What car are you driving?

[I-275westcoastfl]

Originally Posted by TheCat

Recently VW in North America has been known as one of the least reliable brands out there. When I was looking for a car a few months ago, I considered the Jetta or Passat, but after reading many reviews (and checking out Consumer Reports), I decided to stay away, as many people seem to be having many serious problems with these cars.

This has been a problem in general with many German cars here in North America (especially Mercedes, which is ranked lower than even some of the least reliable American brands). Electrical problems are the most common culprits (which are often both very serious and super expensive to fix). BMW has been better in this regard though. But then again, these are all luxury cars not many can afford. I don't know if in Europe similar problems exist.

Actually, the North American Honda Civic (2006+) has a somewhat common serious problem too, where engine blocks tend to develop cracks and leak engine coolant. This seems to be specific to engines made between 2006 and 2008 in the Canadian plant. This was the reason I bought my Acura - it is basically a Civic but with a different engine from a different series, which is not known for this problem. Also, for around $2K more this car has many nice toys that the Civic doesn't .

You are dead on about everything in that post. VW's in North America are terrible quality and have problems with electronics and auto transmissions. Mercedes learned cost cutting measures from Chrysler when they ran them into the ground so they make lower quality cars now too. The Honda thing is a coolant leak that causes the car to overheat which causes engine blocks to crack, it is indeed a common problem which has killed many engines. Honda's also have problems with auto transmissions. I want a TDI VW but it's not worth all the money I'll spend fixing it.

[BND]

Am I the only one who can see a coincidence between the struggle of American car makers for survival, and the sudden drop in reliability of VW, Mercedes, BMW, Honda or Toyota cars in North America?

These are the ADAC (German Automobile Club) breakdown statistics for 2009:

(percentage of cars broke down made in the given year)

[pdxor]

Currently a 2002 Buick Century Custom


Previous cars:
1993 Pontiac Grand AM SE
1980 Toyota Celica
1969 Ford Galaxie 500

[AltinD]

Originally Posted by Qtya

IMO the best car mentioned here so far...

Thanks. It's the top of the line Highline trim with everything, even massage seat. The only things it doesn't have are BT phone (weird, I know), solar roof, Adaptive Cruise Control and heated rear seats which i obviously don't need here, plus it can be put when boosted child seats are integrated there.

Too bad the R36 wasn't yet available back then ... though my car is right now parked next to one

[RKC]

Originally Posted by BND

Am I the only one who can see a coincidence between the struggle of American car makers for survival, and the sudden drop in reliability of VW, Mercedes, BMW, Honda or Toyota cars in North America?

yeah its just a bit strange.

mine is a Renault Clio 2002, bought new. (net picture)

before that i had a Fiat Punto, and my first was a Maruti Suzuki, haha check it out

not the actual car, didn't look as good as this

[zlobna raca]

2006 530d for personal use, at work I drive 2005 Škoda Octavia wagon 1.9TDI.

[bogdymol]

Romania:
Chevrolet Aveo 1.4 petrol engine tax: less than 20 euro/year (it might change soon, but it will increase only for expensive cars with large engines)
first time registration tax: 167 euro
insurance: less than 100 euro/year

If I will ever move to NL I will keep my romanian plates

[Verso]

Originally Posted by AltinD

Is that a Slovenian vignette in Dubai?

[hofburg]

good observation. seems like one. it was even weirder seeing those registration plates in Slovenia... nice photo of a nice car.

[Verso]

I've seen Dubai here once.

[Des]

Originally Posted by TheCat

Recently VW in North America has been known as one of the least reliable brands out there. When I was looking for a car a few months ago, I considered the Jetta or Passat, but after reading many reviews (and checking out Consumer Reports), I decided to stay away, as many people seem to be having many serious problems with these cars.

This has been a problem in general with many German cars here in North America (especially Mercedes, which is ranked lower than even some of the least reliable American brands). Electrical problems are the most common culprits (which are often both very serious and super expensive to fix). BMW has been better in this regard though. But then again, these are all luxury cars not many can afford. I don't know if in Europe similar problems exist.

Actually, the North American Honda Civic (2006+) has a somewhat common serious problem too, where engine blocks tend to develop cracks and leak engine coolant. This seems to be specific to engines made between 2006 and 2008 in the Canadian plant. This was the reason I bought my Acura - it is basically a Civic but with a different engine from a different series, which is not known for this problem. Also, for around $2K more this car has many nice toys that the Civic doesn't .

Maybe this has to do with the bad quality of the roads in the US / Canada?

[hofburg]

Originally Posted by Des

Maybe this has to do with the bad quality of the roads in the US / Canada?

^ that's just american protectionism, making a bad reputation of european cars, to make people buy domestic ones.

[x-type]

Originally Posted by hofburg

to me they look very funny.



so all I need now is an adress in HR and next time I register my car there.

actually i wrote it wrong. 25€ is annual tax for my car.
while i'm making annual registration, for my Punto everything costs me about 300€ (insurance 160€, registration fee 55€ and road tax 85€).
we pay insurance due to car power. i'm lucky because Punto is at top edge of second grade (44kW)

[Stainless]

Originally Posted by Des

Maybe this has to do with the bad quality of the roads in the US / Canada?

Well we haven't had the same issues in the UK and our roads can be terrible. Maybe with Mercedes but they have been bad for years, I think some early 90s models will outlive more recent ones as they made them like tanks then. My mother drives a 2006 B class and it doesn't seem that 'premium' except that it costs a lot to fix all the problems it has. Hondas in the UK have an excellent reputation (we even export them to Japan) and I am sure they pride themselves on how reliable the VTEC engine is.

[Qtya]

Originally Posted by hypn0toad

Me luvz French style

Personally I'm not a fan of the French automobile industry, but I must admit, when it comes to driving experience, this is one hell of a car... If I must criticize something, then the brakes could be more sharp...

[ChitownCity]

I'm driving a 2010 Nissan Maxima and a 2007 Buick Rendezvous...

[ChrisZwolle]

Originally Posted by bleetz

Jesus f---ing Christ! No way! Are you serious? So with insurance that's like 2000 per year + the diesel?!

I have to add petrol is taxed less, in the Netherlands it depends on 1) fuel type, 2) weight and 3) the province you're living in.

High fuel consumption is actively pursued in the Dutch policy. Her majesty's government wants to stimulate our logistics sector (the Netherlands is the 5th largest exporter in the world), by having almost no tax on kerosene and oil products for shipping, and also low diesel prices (compared to petrol).

However, to prevent people from having too much advantage of the lower diesel price and lower fuel consumption, the annual road tax is higher for diesel cars, so it is only profitable to privately own a diesel car if you drive over 30,000 kilometer per year. This is why the share of diesel cars in the Netherlands is much lower than in France or Belgium.

[piotr71]

I owned about 25 cars and vans. Drove more than 100. Recently sold BMW 520i Touring 2.2 litre 2002 year. Currently have three older cars, 2 MB's and one BMW and quite often rent vans. Next year I am going to buy one of these:

[Des]

Originally Posted by ChrisZwolle

I have to add petrol is taxed less, in the Netherlands it depends on 1) fuel type, 2) weight and 3) the province you're living in.

I think I have to pay about 140 euro a month in road tax for two cars combined. Insurance is 160 euro per month but only one car is fully covered in case of an accident, the other only has third party insurance. And that excludes parking, fuel and other stuff like maintenance and depreciation...

[HMMS]

Originally Posted by hofburg

to me they look very funny.



so all I need now is an adress in HR and next time I register my car there.

Why they look like funny?????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Really I don't understood your point!!!!!!!!!