My cousin was growing tomatoes in the back, courtesy of the rear seats having been thrown away and always kept telling me "you see Thom, next time you come you will have Renault tomatoes for lunch !"
Eventually he once casually threw away a fag and the radio caught fire, ruining the electricals.
I will always remember the beige R4 of my cousin the peasant as a four wheeled greenhouse with the originally brown dashboard turning grey/black because of being actually mistaken for the missing ashtray.
My cousin was growing tomatoes in the back, courtesy of the rear seats having been thrown away and always kept telling me "you see Thom, next time you come you will have Renault tomatoes for lunch !"
Eventually he once casually threw away a fag and the radio caught fire, ruining the electricals.
Thom said:
atg said: Peugeot 205, Renault Clio Williams, Renault Alpine ... not exactly crap are they?
Not so sure about this.
They are 'fun' to drive but the build quality is just not there.
True, but for the same money, what else could you get?
Come to think of it, that is probably the biggest difference btwn French and German cars. Broadly speaking all the German manufacturers are more up-market and expensive than there French equivalents. Even in the overlap with the Volkswagen range, VW's tend to be more expensive model for model.
I was considering a saxo VTR - but the build and general p!ss poor condition of the cars at low miles made me think twice about it all. Went to a Merc dealer afterwards and decided on an MCC Smart - it was soooooooo much better built and designed. Everything seemed well thought out, whereas the Citroen gave the impression of a "cant be bothered" attitude towards its design.
atg said: Peugeot 205, Renault Clio Williams, Renault Alpine ... not exactly crap are they?
Question 2 ... why can't UK companies make any cars at all? This at least is easy ... poor management leading to sloppy, lazy workforce.
Nissan and Honda to name two - I'll give you that they may not be the best drivers cars but they are better built than most European cars currently on the market.
Rovers were always well built when in partnership with Honda.
This is so true..
Thom said: IMHE French cars are only talked about as cars in which people have some unusual/memorable/funny adventures.
My parents have many tales such as crossing the alps in a Renault 4.. crashing a Renault 16.. blah blah..
Internationally acknowledged films (Taxi?) continually cast French cars in a comedy role...
What else do you expect?
All I know is that at the bottom end of the car market, Peugeot are the most fun you can have..... they just make new noises every time I give them back is all..
Before I bought a TVR, I had a Renault Laguna (lake in French if you didn't know). I bought it purely as a motorway cruiser, pre-registered. It cost me £10,000 brand new and compared to an equivelant Ford et al, it was cheaper to buy and run. Ok, it didn't handle as well as a Mondeo, but it was cheaper to run including depreciation over twelve months considering purchase price. I sold it twelve months later for £9,000 as part exchange for the TVR. It cost me £1000 depreciation, plus petrol and insurance.
It had, CD changer, Air-con, sunroof, electric windows, leather, alloys, etc. Never needed a service as I sold it before the first service and nothing went wrong.
As far as I was conscernd, it did everything I asked of it as a motorway hack.
It had, CD changer, Air-con, sunroof, electric windows, leather, alloys, etc. Never needed a service as I sold it before the first service and nothing went wrong.
As far as I was conscernd, it did everything I asked of it as a motorway hack.
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