...Most of the worst sedans in our rankings came from Europe, including several expensive luxury models such as the Audi A8, BMW 7 Series, Jaguar S-Type, and the Mercedes-Benz E- and S-Class...
SUVs...European brands anchored the least reliable list. Unreliable models included the V8 BMW X5, Land Rover Range Rover, Land Rover LR3, Porsche Cayenne, Volkswagen Touareg, and Volvo XC90.
So some of the automobiles that used to be synonomous with reliable, refined driving are now rated among the worst. Why?
Could it be, just maybe, in a socioeconomic system where essentially no one can get fired, the desire to actually do good work decreases? That without the threat of the capitalistic axe, there is no motivation?
-No need to tighten those screws, Franz, it's not like they're gonna fire you!-
Does this decay in the quality of Europe's once-finest mass-produced products reflect an overall decline in their culture and morality, or am I leaping too far here?
Most of the worst sedans in Consumer Reports' ranking come from Europe, including this BMW 5-Series V8.Link to Consumer Reports story on miserable European cars here: http://autos.msn.com/advice/CRArt.aspx?contentid=4023544&src=LP%20Passenger
We had a programme on last night listing (rating?) "The World's ten best sports cars"
ReplyDeleteNumber three was the McLaren M1.
Number two was the Mazda Miataah. (If you don't remember that it was made in huge numbers during the 1970's and was the predecessor to the M5.)
Number One was the Porsche 911.
How many of those are American?
Corvette was 7.
If you had said that European cars were generally overpriced, I would agree.
How many times have Citroen won the World Rally Champs? When did an American car last win it?
How do you rate Volkswagen? Want performance try the Golf TTi GT. Or the Passat with the W10 engine.
Porsche unreliable? Joke?
Saab - the Stockholm taxi? A wagon version of that damned near cleaned up in Group A racing some years back; in close to street tune.
Nah. European are OK if you pick them right.