Driving Dynamics vs Reliability

I've owned 12 BMWs since 1983 and none of them had a horrible reliability record. My wife's E84 X1 needed a valve cover a year or so ago but that is all it has required aside from scheduled maintenance. Ditto for my F22 M235i, which I traded in for a W205 C43- which I absolutely love. Relatively quick and comfortable, the AMG exhaust and AMG sport suspension make it as much fun to drive as the vintage M cars that I've owned and driven.
In my opinion, the worst sin a car can commit is to be boring; an engaging driving experience absolutely trumps operating costs and a few extra repairs.
 
Dave Hess said:
I was kind of surprised when you got rid of M5.
I also remember when you bought it and posted pictures.

No way I would have got rid of that M5 for a Dodge. Zero possibility.
Click to expand...
I had a moment of weakness and still regret it. Now of course the car has more than doubled in value, so it's not like I can justify picking up another one.
 
Nessism1 said:
How much does reliability play into your car purchasing decision? I'm considering buying a new "entry level luxury" vehicle next year, but several brands which are prominent in that space, such as BMW, Audi/VW, Mercedes, Cadillac, have a questionable reputation for reliability.

Vehicles that have caught my attention include, CT4 w/2.7 engine, BMW 2 series or X1, Audi A4, GTI, and Lexus IS 350 Sport.

Even though I know the Lexus is an older product, developed 10 years ago, they lead my list, because I trust Toyota more than the others.

Does anyone else view new car purchases through a similar lens? I'm happy to wrench on a project vehicle, but not my daily driver.
Click to expand...
If your looking at a GTI, then you should add a VW Golf R into the mix. To bad you live in Calif., otherwise you put a tune on and be in the 380+hp range and reliable with AWD.
 
JohnnyG said:
Huh? French meaning "to battle", and an aviation company. I looked that one up, never having heard it before. Can you please explain your usage of this word?
Do you mean that they are a customer of the French aviation company?
Click to expand...
Honda and Dassault have been collaborating in innovations in design and manufacturing for decades.
 
Nessism1 said:
How much does reliability play into your car purchasing decision? I'm considering buying a new "entry level luxury" vehicle next year, but several brands which are prominent in that space, such as BMW, Audi/VW, Mercedes, Cadillac, have a questionable reputation for reliability.

Vehicles that have caught my attention include, CT4 w/2.7 engine, BMW 2 series or X1, Audi A4, GTI, and Lexus IS 350 Sport.

Even though I know the Lexus is an older product, developed 10 years ago, they lead my list, because I trust Toyota more than the others.

Does anyone else view new car purchases through a similar lens? I'm happy to wrench on a project vehicle, but not my daily driver.
Click to expand...
My BMW and VW together costed less to maintain than Toyota Sienna I had.
There is another topic about cost of control arms for Camry. A. They are cheaper for BMW. B. They last far longer on BMW.

So, don’t get scared into buying some fun vehicle. There are always cars to avoid. But, there is also perception of reliability or low cost.
 
Last edited:
I suppose it depends on what you are willing to put up with.
Drive what you like and enjoy the heck out of it.
Fix the problems as they occur instead of letting them pile up.
So many owners let problems pile up with their vehicles and only fix the ones that cause lack of driving safety or vehicle not running.
And then they complain that the vehicle cost too much to fix when they have so many problems that were neglected.
 
Well I will chime in, as I retired last year I decided to buy a new retirement present in the shape of a Mercedes-Benz 300glc. All I can say and brother can I say a lot, is in the end Mercedes corporate bought the car back under the California lemon law right to the penny.

This car had so many electrical issues it was overwhelming. And I mean from being left stranded to multiple times at the dealership for documentation of my case.

This was not a happy retirement present for me! But I will say it was a learning experience. I think the car industry is going through a learning curve right now in the electronics area.

Do your research, check the forums for specific cars, and the National Traffic Safety Association. That will give you a listing of all of the manufacturers with their problems that have had recalls.

Manufacturers will only go so far in the repair of a new vehicle under warranty, then they will just buy it back and put it up for auction. All of those records are public and visible.. just my two cents, good luck
 
Last edited:
It's all about reliability for me, the last thing I want to do is push my car. I just need to get where I'm going, I don't care about how it looks or how it feels. Besides, I've been working on cars for over 30 years; what's that old saying about shoemakers? :ROFLMAO:
 
You gotta have it all, to the best degree you can. IMO, take care of whatever you drive. If it breaks down you are stuck. Hopefully it does not break down while driving.
 
Thanks to all that responded.

I spent more than 1/2 of my career working in the quality department of a major OEM Japanese automaker. I greatly value reliability and durability in my daily driver.

My reasons for favoring the IS350 include: Lexus reliability, strong V6 NA engine which has both port and DI, decent handling, and it's the "right size" for my garage/driveway (which is narrow). Downside: not a fan of the maw/grill, the platform is something like 10 years old now.

I love the look and performance of the Audi A4. Like all VW's, though, the reliability reputation is not great. How come they can't fix the water pump?

BMW's are just plain cool, but again, I keep reading about maintenance expenses. Maybe unfounded? Consumers Reports rates them high in customer satisfaction, so that must mean something.

Anyway, still on the fence. My Civic is running well, other than the AC system is bad. I just can't bring myself to spend $2200 fixing the AC on a 35,000 mile car.
 
Nessism1 said:
Thanks to all that responded.

I spent more than 1/2 of my career working in the quality department of a major OEM Japanese automaker. I greatly value reliability and durability in my daily driver.

My reasons for favoring the IS350 include: Lexus reliability, strong V6 NA engine which has both port and DI, decent handling, and it's the "right size" for my garage/driveway (which is narrow). Downside: not a fan of the maw/grill, the platform is something like 10 years old now.

I love the look and performance of the Audi A4. Like all VW's, though, the reliability reputation is not great. How come they can't fix the water pump?

BMW's are just plain cool, but again, I keep reading about maintenance expenses. Maybe unfounded? Consumers Reports rates them high in customer satisfaction, so that must mean something.

Anyway, still on the fence. My Civic is running well, other than the AC system is bad. I just can't bring myself to spend $2200 fixing the AC on a 35,000 mile car.
Click to expand...

I had a “14 GS 350 and it was a wonderful vehicle. The size was easier for me to live with than the IS. It did need some help with door lock motors and sunroof motor. It handled BETTER with wheels downsized to 18.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

M
Reliable/Low Maintenance or Super Fun Vehicle To Purchase
2 3 4
Replies
66
Views
10K
SammyChevelleTypeS3
M
A week with a 2021 BMW X3e (hybrid)
Replies
10
Views
1K
edyvw
M
1 Week Review - 2025 Toyota Tacoma Hybrid Limited
2 3 4
Replies
79
Views
19K
We're Metals
MCompact
I Have Turned to the Dark Side... Mercedes AMG C43
2 3 4
Replies
61
Views
11K
MCompact
OVERKILL
2021 BMW X5 test drives: xDrive45e, xDrive40, M50i
Replies
17
Views
2K
dareo
Back
Top Bottom