What car are you driving?

[I-275westcoastfl]

Originally Posted by Professor L Gee

My car: 2001 Pontiac Bonneville
Wife's car: 1999 Nissan Maxima



Not nearly always. We only get the higher-end BMWs, MBs, and Audis here in the US, with some exceptions. Ever seen one of the aforementioned brands with cloth seats and hubcaps Stateside?

You are right but I'm speaking quality wise such as the case with VW using the cheapest materials and wiring from Mexico. Factor in that VW North America has terrible service and will laugh at you and tell you to piss off when you get problems and the up the ass price of parts for those cars means it doesn't make sense to get them. I love Audi's but after my family bought a VW brand new years back and had a ton of problems from the start I don't think I'll buy a VW in NA ever. Our family has had American cars besides a VW with few problems and much higher mileage reached than with the VW we had. Only our Chrysler Sebring can compare cheap interior pieces which broke and we have a slight oil leak with 80k miles on it. Not only that but I've seen many people have problems with them. Most mechanics will even tell you here to get rid of your VW or don't get one.

[Qtya]

Originally Posted by Rebasepoiss

For example, nobody in Europe would dare to say that an American car has a better quality level than it's European counterpart.

Cas' obviously it would not be true. Simple fact.

[bleetz]

American cars have crap interiors and quite often huge engines that are neither powerful nor efficient. I always go for European stuff.

[AltinD]

Originally Posted by Verso

No, a vignette (vinjeta) is a sticker for motorways. That blue sticker you have on your windshield.

Oh that. It's actually a sticker for the Port & Free Zone where my office is located. The square orange one in the top-middle is the chip for the electronic highway toll (Salik).

Both (stuck on the inside of the glass) are gone though. I removed the blue one and the toll sticker was removed when I had to change the windshield and because it isn't supposed to be used after that, it lost it's stickiness and one day slide down and fell in between the bottom of the windshield and the dashboard, completely hidden from view. It still receives the signal when I drive beneath the toll gates so I don't bother. Will take it out from there if it happen that during a repair/service visit the dashboard has to be removed.

[I-275westcoastfl]

Originally Posted by bleetz

American cars have crap interiors and quite often huge engines that are neither powerful nor efficient. I always go for European stuff.

10 years ago I'd agree with you, today story is completely different.

[bleetz]

Hmm.... I saw some new Dodges and the story was the same. I guess new Cadillacs are an exception. What else?

[Verso]

Originally Posted by AltinD

Oh that. It's actually a sticker for the Port & Free Zone where my office is located.

Wow, I was almost certain it was a sticker for Slovenian motorways (on your way to Vienna, f.e.). Do you have a bigger pic of that sticker? This is a Slovenian vignette (you remove the lower part):


http://image.24ur.com/media/images//...//60337811.jpg

[nerdly_dood]

1999 Ford Taurus. 3L V6, 20mpg (city/highway combined), AC doesn't work, great audio.

[AltinD]

Originally Posted by Verso

Wow, I was almost certain it was a sticker for Slovenian motorways (on your way to Vienna, f.e.). Do you have a bigger pic of that sticker?

The car has never left U.A.E.

This is the best i could do (the sticker used to be on my old car, also a Passat)

[Verso]

Ok, thanks. Now I see it isn't even rectangular, but round.

[LtBk]

I read that the BMW 3 series is the most reliable Germany car according to several automotive sources, despite the problems with high pressure fuel pumps on their 335is, or any other cars with N54 twin turbo charged I6 engines.

[I-275westcoastfl]

Originally Posted by bleetz

Hmm.... I saw some new Dodges and the story was the same. I guess new Cadillacs are an exception. What else?

Any new Chrysler product within the last few years has been garbage, only now with the new Dodge and Chrysler products starting to roll out will we see Chrysler improve. Cadillac is under general motors which all of the brands have improved in quality and like I said Ford has one of the highest quality ratings in North America right now.

[Professor L Gee]

Originally Posted by I-275westcoastfl

You are right but I'm speaking quality wise such as the case with VW using the cheapest materials and wiring from Mexico. Factor in that VW North America has terrible service and will laugh at you and tell you to piss off when you get problems and the up the ass price of parts for those cars means it doesn't make sense to get them. I love Audi's but after my family bought a VW brand new years back and had a ton of problems from the start I don't think I'll buy a VW in NA ever. Our family has had American cars besides a VW with few problems and much higher mileage reached than with the VW we had. Only our Chrysler Sebring can compare cheap interior pieces which broke and we have a slight oil leak with 80k miles on it. Not only that but I've seen many people have problems with them. Most mechanics will even tell you here to get rid of your VW or don't get one.

I heard that. I myself like VW, but I've always told myself that if I had to buy one, it would be one of the models built in Germany, like the GLI. I also know a few people who have had VWs that were bulletproof as far as reliability, but they must've been the lucky ones. As for Audi, I REALLY like their cars, but unless they improve between now and when I'll be able to afford to own one, I'll pass.

My parents have driven both BMWs and Mercedes-Benz (my mom still has her '94 E320). Fortunately, they learned not to go to the stealership for repairs.

[Henk]

My car,


Citroen C4 1.6HDI VTR+, 110HP. I've driven 45.000 KM last year with it.

At work I drive a VW Golf V 1.9 TDI, 105HP.

[Fuzzy Llama]

I'm pretty sure that I've posted this picture somewhere at SSC some time ago, but since we're showing off...

That's my French Stallion
Renault Megane 1999, 1.4l petrol engine, had 95HP 11 years and 203000 kms ago

[al_84]

Originally Posted by Fuzzy Llama

I'm pretty sure that I've posted this picture somewhere at SSC some time ago, but since we're showing off...

That's my French Stallion
Renault Megane 1999, 1.4l petrol engine, had 95HP 11 years and 203000 kms ago

cool, i like the old numberplate

[ChrisZwolle]

I can't remember the last time I saw one of these old pre-2001 license plates... I know I saw them often in 2004-2007 when the first wave of Polish workers came to the Netherlands, but those black/white plates are virtually non-existent these days on the Dutch roads. Even those plates with the PL flag instead of EU logo are becoming rare.

[Rebasepoiss]

Originally Posted by LtBk

I read that the BMW 3 series is the most reliable Germany car according to several automotive sources, despite the problems with high pressure fuel pumps on their 335is, or any other cars with N54 twin turbo charged I6 engines.

BTW, according to the Autobild quality survey, Hyundai is the most reliable car brand(at least in Germany). In addition, Kia Cee'd received a 5-star rating in Autobild's 100,000 km test. It might seem surprising at first but if you think about it, it actually makes sense. Korean automakers have always been considered inferior compared to others(except the Chinese, of course) so I guess they are in a point where they know they have to work really hard to gain reputation. This is just my theory, though.

[Surel]

Originally Posted by Rebasepoiss

BTW, according to the Autobild quality survey, Hyundai is the most reliable car brand(at least in Germany). In addition, Kia Cee'd received a 5-star rating in Autobild's 100,000 km test. It might seem surprising at first but if you think about it, it actually makes sense. Korean automakers have always been considered inferior compared to others(except the Chinese, of course) so I guess they are in a point where they know they have to work really hard to gain reputation. This is just my theory, though.

Given their factories are the newest ones it doesn't surprise me so much with respect to the base veheicle technology. Anyway when you offer 7 year guarantee, you have to have a hell of a certainty, that you wont be flooded by raged customers in the next 7 years.

[234sale]

Here's mine