Hey!

As you know, i'm german. And germans just love cars. That's fact.
So I thought I could make a thread (or blog) where I post and write about whats happening overe here in "drivers paradise".


I will start my blog with a few commercials which are right now on tv.

BMW 3 series


Mercedes-Benz A-Class (with the german national football team)


Peugeot 308


Toyota Auris


Greetings
Leon

Most sold cars in Germany Jan-Mar 2012:

1. 63 041 VW Golf, Jetta
2. 24 339 VW Polo
3. 22 632 VW Passat
4. 17 837 Opel Astra
5. 17 114 Mercedes-Benz C Class
6. 14 519 Audi A6, S6, RS6, A7
7. 14 377 VW Tiguan
8. 13 524 BMW 1 Series
9. 13 483 Ford Focus
10. 13 402 VW Touran
11. 13 094 Opel Corsa
12. 12 764 Mercedes-Benz B Class
13. 12 715 BMW 3 Series
14. 12 078 Ford Fiesta
15. 11 901 Skoda Octavia
16. 11 747 BMW 5 Series
17. 11 114 Skoda Fabia
18. 10 334 Audi A3, S3, RS3
19. 9 518 Mercedes-Benz E Class
20. 9 310 VW Transporter, Caravelle
21. 9 148 Nissan Qashqai
22. 9 033 Audi A4, S4
23. 8 990 Hyundai i30
24. 8 612 BMW Mini
25. 8 324 Opel Zafira
26. 8 066 VW Up!
27. 7 743 Seat Ibiza
28. 7 162 Smart Fortwo
29. 7 016 Ford Focus C-Max
30. 6 935 Mercedes-Benz A Class
31. 6 731 Audi A1, S1
32. 6 637 BMW X1
33. 6 590 VW Caddy
34. 6 309 Opel Meriva
35. 6 210 Renault Megane
36. 6 180 Toyota Yaris
37. 6 168 BMW X3
38. 5 749 Renault Clio
39. 5 532 Audi A5, S5
40. 5 482 Opel Insignia
41. 5 332 Ford Kuga
42. 5 255 Renault Twingo
43. 5 234 Audi Q3
44. 5 184 Ford Mondeo
45. 5 143 Skoda Yeti
46. 5 115 Fiat 500
47. 4 881 Dacia Duster
48. 4 630 Peugeot 207
49. 4 615 VW Sharan
50. 4 576 Renault Scenic
51. 4 479 Audi Q5
52. 4 421 Hyundai IX 35
53. 4 412 Fiat Ducato
54. 4 187 Skoda Superb
55. 3 948 Hyundai i20
56. 3 905 Ford S-Max
57. 3 881 Seat Altea
58. 3 619 Hyundai i10
59. 3 512 Peugeot 308
60. 3 452 Citroen Berlingo
61. 3 425 Citroen C4
62. 3 398 Mazda 3
63. 3 397 Citroen C3
64. 3 392 Mercedes-Benz GLK Class
65. 3 374 Mercedes-Benz ML Class
66. 3 350 Kia Rio
67. 3 317 Fiat Panda
68. 3 309 Dacia Sandero
69. 3 275 Nissan Micra
70. 3 223 Toyota Auris
71. 3 057 Skoda Roomster
72. 3 020 Mazda 2
73. 2 964 Fiat Punto
74. 2 937 Ford Ka
75. 2 911 Nissan Juke
76. 2 694 Ford Transit, Tourneo
77. 2 688 Kia Ceed
78. 2 589 Mazda 5
79. 2 589 Kia Sportage
80. 2 571 Toyota Aygo
81. 2 555 Mitsubishi ASX
82. 2 530 Mercedes-Benz Viano
83. 2 528 Volvo XC60
84. 2 495 Chevrolet Spark
85. 2 466 Toyota Avensis
86. 2 466 Suzuki Swift
87. 2 382 Mitsubishi Colt
88. 2 348 Toyota Verso
89. 2 330 Honda Jazz
90. 2 270 VW Touareg
91. 2 144 Mercedes-Benz E Class Coupé
92. 2 138 Mercedes-Benz SLK Class
93. 2 133 Renault Kangoo
94. 2 123 Volvo 60
95. 2 089 Hyundai IX 20
96. 2 047 Kia Picanto
97. 2 044 Porsche Cayenne
98. 2 008 Dacia Logan
99. 1 973 Peugeot 508
100. 1 973 Citroen C1

The top car on that list is also one of the most unreliable on the road. The japs do a better car nowadays than the Germans as far as reliability goes . A client of mine had a GTi Golf and it blew the DSG at 11,000k's . There are forums full of disgruntled owners. The outging Jetta was also woeful.

My dad's mate's 5 series was a lemon and cost him over $130,000. No thanks. If I did ever consider a German it would be MB. The rest are rubbish. I drove a 740 a few years back and wasn't impressed. They may ride ok on German autobahns but over here on our roads they are harsh.

I could never understand why Aussies pay $130k for a car that is used as a taxi over there. Overated cars for badge snobs.

A lot of the VW's are now coming from factories in China. The VW's had its time. They were at there peak in the early 00's.

All makes of cars have there lemons. The German cars are massively overpriced. You only need to look at the asking price for the new Opels in compared to Holdens.

