Re: German Cars
From: Martin Stark (MStarkCopper.net)
Date: Wed, 23 Dec 2009 08:15:18 -0800 (PST)
Five of those cars were from the mid 1980's early 1990's, the more recent MB 420E had significant rust issues and the 2002 M3 is starting to show rust at the rocker panels. At least the A8 will never rust.

Michael James wrote:

I can understand that sentiment, however.....seems as though you've set yourself up for failure. An M3 isn't even a consideration for me, as I regard the motor as too 'high-strung' to be dependable for daily-commuter use. And I have never heard anything positive regarding the reliability of Audis, especially the modern models - too many 'bells and whistles'...they're not a consideration either, none of my friends who own them will recommend them to me. Is there a significant correlation between the higher-performance models, and the amount of service/lack of reliability? I think so - someone mentioned Brabus in an earlier post. Brabus might be a great road-rocket, but....haven't you just turned a reliable/dependable machine into a fire-breathing hand grenade for an extra $60K+? M

--- On Wed, 12/23/09, Martin Stark <MStark [at] Copper.net> wrote:


    From: Martin Stark <MStark [at] Copper.net>
    Subject: Re: [Ferrari] German Cars
    To: "Michael" <Cavallino_Rapante [at] yahoo.com>
    Cc: "The FerrariList" <ferrari [at] ferrarilist.com>
    Date: Wednesday, December 23, 2009, 10:53 AM

    Good luck finding any German car that can run 100K miles trouble
free. I and my immediate family members have owned upwards of 10 cars from
    Audi, MB, and BMW, and currently own an A8 and M3.  Trouble free
    is not
    a phrase that can be associated with any of them - past or present.

    Michael James wrote:

