Luxury car reliability???

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Gunnar

Senior member
Jan 3, 2000
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just wondering, since my dad plunked down 40k for a bmw 330i, whats the reliablility like on luxury cars? We test drove a lot of stuff, and they all seemed to be built real well (though the 3series just blew everything out of the water on looks). Of course, the dealer was like they are built like steel bricks, but I was wondering if people had experience with this.

And it looks like there are a lot of VW/Audi people in here too, and after seeing what my friend goes through with his passat, we stayed far, far away. So I would like opinions of lexus, infiniti and bmw.

Thanks!
 
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BCYL

Diamond Member
Jun 7, 2000
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Well I know Lexus has the fewest complains/problems in a recent survey... Infiniti is right up there as well...

Don't know about BMW though...
 
G

Gunnar

Senior member
Jan 3, 2000
346
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shite, i knew I should have convinced him to get a lexus.

Browsing around in the web, it looks like a german car is a crapshoot (though bmw and porsche seem way better than everything else, Mercedes is crap!). While a japanese car is pretty much a sure thing.

Too bad the lexus has a horrible interior, and questionable styling.
 
E

Eli

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
50,419
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Originally posted by: Gunnar
shite, i knew I should have convinced him to get a lexus.

Browsing around in the web, it looks like a german car is a crapshoot (though bmw and porsche seem way better than everything else, Mercedes is crap!). While a japanese car is pretty much a sure thing.

Too bad the lexus has a horrible interior, and questionable styling.
Click to expand...
Lexus' have horrible interiors?

News to me.
 
GTaudiophile

GTaudiophile

Lifer
Oct 24, 2000
29,767
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Lexus interiors are just a notch behind Audi's, IMO. As for their exteriors: bland copies of Mercedes' last-gen cars.
 
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Gunnar

Senior member
Jan 3, 2000
346
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hmmm, I should have just limited my comments on the lexus to just the is....

Yeah, the interiors of all the other lexus cars are pretty good, I have to give that. But the IS300 is pretty bad in comparison.

Let me put it this way, the dash is composed entirely of plastic, the gauges are weirdly arranged and hard to read, and the settings for the hvac system are a bunch of dials (not a digital readout for auto temp???).

Yeah, I eat my words on the interiors of other lexus cars...
 
Q

Quixfire

Diamond Member
Jul 31, 2001
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I have over 280K miles on my MB 300TE and have yet to do any major repairs, just maintenance.
 
GTaudiophile

GTaudiophile

Lifer
Oct 24, 2000
29,767
33
81
Originally posted by: Gunnar
hmmm, I should have just limited my comments on the lexus to just the is....

Yeah, the interiors of all the other lexus cars are pretty good, I have to give that. But the IS300 is pretty bad in comparison.

Let me put it this way, the dash is composed entirely of plastic, the gauges are weirdly arranged and hard to read, and the settings for the hvac system are a bunch of dials (not a digital readout for auto temp???).

Yeah, I eat my words on the interiors of other lexus cars...
Click to expand...

I agree. The IS300's interior is a cut below all of Lexus' other models. They just had to please the ricers, so they didn't have to aim high :)
 
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LittleWolf

Senior member
Feb 28, 2001
456
1
0
Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
Lexus/Infiniti/Acura tend to lead the way.

Among German manufacturers, BMW and Porsche are among the best with MB and Audi way down the list.

This study from JD Power might be of interest.
Click to expand...


Sorry for being a downer, but the Passat is still ranked as a buy on CR, while the 3 series BMW was removed since it was rated as too unreliable.

But anyways I have a Passat and it has been a great car. If reliability is your top priority you are better off buying something from Lexus or to an extent Acura. German cars are always known to be slightly quirky. Personally I wouldn't mind sacrificing some reliability for more class/luxury, handling and panache (aka a BMW or Audi/VW) over an applicance Lexus or Acura.

 
Ryan

Ryan

Lifer
Oct 31, 2000
27,519
2
81
I'd take an Infiniti or Lexus over a comparable BMW. I'm sorry, but reliability is #1 to me, and that's something BMW doesn't have (when compaired japanese luxury).

Honestly, most BMW owners are badge whores, and tend to act elitest.
 
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