Cars: Audi, BMW, Mercedes
- Thread starter Bas V
- Start date
Yank
Bulbous Also Tapered
Last three vehicles have been VWs - 2007 GTI, 2010 GTI, 2019 Golf R, all from new. The middle one had one major problem, a manufacturing defect which required replacement of the engine and turbo in the first year, which was handled painlessly, and afterwards the car was perfect for the remaining eight years I owned it.
andyoz
pfm Member
Mazdas are doing some fine things with Petrol tech ATM.
Look at one of their 'fully optioned' models with a few years depreciation on it.
They make nice manual boxes too if you're that type of driver.
Tony Lockhart
Avoiding Stress, at Every Opportunity
Do the JD Power surveys still only cover cars for the first three years of their life? If so, not relevant to the OP.
Is reliability really that important to you? If so, and if it’s above everything else, fair enough, buy a Honda and hope your choice pays off. If other factors are at or near the top of your list, then make a different choice.
If you look at the figures in surveys, there’s not a lot of real world difference between most makes now. Thirty years ago it was a very different story!
Yes it’s a shame that Lexus use CVT boxes. I wouldn’t even consider another brand if they offered a regular auto option. Still, as you say an IS300h is worth a look as some don’t seem to mind CVT.
SteveG
pfm Member
The I-Pace does look a lovely thing but it's pricey (triple the stated budget) and I'm not convinced I'd be including Jaguars in a discussion on cars where reliability is a big factor. They're the 2nd most broken down brand I see on my travels (although a long way short of the first, which is Land Rover/Range rover).
SteveG
pfm Member
I've never been that convinced by those types of surveys as there seems to be an element of "I expected my car to be crap, but it's not quite as crap as I expected" from some buyers, while others (often of the premium brands or ones known for reliability) there is an element of "I expected my VW to be perfect but I've given it a score of 1 out of 10 because I had to replace a tyre after 20,000 miles".
Suffolk Tony
Aim low, achieve your goals, avoid disappointment.
Yes, whether a car's reliable or not's pot luck in many ways. But then it does seem some people suffer much more than others when it comes to car troubles. Having a good local dealer/specialist is a big plus.
We're all relating personal experiences and preferences of course. We've had the best reliability with BMWs - of the six we've owned, the only fault was with SWMBO's 3 Series' indicators which would occasionally play up - fixed under warranty. My original 5 Series 525tds Touring did 130K+ miles in four years, totally reliably. I've now ditched Macan & 911 Porches, fun though they were, and gone back to a 5 Series Touring. It's a 540i, remarkably speedy, lovely handling, loads of gadgets, and its fuel consumption is far better than I was led to believe - 40mpg on our long steady run to the Lake District.
I reckon this one will see me out.
We're all relating personal experiences and preferences of course. We've had the best reliability with BMWs - of the six we've owned, the only fault was with SWMBO's 3 Series' indicators which would occasionally play up - fixed under warranty. My original 5 Series 525tds Touring did 130K+ miles in four years, totally reliably. I've now ditched Macan & 911 Porches, fun though they were, and gone back to a 5 Series Touring. It's a 540i, remarkably speedy, lovely handling, loads of gadgets, and its fuel consumption is far better than I was led to believe - 40mpg on our long steady run to the Lake District.
I reckon this one will see me out.
SteveG
pfm Member
I'm also thinking about cars again as my wife's SLK is possibly up for replacement as (being the diesel) it doesn't meet the requirements to be allowed into Edinburgh's upcoming green zone. I've had a very good look at the available EV's and they are definitely getting closer, with something like the bigger battery version of the Leaf, the Ioniq or the e-Niro coming close to meeting most of my needs (big enough to carry a Labrador, plus a stated range well above 200 miles as I do bi-weekly trips between Edinburgh and the Cairngorms with a hilly route that's between 130 and 170 miles dependent on route/weather). They are all pretty boring though, as well as still being relatively expensive - with the more interesting cars either having too short a range or being far too expensive to consider. I also tend to buy cars outright but that'd be madness with an EV I think, and it's clear going the EV route would still be a very much more expensive option that sticking with petrol for now. I suspect it'll be a different situation in 5-years time when I'm considering replacing my C-class estate.
Current thinking is that the SLK will probably get replaced by a Mercedes 4x4 for general use plus either a classic convertible or maybe an older Boxster.
Current thinking is that the SLK will probably get replaced by a Mercedes 4x4 for general use plus either a classic convertible or maybe an older Boxster.
SteveG
pfm Member
In a BMW? How would you have even noticed that...?
As an aside I followed a traffic police BMW X5 from one side of Edinburgh to the other at the weekend and not once did the indicators get used, despite there being lots of twists and turns to avoid all the roadworks etc.
NeilR
pfm Member
I wasn't recommending the OP gets an i-Pace, just stating that EVs are far nicer to drive than ICE cars, which is why the OP should perhaps consider one. They are so good that it makes us wonder why me and my wife put up conventional cars for so long.
Thorn
pfm Member
My Jaguar XE is three and a half years old and has been trouble free. The main problems owners on the XE Forum report is with the stop/start failing to stop the engine at rest, but that's easily remedied.
SteveS1
I heard that, pardon?
Have to agree with the pot luck theory.
Had a range of cars over many years, several VWs, six BMWs a couple of older RRs, a couple of Mercs, a couple of Volvos, a Saab and a long term Lotus. One BMW out of six had a mapping issue that was easily fixed. Two Mercs were reliable but there was a very obvious drop in build quality in the same model from one to a later version.
Mk1 RR was pretty reliable few niggles many of whoch you could access and deal with yourself. The later (Mk2) was a dog and I'd never have another RR. Cracked bore liners in an engine at 24k. Ended up haranging the CEO until I got a significant contribution.
The Audi A4 was faultless, impressive for a convertible. Volvos (T4 and C70 T5) and Saab 900 Turbo (absurdly over-engineered) were both faultless as were VWs (two Golf GTIs a Scirroco GTX and a Corrado G60), except a Phaeton Company Car, which developed expensive engine management issues and chewed through two wheel bearings in addition to consumables by 60k.
Interestingly despite the rep for unreliable cars in the 70s, the Lotus (Loads Of Trouble Usually Serious) Elise S1 had no problems at all in 14 years of ownership.
Had a range of cars over many years, several VWs, six BMWs a couple of older RRs, a couple of Mercs, a couple of Volvos, a Saab and a long term Lotus. One BMW out of six had a mapping issue that was easily fixed. Two Mercs were reliable but there was a very obvious drop in build quality in the same model from one to a later version.
Mk1 RR was pretty reliable few niggles many of whoch you could access and deal with yourself. The later (Mk2) was a dog and I'd never have another RR. Cracked bore liners in an engine at 24k. Ended up haranging the CEO until I got a significant contribution.
The Audi A4 was faultless, impressive for a convertible. Volvos (T4 and C70 T5) and Saab 900 Turbo (absurdly over-engineered) were both faultless as were VWs (two Golf GTIs a Scirroco GTX and a Corrado G60), except a Phaeton Company Car, which developed expensive engine management issues and chewed through two wheel bearings in addition to consumables by 60k.
Interestingly despite the rep for unreliable cars in the 70s, the Lotus (Loads Of Trouble Usually Serious) Elise S1 had no problems at all in 14 years of ownership.
Tony Lockhart
Avoiding Stress, at Every Opportunity
You indicate to pass roadworks?
Seeker_UK
Feelin' nearly faded as my jeans
Tony Lockhart
Avoiding Stress, at Every Opportunity
Tarmac or concrete?