LPC: How the mighty have fallen
 

http://automotive.mytelus.com/automotive/autonews/index.spy?cmd=view&artid=19106

Do the Germans or Japanese Make Better Cars?

by Trevor Hofmann, auto123.com / Canadian Auto Press (December 1, 2003)


German Study Turns Up Unexpected Response

German cars are better right? While that might hold some credence among luxury car buyers, according to a consumer satisfaction survey compiled by German automobile association ADAC, together with the Center for Automotive Research (CAR), the majority of the fatherland's car owners disagree.


The results for the local brands weren't favourable when 38,000 German vehicle owners were surveryed about their consumer satisfaction. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)
Altogether more than 38,000 German vehicle owners were asked how satisfied they were with their car or SUV and the service its dealer provided, with the results leaving domestic automakers Mercedes-Benz, Opel and Volkswagen hardly topping the charts.

Contrarily, Japanese automakers swept one through seventh in owner satisfaction. The only German automaker to break the top ten was Porsche. Just like in North America, Japanese carmaker Toyota was the cream of the crop with Subaru, Honda, Mazda and then Nissan taking the first five spots.


Just like in North America, Japanese carmaker Toyota was the cream of the crop with Subaru, Honda, Mazda and then Nissan taking the first five spots. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)
In North America, German and Japanese manufacturers experience similar results. According to J.D. Powers and Associates 2003 Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS), the top five positions are held first by Toyota's Lexus nameplate, second by Nissan's Infiniti, third by GM's Buick division with fourth held by the first German, once again Porsche. Fifth place goes to Honda's Acura brand. Other than Porsche no German brands rank in the top 10.

Behind Porsche the highest rated German nameplate is BMW in 13th place, with Audi next but much farther down the scale in 26th and Mercedes-Benz close behind in a rather pathetic 27th out of 37 total automakers. Volkswagen, a name once synonymous with reliability and owner satisfaction, ranks near the bottom of the barrel in 33rd place.

Interesting information. If you beleive everything you read. Is it propoganda or is it fact? Hard to beleive that an american car even made it to the top. And Mercedes being so low is another shocker. I know the dealers try to do everything they can to help you with your car after the purchase. I for one, am very happy with my BMW 5 series. It is a very well built automobile.

With my past experiences of VW ownership, (nine years of torture, expence, and extreme Undependability) I would not even put a vote in for them.
I've never owned a BMW, but I here them frequently quoted as "BMTroubleu".

I vote highly for Toyota. My expierence with Toyota has been good so far. I cannot give my opinion (and im sure you are all thankful :) ) for any of the other vehicles on the list because I have not owned them.

Buick??? The nameplate that is no more? I'm thinking the results there are a bit suspect....

--DD

I thought it was Oldsmobile that was no more. ADAC is the equivalent of the AAA and, as far as I know, well respected. If you go to the J.D. Powers web site and look at their survey of German new car owners, the results are the same. Germany should have set a "restore point" back in, say, 1955 so that they could now go back that cultural point.

Whoops! I had thought it was Olds, then I heard Buick, now I find out it's actually Olds...

Hmm. I still don't trust those results, though. Unless 1/3 of the people they surveyed were AARP members, which is the only customer base that Buick has had in the past 20 years..... ;)

--DD

I have a New Beetle and have not had anything fall off my car.

Replaced 2 coil packs (manufacturer defect; VW replaced ALL of them under warranty) and an O2 sensor. During a routine maint. they replaced the trouble prone plastic window switches with a sturdier metal design.

VW is not the most dependable car on the road Im sure. But at least it not the most boring one either. Driving a Japanese car is usually a fairly soulless experience. Unfortunately the Passat is annoyingly similar to Toyotas and Hondas in that respect...

Very good article. I own a 914, but I'm not a true dyed in the wool Porsche fan - are his statements regarding the Cayenne and marque loyalists accurate?

Very good article. I agree with his criticism of Mercedes and Porsche for getting away from their traditional automotive philosophies - and now even BMW is doing the same!