Five Euro Car Myths?

[Astro14]

If I was faced with the prospect of driving the same car for 300k or 400k miles I would cut to the chase, find the nearest 20-30 story building and take a swan dive off of the roof.

Really?

After 12 years of ownership, the S600 remains a wonderful car. Incredible power, wonderful ride, precise, communicative steering, outstanding handling, great brakes, superb seats, and it’s quiet and smooth at very high speed. Triple digits, and it is loafing along.

I think it depends on the car - I would be very happy driving that particular car for another couple of decades.

 

[billt460]

I'm well past the point in my life of being tickled and fascinated by new cars. To me they're all a necessary evil, and at the same time a depreciating asset. While I have 3, (2 more than I can actually justify), they're just transportation.

I do my best to keep them up from a mechanical, appearance and maintenance perspective. But the "excitement" in owning and driving them has departed long ago, compared to how I felt in my younger days.

If I was lucky enough to say "win" a new Vette or Dodge Demon, I would drive it for a week or 2, then put it on the market. The cash would be better used or invested in other things.

 

[supton]

If I was lucky enough to say "win" a new Vette or Dodge Demon, I would drive it for a week or 2, then put it on the market. The cash would be better used or invested in other things.

I wouldn’t even drive it. Can’t miss what I’ve never tried. Would not want to tempt myself unduly.

 

[userfriendly]

I have always been impressed at how European cars, particularly MB and Audi, seem to know if you did all the required service on time, and then fail in expensive ways if you don't. That is some fancy engineering right there.

Biodegradable plastics. That one term on later model European cars says it all. They by definition, will not last. They will degrade regardless of what you do. You like replacing radiators because the tank rotted. How about limited life brake hoses. Wire harness?

Rod

That explains the cradle to grave plan so forget about Euro cars lasting over 20 years anymore.
All I know is that I’ll never ever buy another MB again, and if I won one in a lottery I’d sell it the next day for best offer.

 

[KrisZ]

Really?

After 12 years of ownership, the S600 remains a wonderful car. Incredible power, wonderful ride, precise, communicative steering, outstanding handling, great brakes, superb seats, and it’s quiet and smooth at very high speed. Triple digits, and it is loafing along.

I think it depends on the car - I would be very happy driving that particular car for another couple of decades.

You have several vehicles top enjoy though, plus they are not considered econoboxes.

A lot of "reliability above all" chest thumpers have one, oftentimes very boring vehicle, they drive and try to keep forever. Nothing wrong with that, but that's pretty much self torture IMO.

 

[Kira]

I read ~40% of the posts and didn't see this notion:
There's probably a model-by-model landscape to all cars.

For example, the biggest engine in the smallest model of any vehicle will always be a pain to work on.

I'd also like to know the breakdown rates of options I consider "needless toys".

 

[MCompact]

Really?

After 12 years of ownership, the S600 remains a wonderful car. Incredible power, wonderful ride, precise, communicative steering, outstanding handling, great brakes, superb seats, and it’s quiet and smooth at very high speed. Triple digits, and it is loafing along.

I think it depends on the car - I would be very happy driving that particular car for another couple of decades.

I've owned my Club Sport for going on 29 years and I have no plans to sell it. I was primarily referring to the people who think driving a soul slaughtering anodyne appliance for north of 300k miles is some bizarre form of automotive nirvana. I like older cars as well as new ones, but in my opinion the worst sin a car can commit is to be boring.

 

[LDB]

I can't imagine having more than one vehicle as I'd prefer one over another and always gravitate to that one making the other the red-headed step-child I am forced to drive since I can't ignore it always. So I just have my one and always get to drive my favorite that way.

 

[MCompact]

I can't imagine having more than one vehicle as I'd prefer one over another and always gravitate to that one making the other the red-headed step-child I am forced to drive since I can't ignore it always. So I just have my one and always get to drive my favorite that way.

I have to have one vehicle with true off-road capability. The Jeep fills that spot and also serves as an extremely economical DD. The C43 is a nice cruiser that can also serve as a decent HPDE drive. The Club Sport is for when I want to enjoy an analog car that provides an unfiltered driving experience.

 

[edyvw]

I don't think the OP has made his case. Consider the likelihood of a typical southern driven Honda or Toyota of making it to 300 or 400k miles if the factory service schedule is followed. Not an unreasonable thing to expect and it happens all the time. How much money in repairs would it take to make it that far? Usually fairly little.

Now juxtapose that with a typical Jaguar, Audi, Fiat or VW. I really don't have say anything more. The argument kinda makes itself.

Idk, but I had 2015 Toyota Sienna and this 2009 Pilot.
Pilot has 107,000mls and Sienna was sold with 85k.
Both were far more expensive to maintain than both my current Euro cars, especially comparing to BMW that I regularly tracked u til this year. It has 147,000mls.
Also, I bought BMW that spent life in PA with 86,000k and underneath looks better than any Toyota that spent life in the South. Also, it is far more comfortable than both Sienna and Pilot, with far better seats, and actually more space for a driver (especially compared to Pilot) which is big deal considering this is 3 series. I would take 3 series on a trip aceoss the country before any of those two. Especially with the fact that it was more reliable.
But, I bet you will tell us your experience.