Are German cars still cool?
Discussion
German cars to me are just the motoring equivalent of Apple electronic devices.
They have mastered the art of converting dull design with excellent marketing. Stick a load of iPhones down on a table with the screens off and you couldn't tell one generation from the other aside from maybe the X.
It's the same with all German products, stick them all in a line facing you head on and unless you're an anorak you couldn't tell each brands models apart.
To be honest I'd rather have a car which has a bit of design flair with sacrific of the 'soft touch' b
ks that reviewers seem gush about.
Then again I own a Citroen Cactus and a Lotus Elise so I'm as far from cool as you can probably get!
They have mastered the art of converting dull design with excellent marketing. Stick a load of iPhones down on a table with the screens off and you couldn't tell one generation from the other aside from maybe the X.
It's the same with all German products, stick them all in a line facing you head on and unless you're an anorak you couldn't tell each brands models apart.
To be honest I'd rather have a car which has a bit of design flair with sacrific of the 'soft touch' b
ks that reviewers seem gush about.Then again I own a Citroen Cactus and a Lotus Elise so I'm as far from cool as you can probably get!
I'd agree that in many instances the marketing for German brands has got them sales that the product didn't deserve. They aren't that reliable or well engineered now, yet they seem to continue to sell, based partly on the misleading idea that they are. I've got three Jap cars that I don't expect to cause me serious trouble, and one German car that I do. It's not that the German car goes wrong regularly, far from it, but when it does, it'll be an immense bill. The particular model I have also falls into the not cool bracket, so a double whammy!
Lexus aren't generally regarded as cool, but if not being cool is not being stuck on the hard shoulder with fluids pouring out, whilst waiting for the AA, I'll take that.
Would an old fashioned word for cool be " desirable "? Or is it more subtle than that?
Lexus aren't generally regarded as cool, but if not being cool is not being stuck on the hard shoulder with fluids pouring out, whilst waiting for the AA, I'll take that.
Would an old fashioned word for cool be " desirable "? Or is it more subtle than that?
Heaveho said:
I'd agree that in many instances the marketing for German brands has got them sales that the product didn't deserve. They aren't that reliable or well engineered now, yet they seem to continue to sell, based partly on the misleading idea that they are. I've got three Jap cars that I don't expect to cause me serious trouble, and one German car that I do. It's not that the German car goes wrong regularly, far from it, but when it does, it'll be an immense bill. The particular model I have also falls into the not cool bracket, so a double whammy!
Lexus aren't generally regarded as cool, but if not being cool is not being stuck on the hard shoulder with fluids pouring out, whilst waiting for the AA, I'll take that.
Would an old fashioned word for cool be " desirable "? Or is it more subtle than that?
I’d agree with this. The styling of an old Merc was always form follows function and you got a quality product not built to a price. Now it’s all about tech and contrived styling rather than quality. I won’t be buying another German car.Lexus aren't generally regarded as cool, but if not being cool is not being stuck on the hard shoulder with fluids pouring out, whilst waiting for the AA, I'll take that.
Would an old fashioned word for cool be " desirable "? Or is it more subtle than that?
wormus said:
...but no, German cars are no longer cool. They are homogeneous white goods available to the masses.
Yep.According to the DVLA - there were 37.9 million vehicles registered for tax at the beginning of 2018
According to the "How Many Left" website, 23% of those come from the big 4 German marques (with BMW, Audi and Merc having about 4-5% each - and VW taking the rest)
In essence, ~1 in 4 cars on the road in the UK today is from a German marque.
BMW and Merc are actually less 'exclusive' than Honda, Toytota, Renault and Peugeot!
DoubleByte said:
May be true but since the Clio V6 or the 205 GTi who wants any French car?
I agree - but them's the facts. The big four have essentially become mass volume 'white goods' in the car world.
As far as I can tell - the only car makes that are more common on UK roads than these 4 are Ford and Vauxhall.
DoubleByte said:
May be true but since the Clio V6 or the 205 GTi who wants any French car?
Plenty of people. In my view, Peugeot have some of the best styled cars on the road and Citroen's are increasingly common, in which I include DS. Mercedes and BMWs, in particular, are, to my eyes, rather ugly. Take the badge away and far fewer people would buy them. The most interesting recent designs have come from Toyota, Lexus and Nissan.Edited by LuS1fer on Saturday 21st July 09:14
Moonhawk said:
I agree - but them's the facts.