    >I was hoping of getting-into a German car in the next month or
    two - I actually like the MB C280 4Matic or a 5-speed manual
    3-Series BMW.  I think either car would be practical and a good
    'snow-car' with Blizzacks on the rims.  I'm not looking to 'make
    statements' per se, or drive a land-yaht (I don't know any fat
    people who need seat-space defined in cubic yards) - I just want a
    4-door car that is well-built, great in the snow, some Cache',
    some modern/modest luxury, and can run for 100K miles
    trouble-free.  I'm finding LOTS of C280s and 3-Series BMWs with
    sub-30K miles for around $20K, cars that would appear to be leased
vehicles that were gently-used. >
    >Keep in mind, my 'current' car is a 1996 stripped Ford Ranger
    with 250,000+ miles on it.  A five-year-old Honda would be
    luxurious in comparison - I'm not a 'bells-and-whistles' guy.  If
the heater and A/C work, and there's a radio, I'm pretty happy. >
    >M
    >
    >P.S. - the Head work on my 308 is going well, I should have those
    finished in January.  The Transfer Case and associated bearings
    will also be done by spring.  Having a great deal of difficulty
    finding the correct Cylinder Liners at an affordable price, though.
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >--- On Wed, 12/23/09, TheMightyToe <themightytoe [at] gmail.com
    <http://us.mc318.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=themightytoe [at] gmail.com>>
    wrote:
    >
    >
    >From: TheMightyToe <themightytoe [at] gmail.com
    <http://us.mc318.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=themightytoe [at] gmail.com>>
    >Subject: Re: [Ferrari] Michael Schumacher
    >To: "Michael" <Cavallino_Rapante [at] yahoo.com
    <http://us.mc318.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=Cavallino_Rapante [at] 
yahoo.com>>
    >Cc: "The FerrariList" <ferrari [at] ferrarilist.com
    <http://us.mc318.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=ferrari [at] ferrarilist.com>>
    >Date: Wednesday, December 23, 2009, 10:02 AM
    >
    >
    >KR says:
    >But fear not; the German cars  have video cameras to use backing
    up until mirrors are invented. They have vibrators in the steering
    wheel that chide you when you prove incapable of staying in your
    lane. They have forward-looking xray lasers to part the waters
    when the road floods. And the tires are good for 10,000 miles.
    Unless you get the run-flat option which rides like Flintstone
    Rocktreads and cannot be fixed when punctured.
    >
    >Ken, you do realize that these exact "advances" are specifically
    >targetting the Houston area driver?  Flat perfect roads, occasional
    >floods mixed with year round perfect conditions, and the worst
    >collective driving ability on the planet?  Seriously last time I
    drove
    >there I saw some poor bastard on a Harley get taken out by a lady
    in an
    >SUV on her cell phone, leaving a tollbooth.  Last time I saw
    something
    >that horrible was on trip to India (where I imagine driver
    training is
    >marginally better than Houston's).
    >
    >But on BMW's I agree, that company jumped the Shark back in
    2000.  My
    >E46 M3 was probably my last BMW, they just don't make a cool car
    >anymore.   MB has never appealed to me in any way, not even their
    >"classics" which are below any standard set by their
    contemporaries in
    >both looks and performance.  Who wants a car that lasts forever
    if its
    >hideous and you have to look at it forever?  They drive very
    solidly,
    >but have no soul whatsoever and really belong only in the hands of a
    >retiree.  Porsche and Audi are about the only German car companies
    >making interesting rides these days (I do like my VW GTI a lot,
    but it
    >is a standout for VW's line of cars I think).
    >
    >Now here is something I pondered a few nights ago at the movie
    >theaters...   They played an add for Kia, and the ad was not for
    a car
    >but for the company.  The pitch was how great and modern their
    >manufacturing plant in the southern US was and how it provided
    jobs for
    >American workers...  So if I analyze this?  What they are actually
    >saying is it is cheaper for them to make cars in the deep south
    of the
    >US than in Korea?  Wow.  Just wow and how sad for us to be
    practically a
    >third world country in many respects...
    >
    >That said, a neighbor of mine has a Hyundai Genesis Sedan, and it is
    >every bit as nice as a Merc S class.  Even looks like one a bit.
    >
    >Now what I really do not get, is how ANY car company could link
    F1 to
    >their product line?  When have we seen any F1 tech in a Mercedes if
    >ever?  Or a Renault, or a Toyota road car?
    >
    >BR,
    >Mike
    >
    >
    >Ken Rentiers wrote:
> >
    >>Fellippe always enjoy your messages, but I have to disagree with
    this one.
    >>
    >>It's certainly true that many of the old garden variety Benz's
    were slow, and about as exciting to drive as, well, a bank vault
    which is what they were built like. It is also true that many of
    the latest iteration of MB and BMW products are crap.
    >>
    >>Due to the pressures of the Deutschland greenies much of the
    current BMW line is now made of recycled plastic. This includes
    the radiator. Given enough heat/cool cycles (oh say 50,000 miles
    worth) the eco-plastic becomes as brittle as the peanut variety of
    same, and cracks. Usually at the most inopportune time, giving you
    about 30 seconds to shut down before the head warps.
    >>
    >>Did I mention they were as ugly as moose butts? Did I mention
    they had no dipsticks? Onliest way you can check the oil level is
    to drain it out and measure it!
    >>
    >>Crap. Idiocy. Obergruppenarrogance!
    >>
    >>But fear not; the German cars  have video cameras to use backing
    up until mirrors are invented. They have vibrators in the steering
    wheel that chide you when you prove incapable of staying in your
    lane. They have forward-looking xray lasers to part the waters
    when the road floods. And the tires are good for 10,000 miles.
    Unless you get the run-flat option which rides like Flintstone
    Rocktreads and cannot be fixed when punctured.
    >>
    >>Crap!!! - gimme the older, simpler cars that you drove instead
    of rode in. The ones without bulbous snouts to meet new Euro-regs
    about not hitting below the pedestrians' knees. Like the ugly new
    5 series. Don't cry for me Pininfarina - I got some nice old iron
    I shall keep forever.
    >>
    >>Screw progress and while I'm at it HUMBUG!
    >>
    >>Except for you Fellippe - you're a good guy even if you do latch
    on to a little misdirected opinion at times. My best to you and
    yours and have a wonderful Christmas. All the rest of you too,
    except those taken in by the Hollywood crap machine now showing
    "Eco-smurfs v The US Marines" (Avatar). ##$%^&* tree-hugging
    commies every one of them.
    >>
    >>:-)
    >>love and kisses
    >>the kenverine
    >>
    >>
    >>On Dec 22, 2009, at 10:14 PM, Fellippe Galletta wrote:
    >>
>> >> >>
    >>>On Tue, Dec 22, 2009 at 8:46 AM, LS <lashdeep [at] yahoo.com
    <http://us.mc318.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=lashdeep [at] yahoo.com>>
    wrote:
    >>>
>>> >>> >>>
    >>>>Roger that...before they became plastic toasters?
    >>>>
    >>>>I'll take a 190E 2.3 16v and an AMG Hammer.
    >>>>
    >>>>LS
    >>>>
>>>> >>>> >>>>
    >>>Oh man.
    >>>
    >>>With some of you guys on here, it's like every civilian brand
    needs to
    >>>maintain a 250 GTO like aura around their cars....ugh.
    >>>
    >>>Sure, MB of new isn't quite like MB of old but who seriously
    wants a 190E
    >>>over a new E, S, CL, CLK, SL or CLS? LOL.
    >>>
    >>>A vintage Gullwing is a different story of course, and a
    genuine AMG Hammer
    >>>or Porsche built E500 is worthy of consideration, but not all
    garden
    >>>variety Benzes made between 1980-1999. You seriously want
    bulletproof, buy a
    >>>new Japanese car...done, end of story.
    >>>
    >>>I'll play along and be a good sport and say the '90s S Class
    was the last of
    >>>the uber Mercedes Benz elite class. When comparing each respective
    >>>generation of S, this was easily the best, from the look, the
    armored car
    >>>like construction, those dual pane windows, and the first big
    HP V12 in the
    >>>600...the quintessential Benz.
    >>>
    >>>Still wouldn't get it over the newer S's. You're buying an
    >>>expensive prestige sedan for the cachet/style/keeping up with the
    >>>joneses/etc first, everything else comes second. Anyone who
    says otherwise
    >>>is clearly lying to himself or others!
    >>>
    >>>The '90s S or Miami Vice era S's no longer fit the bill....so
    no point in
    >>>owning these maintenance nightmares unless it's for the novelty
    factor and
    >>>short term. For that LS, you did it right with those BMWs!
    >>>
    >>>It's time to expose the (forty) 800 pound gorilla for what it
    is! I don't
    >>>hate those older Benzes...still respect them....but to act like
    they were
    >>>the only good cars from the factory is silly.
    >>>
    >>>FG
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