Out with the Audi & In with a Pilot

[edyvw]

This is such a fallacious argument.

Do you know how many people use reasoning like this to destructive effect?

“you don’t have the right to talk about X because you are not X, have not experienced X, or do not identify with X”

If you really wanted to make a solid argument, you would use data or studies suggesting luxury Euro cars not money pits.

In other words, you have no idea.

 

[CKN]

European cars. Something I will never experience except vicariously through others.

Good move getting out of the luxury Euro money pit. Honda pilot will be a major relief long term.

After coming out of a Highlander with only 29,000 miles on it-to a Volvo XC60-it's a wakeup call how much you put up with mediocrity to get that reliability. I could preach this all day-the best way to see what I am talking about is renting through Hertz (on your next trip) and getting an XC60. They have them.

 

[02SE]

You counter my anecdote with an anecdote of your own.

I anticipate data won’t change your mind, but here it is anyways.

View attachment 280074

Based on estimates from "your mechanic". Who is "your mechanic" lets see their actual data.

I was a mechanic, and worked on all makes and models at one point or another. I've owned a bunch of European vehicles over the years. Probably the most frequently owned is BMW. We have four BMW's currently.

I haven't found our BMW's to be more expensive to maintain. MAYBE if I went to the dealership for everything out of warranty, they'd seem more expensive to maintain than, say, our Toyotas. Of course lots of BMW's are leased, and maintenance is included.

 

[edyvw]

Based on estimates from "your mechanic". Who is "your mechanic" lets see their actual data.

I was a mechanic, and worked on all makes and models at one point or another. I've owned a bunch of European vehicles over the years. Probably the most frequently owned is BMW. We have four BMW's currently.

I haven't found our BMW's to be more expensive to maintain. MAYBE if I went to the dealership for everything out of warranty, they'd seem more expensive to maintain than, say, our Toyotas. Of course lots of BMW's are leased, and maintenance is included.

Mind you that Toyota parts are usually more expensive.
I always admired how they wanted to charge me $315 for 17” donut tire and when I said I paid $129 for donut in BMW dealership for X5, the guy said: “yeah, but this is Toyota.”

 

[OVERKILL]

Based on estimates from "your mechanic". Who is "your mechanic" lets see their actual data.

Yes, that was my query as well. I appreciate the attempt at providing "data", but I'd like some clarification as to the source.

 

[wemay]

Yes, that was my query as well. I appreciate the attempt at providing "data", but I'd like some clarification as to the source.

Here's the link, at least....

https://lifehacker.com/the-car-brands-with-the-highest-maintenance-costs-over-1781639773

 

[andrew_j]

European cars. Something I will never experience except vicariously through others.

Good move getting out of the luxury Euro money pit. Honda pilot will be a major relief long term.

I thought I was buying money pit when dear wife had heart set on brand new 2018 VW Tiguan. 195k miles now and only repairs:

2 sets brakes
2 sets of tires
Ignition wiring harness
Fuel cap door power lock

Been leaps more reliable the her previous 05 Subaru Legacy and 96 Honda Civic.

 

[edyvw]

Here's the link, at least....

https://lifehacker.com/the-car-brands-with-the-highest-maintenance-costs-over-1781639773

Totally makes sense for Audi to be some $5,000 more expensive than VW

 

[edyvw]

I thought I was buying money pit when dear wife had heart set on brand new 2018 VW Tiguan. 195k miles now and only repairs:

2 sets brakes
2 sets of tires
Ignition wiring harness
Fuel cap door power lock

Been leaps more reliable the her previous 05 Subaru Legacy and 96 Honda Civic.

Obviously you are lying. Your VW bursted in flames by now. Same like @TiGeo. He claims that he is on track all the time and abuse his VW as daily. But we all know his VW exploded and his ghost is writing posts just to piss off “I know you got Porsche 911, but have you tried Honda Accord” folks.

 

[edyvw]

After coming out of a Highlander with only 29,000 miles on it-to a Volvo XC60-it's a wakeup call how much you put up with mediocrity to get that reliability. I could preach this all day-the best way to see what I am talking about is renting through Hertz (on your next trip) and getting an XC60. They have them.

That would be right word.
Even though I like our Sequoia, I hang out with it only when BMW or VW are not an option, which means all 5 of us are going somewhere.

 

[OVERKILL]

Here's the link, at least....

https://lifehacker.com/the-car-brands-with-the-highest-maintenance-costs-over-1781639773

OK, so it's from a single mobile car repair company? Doesn't seem sufficiently exhaustive to be definitive.

 

[andrew_j]

I bet you Honda average maintenance if including 105k has that pesky V6 timing belt replacement cost. If not add another $1.75k to that for 100k services with a dealer and most independents. I got it done on the cheaper for $700 using Honda parts by friend .

 

[edyvw]

OK, so it's from a single mobile car repair company? Doesn't seem sufficiently exhaustive to be definitive.

80% of Audis are running the same engines as VW, but somehow the same source has Audi more expensive by $5,000+, and the longitudinal Audi is actually easier to work on.

 

[JeffKeryk]

Most of the posts here are anecdotal in nature.
Here's another data set. It is a year old...
Here's a recent CR study...
As always, the devil is in the details. Bottom line numbers can mean whatever you want them to mean.

• If maintenance is expensive and owners can do their own, the cost of ownership numbers change. Is it fair to assume luxury car owners do less DIY work?
• Do costs tend to be more mechanical in nature vs maintenance?
• Do manufacturers offer better warranties to lower cost of ownership?
• Do dealers offer free services or good maintenance packages?

I had a '64 Bug back in the day; it was amazing; ran forever and asked for very little.
I had another Bug, fancy flares, wheels, body in much better condition. Never did run right. But it might be cool to have it now since I have the resources to fix it right!

Probably the cheapest car to operate (not to own) was our '18 Model 3 Mid Range. Replaced one of the Contis that picked up a nail; $400. Ouch. The 12v battery was going after 5 years; Tesla came out and replaced it for $120. Of course I only put 25k on the car for various reasons. Otherwise it was a jug of blue warsher fluid... Got $22K from Tesla on the trade-in last June, ouch! Ya win some and ya lose some.

 

[CKN]

Most of the posts here are anecdotal in nature.
Here's another data set. It is a year old...
Here's a recent CR study...
As always, the devil is in the details. Bottom line numbers can mean whatever you want them to mean.

• If maintenance is expensive and owners can do their own, the cost of ownership numbers change. Is it fair to assume luxury car owners do less DIY work?
• Do costs tend to be more mechanical in nature vs maintenance?
• Do manufacturers offer better warranties to lower cost of ownership?
• Do dealers offer free services or good maintenance packages?

I had a '64 Bug back in the day; it was amazing; ran forever and asked for very little.
I had another Bug, fancy flares, wheels, body in much better condition. Never did run right. But it might be cool to have it now since I have the resources to fix it right!

Probably the cheapest car to operate (not to own) was our '18 Model 3 Mid Range. Replaced one of the Contis that picked up a nail; $400. Ouch. The 12v battery was going after 5 years; Tesla came out and replaced it for $120. Of course I only put 25k on the car for various reasons. Otherwise it was a jug of blue warsher fluid... Got $22K from Tesla on the trade-in last June, ouch! Ya win some and ya lose some.

They were reliable and inexpensive to operate. But they were the true definition of cheap and mediocre.