This oldie is coming back:
https://www.ad.nl/auto/een-van-de-g...erug-dit-is-de-nieuwe-messerschmitt~a4a812bd/
https://www.ad.nl/auto/een-van-de-g...erug-dit-is-de-nieuwe-messerschmitt~a4a812bd/
I own (original owner) a 2001 Audi A4 Avant (wagon) with the 1.8t engine and low mileage. Never had a problem with it. Runs great. AWD is great in the snow. Absolutely no rust and the paint is still perfect, etc. Not "high powered" but fun to drive! About the only annoying thing is the interior liner (the cloth that is inside, over your head) has started to sag.
My wife owns a 1999 Honda CRV (she's the second owner) also with low mileage. She's never had a problem with it. Runs great. She loves it! It's a very practical car, too. But starting to show some weaknesses, like the power locks do not always work, some trim paint is flaking off, etc. Only very minor issues.
We both plan to keep on driving these great vehicles as long as we can. Maybe it's not whether it is "German" or "Japanese", but which car your own and how you drive and care for it that matters?
My wife owns a 1999 Honda CRV (she's the second owner) also with low mileage. She's never had a problem with it. Runs great. She loves it! It's a very practical car, too. But starting to show some weaknesses, like the power locks do not always work, some trim paint is flaking off, etc. Only very minor issues.
We both plan to keep on driving these great vehicles as long as we can. Maybe it's not whether it is "German" or "Japanese", but which car your own and how you drive and care for it that matters?
I wonder how many people check the DIY audio website before they buy a car?
Being that I just retired, I'll say that I own/owned Japanese cars and now have a BMW M3. Funny, the first 15 years of my adult life I only owned Chevrolet or Ford. My first job was at a garage when I was in high school. We fixed mostly American cars, pickup's than Japanese or German cars. An uncle had a 1970s Audi that was junk and cost a lot for parts. Nobody I knew had a Japanese car until the late 1970s and I bought a used Datsun B210 in the late 1980s. After that, it's been Honda. I just sold a 1998 Civic I bought brand new and maintained until 2018.
The new Honda car dealers tell you that you have to bring it to the dealer for servicing and repairs. You can't buy a paper manual, and you're supposed to pay for internet access to service the new Honda cars. I got a coupon that only Honda dealers can service the CVT. Went to the public library and copied the procedure. It still irritates me that I can't buy a manual...
Before I retired I bought a 2004 BMW M3, based on a friend recommending that the BMW will hold its value when/if I go sell it. I was going to buy a new Honda CRZ or some hybrid car, but looked at the value of used vehicles a few years older and told myself to buy the BMW.
It's fun, it's fast. Reminds me of my 1966 Chevelle with a Muncie M22 transmission and positraction differential. The BMW will throw you back each time you shift gears. BMW tech info is available online for free. There is software available online that will allow you to program every little parameter you want. Make the doors lock when you reach a certain speed. Make the windows come down and doors open when you press a button on the key fob. Any tech info on the car you want is available, even factory parts and assembly diagrams.
Try that with a new Honda. I took the Civic for a free first oil change and the numb-nuts "tech" stripped one of the screws holding the under panel. Don't use air or power tools to loosen/tighten screws.
I did a lot of work to the BMW, but I knew what the car needed when I bought it. Now I've got a reliable and fun to drive car. Maybe BMW doesn't share the technical info on their new cars, but I'm now a big fan of the 2004 BMW M3 I've got. Every time I drive the Honda, it's ho-hum boring. I like to blast the stereo once in awhile. Give the BMW a German tuneup.
Being that I just retired, I'll say that I own/owned Japanese cars and now have a BMW M3. Funny, the first 15 years of my adult life I only owned Chevrolet or Ford. My first job was at a garage when I was in high school. We fixed mostly American cars, pickup's than Japanese or German cars. An uncle had a 1970s Audi that was junk and cost a lot for parts. Nobody I knew had a Japanese car until the late 1970s and I bought a used Datsun B210 in the late 1980s. After that, it's been Honda. I just sold a 1998 Civic I bought brand new and maintained until 2018.
The new Honda car dealers tell you that you have to bring it to the dealer for servicing and repairs. You can't buy a paper manual, and you're supposed to pay for internet access to service the new Honda cars. I got a coupon that only Honda dealers can service the CVT. Went to the public library and copied the procedure. It still irritates me that I can't buy a manual...
Before I retired I bought a 2004 BMW M3, based on a friend recommending that the BMW will hold its value when/if I go sell it. I was going to buy a new Honda CRZ or some hybrid car, but looked at the value of used vehicles a few years older and told myself to buy the BMW.
It's fun, it's fast. Reminds me of my 1966 Chevelle with a Muncie M22 transmission and positraction differential. The BMW will throw you back each time you shift gears. BMW tech info is available online for free. There is software available online that will allow you to program every little parameter you want. Make the doors lock when you reach a certain speed. Make the windows come down and doors open when you press a button on the key fob. Any tech info on the car you want is available, even factory parts and assembly diagrams.
Try that with a new Honda. I took the Civic for a free first oil change and the numb-nuts "tech" stripped one of the screws holding the under panel. Don't use air or power tools to loosen/tighten screws.
