Volkswagen - What's got into you???

[icenine]

Originally Posted by BeamOn

I believe that the original reliability issues began with cars assembled in Mexico. I too thought about a TDI wagon but was discouraged (though great mileage) and instead bought an AWD Honda Element for my wife.

I keep hearing about how expensive German designed cars are to maintain.
True or not I do not want to take chances. I think I paid about $3000 for various repairs to my CRV between 2006-2015, and some of those were at the dealer and some where more expensive because I needed it done THAT day.

I would be afraid to think what one trip to a BMW dealer would be.

[finnbow]

Originally Posted by icenine

I keep hearing about how expensive German designed cars are to maintain.
True or not I do not want to take chances. I think I paid about $3000 for various repairs to my CRV between 2006-2015, and some of those were at the dealer and some where more expensive because I needed it done THAT day.

I would be afraid to think what one trip to a BMW dealer would be.

I brought an Audi back from Germany when I moved back in 1986. Not only was it expensive to maintain, but electrical problems were frequent.

Moreover, Porsche/Audi/Mercedes/BMW dealers here try to impress upon you how special you are for owning a German car and expect you to reach deeply into your pockets with a privileged smile on your face.

I'd never own anything but a German car in Germany, but I'd never again own one here. In my experience, German cars are nowhere near as reliable as their Japanese counterparts.

[Boreas]

Originally Posted by finnbow

Moreover, Porsche/Audi/Mercedes/BMW dealers here try to impress upon you how special you are for owning a German car and expect you to reach deeply into your pockets with a privileged smile on your face.

Having worked in a Porsche-Audi dealership and managed a BMW dealership, I can more or less confirm the above. But it's a bit overstated.

[finnbow]

Originally Posted by Boreas

Having worked in a Porsche-Audi dealership and managed a BMW dealership, I can more or less confirm the above. But it's a bit overstated.

Beyond these issues, most German cars are outfitted with all imaginable bells and whistles for the US market to help drive the notion that high cost equals luxury. In Germany, you can buy BMW's with cloth seats, no AC, etc., if you are so inclined. Not so here.

[nailer]

Originally Posted by finnbow

Beyond these issues, most German cars are outfitted with all imaginable bells and whistles for the US market to help drive the notion that high cost equals luxury. In Germany, you can buy BMW's with cloth seats, no AC, etc., if you are so inclined. Not so here.

Can you get an M in Germany w/o all the doodads?

[Boreas]

Originally Posted by nailer

Can you get an M in Germany w/o all the doodads?

What you want is a Schnitzer.

http://www.ac-schnitzer.de/en/bmw-ca...dels/m-models/

[finnbow]

Originally Posted by nailer

Can you get an M in Germany w/o all the doodads?

I doubt it. But you can (or could in the past, anyway) get a 3 or 5 series BMW or a lower model Benz with a smaller engine and without bells and whistles for a price far cheaper than a gussied up American version would cost.

[icenine]

Originally Posted by finnbow

Beyond these issues, most German cars are outfitted with all imaginable bells and whistles for the US market to help drive the notion that high cost equals luxury. In Germany, you can buy BMW's with cloth seats, no AC, etc., if you are so inclined. Not so here.

In Germany is the price for a no-frills BMW comparable to say buying a Honda Accord or some other mid-price car here?

[finnbow]

Originally Posted by icenine

In Germany is the price for a no-frills BMW comparable to say buying a Honda Accord or some other mid-price car here?

For comparison sake, you can get a BMW 218i in Germany for 27.650,00 € or a Honda Civic with a 1.8L engine (a lesser car, IMO) for 23.390,00 € (including a 19% value added tax that isn't charged on exports or for American service members in Germany). Without VAT, that would be 22,396 € for the 218i (~$25K at current exchange rates).

In the USA, the 2 series smallest engine is a 2.8L and that model starts at $34,850 (plus local sales tax and excise taxes), or about $37K with a 6% tax.

[Boreas]

Originally Posted by finnbow

For comparison sake, you can get a BMW 218i in Germany for 27.650,00 € or a Honda Civic with a 1.8L engine (a lesser car, IMO) for 23.390,00 € (including a 19% value added tax that isn't charged on exports or for American service members in Germany). Without VAT, that would be 22,396 € for the 218i (~$25K at current exchange rates).

In the USA, the 2 series smallest engine is a 2.8L and that model starts at $34,850 (plus local sales tax and excise taxes), or about $37K with a 6% tax.

Are Hondas and other non-EU cars subject to tariffs? If so, have Japanese car makers begun making cars in the EU and does that exempt them from tariffs?

I seem to recall that Hondas were made in the UK at one point in a joint venture with the old Leyland. Also Renault and Nissan are intertwined somehow.