Quote:
Originally Posted by -TC-
Ah, there's the difference. I actually drive the cars...you just read about them.
Now I understand, sorry. I thought this was an informed discussion amongst equals.
My bad.
I'll leave you to it.
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If you really want to play this game we can. I have driven everything right from $9995 Hyundai's all the way up to $250k Ferraris. I am in the car business. My current rides are a 2008 BMW 135i and a 2013 VW Tiguan. And I have owned 25 + cars in the last 12 years including 8 GTI's. Your snobbery, is silly. I know my cars, and drive more different cars in a month, than most will drive in a lifetime.
I LOVE German cars. But they suck when it comes to maintenance, simplicity, and reliability. Weird for the sake of being weird. You buy a German car knowing it is going to cost you more to keep going than anything else. You have to accept it, and budget for it... or you will sorely disappointed in the ownership experience when you find out a basic service is $300-$500 at a dealer. I am willing to pay that for the luxury of a German car, many... are not.
Every year, when the car show rolls around, I have this dirty little secret. I sneak in with my week pass I get every year, off shift, and skulk around plain clothes checking out the competition pretending I am a dumb, uninformed customer. The first stop I make is always Hyundai. The progress they have made in even the last decade with quality is dumbfounding. I secretly root for them to dethrone Toyota and Honda, and mark my words, it is going to happen. Many inside the industry think it already has, and believe Hyundai is delivering a superior product. They are making some cars that were Lexus calibre 5 years ago, at half the cost. I give them 5 more, and they will be right there.
Every manufacturer is making fantastic cars right now. The market is so competitive, and the products being put out by every single manufacturer is so far beyond what we had even 15 years ago, it is ignorant to point a finger at any of them anymore and say "Such and such makes crappy cars." The worst cars today, would be world beaters 15 years ago. I remember what a big frikkin whoop it was, when the Lotus Esprit passed the 100 HP/Litre barrier. It was a benchmark of what was capable. Now if you aren't there + getting 30 + MPG you aren't even in the game. You can buy 400+ HP cars now with sub 5 second 0-60 times for under 50K. That used to be $300,000 super car territory. Now, it is a Dodge Challenger with a $5000 dealer rebate, 0 percent financing and a date with the receptionist.
We are living in a remarkable era of cars.