The big four have essentially become mass volume 'white goods' in the car world.
As far as I can tell - the only car makes that are more common on UK roads than these 4 are Ford and Vauxhall.
In many ways I’ve always preferred Ford and Vauxhall as they don’t pretend to be premium brands whilst producing fine and interesting cars.The big four have essentially become mass volume 'white goods' in the car world.
As far as I can tell - the only car makes that are more common on UK roads than these 4 are Ford and Vauxhall.
Yes. However, they are worse value than previously. When OP’s father was buying in the 80s the Germans had the advantage of being relatively rust proof. They were a “cut above” in build quality, too. That deserved advantage has gone. The Germans are still drivers’ cars, but their lead is much diminished. Other makers have mastered build quality. Who would have thought Kia etc could be so excellent for real world driving.0
Yes and no.
My 6GC is my first German car. I do feel that it does seem to attract idiot drivers around me as they feel hard done by another idiot in a bmw.
Are they cool not really. I just like the design of the 6, i consider it a nice modern take on some of bmw's more stylish earlier classics, i did not buy it because of the badge, i just like the looks. But as the GC is out of production i am struggling to find anything in the bmw line up now i would actually buy!
Also the only other reason as highlighted anything more than a 4 pot is seen as the devils work i think now. I am glad it has a 6pot albeit diesel. But it suits the mileage i do and i think is more helpful than the petrol variants they produced.
Never really been a mercedes fan and audi i think for me are limited interest in the RS6. I find the R8 boring.
My 6GC is my first German car. I do feel that it does seem to attract idiot drivers around me as they feel hard done by another idiot in a bmw.
Are they cool not really. I just like the design of the 6, i consider it a nice modern take on some of bmw's more stylish earlier classics, i did not buy it because of the badge, i just like the looks. But as the GC is out of production i am struggling to find anything in the bmw line up now i would actually buy!
Also the only other reason as highlighted anything more than a 4 pot is seen as the devils work i think now. I am glad it has a 6pot albeit diesel. But it suits the mileage i do and i think is more helpful than the petrol variants they produced.
Never really been a mercedes fan and audi i think for me are limited interest in the RS6. I find the R8 boring.
MC Bodge said:
WonkeyDonkey said:
The 'soft touch' bks that reviewers seem gush about.
That always makes smile too.ks that reviewers seem gush about.I imagine reviewers donning special gloves to perform the dashboard "soft touch" test.
I rarely touch the dashboard unless I'm cleaning it.
Edited by Lester H on Sunday 22 July 16:45
Kierkegaard said:
Audi were cool for about a year c.2002.
BMW were cool pre-bangle.
Mercedes were cool from 1950-1995.
Porsche were cool pre-watercool
VW were cool pre-emissiongate.
as an addition..
Volvo are now cool...apparently.
Alfa Romeo have always been cool.
Aston Martin were cool until they started selling a Toyota supermini.
Jaguar...it's complicated. Cool, but several non-cool Jaguars to list..
I couldn't put it better myself. BMW were cool pre-bangle.
Mercedes were cool from 1950-1995.
Porsche were cool pre-watercool
VW were cool pre-emissiongate.
as an addition..
Volvo are now cool...apparently.
Alfa Romeo have always been cool.
Aston Martin were cool until they started selling a Toyota supermini.
Jaguar...it's complicated. Cool, but several non-cool Jaguars to list..
Turbotechnic said:
Kierkegaard said:
Audi were cool for about a year c.2002.
BMW were cool pre-bangle.
Mercedes were cool from 1950-1995.
Porsche were cool pre-watercool
VW were cool pre-emissiongate.
as an addition..
Volvo are now cool...apparently.
Alfa Romeo have always been cool.
Aston Martin were cool until they started selling a Toyota supermini.
Jaguar...it's complicated. Cool, but several non-cool Jaguars to list..
I couldn't put it better myself. BMW were cool pre-bangle.
Mercedes were cool from 1950-1995.
Porsche were cool pre-watercool
VW were cool pre-emissiongate.
as an addition..
Volvo are now cool...apparently.
Alfa Romeo have always been cool.
Aston Martin were cool until they started selling a Toyota supermini.
Jaguar...it's complicated. Cool, but several non-cool Jaguars to list..
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