I did a lot of work to the BMW, but I knew what the car needed when I bought it. Now I've got a reliable and fun to drive car. Maybe BMW doesn't share the technical info on their new cars, but I'm now a big fan of the 2004 BMW M3 I've got. Every time I drive the Honda, it's ho-hum boring. I like to blast the stereo once in awhile. Give the BMW a German tuneup.
With some exceptions German cars and Japanese cars all have their strengths and weaknesses. Just like anything in life.
A few misconception. Performance is not all about 0-60 or 1/4mile. It's easy to get speed and cornering g. I can get my Civic turbo charge, beef up the suspension and wheels and tire, and it will do pretty well at the race track, but it never will feel like a BMW M3 which is a lot harder to imitate.
A good car has a sophisticated personality that will require some expensive manufacturing process to get right. That's why people are willing to pay top dollars for M3.
A few misconception. Performance is not all about 0-60 or 1/4mile. It's easy to get speed and cornering g. I can get my Civic turbo charge, beef up the suspension and wheels and tire, and it will do pretty well at the race track, but it never will feel like a BMW M3 which is a lot harder to imitate.
A good car has a sophisticated personality that will require some expensive manufacturing process to get right. That's why people are willing to pay top dollars for M3.
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Joined 2009
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LOL, I see dozens of BMW’s around here and nobody bought one because it had a sophisticated personality 
Most of them are owned by Chinese students too. It’s difficult to standout amongst the cohort, some of them drive Mercedes, a few Lexus. If you go over to the local university cheap food court you’ll see them all lined up, BMW, Merc, Lexus, maybe an Audi.
Most of them are owned by Chinese students too. It’s difficult to standout amongst the cohort, some of them drive Mercedes, a few Lexus. If you go over to the local university cheap food court you’ll see them all lined up, BMW, Merc, Lexus, maybe an Audi.
Bigun,
I see that you live in the UK.
Correct me if I am wrong, but Japanese cars don't do well in the EU. They are considered inferior to European cars by the folks there.
I see that you live in the UK.
Correct me if I am wrong, but Japanese cars don't do well in the EU. They are considered inferior to European cars by the folks there.
Currently have 2 Toyotas, a Rav-4 and a 4-runner. Been trouble free so far. Had owned VWs in the past, they were fun to drive, especially the GTI 5 speed, but the Jetta we owned had so many problems that I will look elsewhere for cars. My mother-in-law had driven mercedes cars and SUVs for the last 20 years, I thought they drove poorly. Wouldn't even consider one now.
I love my 4-runner. It is my second one. First one I had for 11 years with very few problems.
I love my 4-runner. It is my second one. First one I had for 11 years with very few problems.
Analysis: Will the Japanese car industry cut ties with Europe?
Analysis: Will the Japanese car industry cut ties with Europe? | Autocar
Analysis: Will the Japanese car industry cut ties with Europe? | Autocar
VW has been a disaster for several years and Mercedes are often seen dead at the side of the road
Driving BMW for 30 years now and at car number 8, although I'm not a gentle driver, never had the slightest problem with them.
The original "Kabinenroller" had that already in 1959. Apart from that not too much over engineered.
Messerschmitt KR200 - Wikipedia
Messerschmitt KR200 - Wikipedia
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They don’t have a bad name here - but they are expensive (service, spares etc).
You don’t see many European or American cars in Japan so I guess it’s swings and roundabouts.
Believe it or not but I worked in a team where I was the only one driving Alfa Romeo, all the others BMW. These guys never had excessive costs or breakdowns.... except when they discussed the high costs of the next unavoidable repair 🙂 For some reason some brand aware people never like to admit reality.
When I mean low cost, low maintenance I mean just an oil and oil filter change and sometimes air filter, interior filters and spark plugs with that. When I hear 1500 for maintenance that is not so low cost IMO. Then always the story follows that a well driving car with such qualities needs this etc.
When I mean low cost, low maintenance I mean just an oil and oil filter change and sometimes air filter, interior filters and spark plugs with that. When I hear 1500 for maintenance that is not so low cost IMO. Then always the story follows that a well driving car with such qualities needs this etc.
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Good for you. There is still enough room for power/torque increase considering how many different more powerful models Audi had produced with the same motor. Think of it as an "crossover upgrade". Let the machine breath fully. 😀
I have had very good experience with first generation Audi A4 1.9 TDI available for purchase in Germany in 1995. The price at dealership was then 36,900 DM. Power was 66 kW, torque just over 200Nm, that car could overtake easily without breaking sweat and fuel consumption was 6.5 litres/100km of Diesel in city drive regime. It always made me smile to be able to drive one and it had no problem doing constantly 150 km/h. After reaching 400,000 km the oil consumption was 1 litre/15,000 km, turbo was still ok, transmission also. These could run easily 500,000 km without an overhaul assuming regular servicing was practiced. Diesel injectors never had any problem with crappy fuel quality.
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I live in Canada, in Waterloo Ontario but originally hail from the UK and still spend time there. My first car was the original mini - a great car at the time. Japanese cars back in the 70’s were considered cheap garbage but things changed but for Europeans I have the sense that the Japanese cars are not seen as stylish or as desirable. Maybe this has changed, as I believe Japanese cars are, on average, more reliable than European cars (except non SUV Porsche).