Saying that though, many of the Japanese cars are overpriced also. You only need to look at Toyota's 4WD's. It costs $65K for a 70 series cruiser! Why?

Yes toyota are overpriced. That's what happens when you become number one. Arrogance sets in.

However now the Koreans are putting a scare into the market and both Toyota and Honda have started cutting prices on some models. If Hyundai bring out a one tonne ute and cruiser competitor it will be very interesting to watch it all unfold. Their diesel engines are brilliant (I own one) so the power plants are there should they get more involved in the commercial market.I read a review last week (Australian) that stated the new Hyundai i30 was better than the Golf in many ways. Remembering of course that they don't even factor in reliability. Hyundai finished 2nd only to Lexus last year in a JD Powers customer satisfaction survey in the USA. No mean feat!

By all accounts the new SanteFe is a very good car also. A decade ago hyundai were a laughing stock to many manufacturers. When asked a couple of years ago who Toyota feared most their president wasn't actually expected to name anyone but he said Hyundai. They aren't laughing now. Notice he mentioned a Korean manufacturer and not VW? VW are pushing to be the number one car manufacturer in the world and that is why their reliability has fallen over. Toyota learnt that lesson far quicker than VW did.

Wife's got an i30 and has now travelled about a 180 thous ks. Hasn't had a spanner on it and no recalls.
Took this photo on the way to it's first 1000 k service ...little rocket it is for a diesel
and I myself have an old 2000 model HZJ75RV l/cruiser .....slow old bathplug but cruises at 110 regardless of the corrigations.

Hilux's are the favoured outfit these days but this new driveline is so unrelia\ble that I won't own one. (new ones are really crap ...all my neighbours have them and want their old ones back)

we like our hundy too CF ...I've ordered another i30 as this one is being passed to the daughter soon.

even the old excels have become a bit of a legend .....supposed to be throw away cars but are still everywhere

hey Leon, I don't know your reasons for considering yourself a petrolhead but mine was bred into me from an early age. My interested started with my brother and his mates (5 years older) building hot rods back in the sixties. Pretty organised with vehicles having chassis zedded in one shed and wheeled to the next street for bodywork etc ...everyones dad had a good shed.
Our place was engine building and fitting.....near all big block fords ...many old 21/23 bolt flattops ....always looked good in a TBucket.
This went on for years until a big accident in melb's BoxHill where two of my brothers mates were racing and I think 7 were killed in the accident
...overnight restrictions on engine size etc were introduced ....lots happened not least my bros best mate got himself killed in another accident in WA.
My bro sold all his hot rods ...bought a 1200cc Ford Escort and became Mr Hat.
Affected me a different way ....I followed up the failure in the suspension that caused the accident ...took me years...and found it was the transverse leaf spring in the front of the crashed car had turned it's shackle over and jambed the steer.
Caused me to be involved in suspension design all my life ....led me to some good jobs also.
Skiting now but myself and a Donald Oldis wrote the National Broad Based Course on Automotive Suspension ...has become a apprenticeship on it's own now.
As you'd appreciate with BMW/Saab etc ...steering and suspension geometry is where it all starts.
here is Aus we have two types of vehicles ..offroad and on. Of the last 20 years we have been all buying one vehicle for each ...4x4 have finally gone to coils but still unreliable in the bush .....old wise men who live in the bush still travel on leaves.
The old pre 80s stuff was really a garbage ride but a reliable outfit ....my everyday drive is a three on the tree 6cyl Holden one tonner '73 model .....original but needs some fresh bearing in the gear box ..and some paint ...maybe a few other things
my entry point in automotive has always been my knowledge of suspension (bit behind now of course) but it has given me many opportunities being a specialist ....I know little about engine building etc ....can belt a motor together for myself ..but best only for myself
pretty good with a spray gun ....on the daughters car and the trailer
But I have built some good chassis ...for rally cars and feral utes.
Automotives been really good to me ...but I'm bloody well over it now
always looking for a comfy drive ...and basically avoid it if I can ....unless I'm heading out to the bush.
one chassis we use to build a lot of in the past was this thing ....made out of the same as my 'everyday drive'/one tonner. Small block chev usually thru auto of your choice to an old detroit locker (all that was available in those days)
Was all about what the customer wanted to spend on suspension after that ...nothing to run 10inch travel and multiple dampers on these things (remembering we had to make every single bit in those days) ....and believe me, they were the greatest fun to run in the desert
http://i1006.photobucket.com/albums/af184/Michael_Scull/Junk/Tonner.jpg
Have to realise we pushed the cabin back 200 to 400mms on some of these ...radiator and everything precious is in the back

Howzat for a rave Leon? ...but figured that was what you were after.

what's your great love caused by? ...with me I just love going fast on dirt.
here's a compliation of a team I used to be with ..this guys specialty was crashin' he's a tryer though.
I was involved with these blokes for years
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXOPpKuggyQ
shame no one had a digi movie camera in the old days ....I see Scott has heaps of his recent 'crash' vids up
I finished my run taking a country/reginal automotive franchise with that company ...(lets not mention it as it will attract ads )
Stores running beautifully (maybe because I sold it) these days and has the national rally team and the race team based at the store by choice (which certainly helps the business)
most of the lads run race cars as does the boss.
Also have a lifetime service deal on my own 4x4 (which is handy for a pensioner )
enough bulshlit ...but may start some convo.
what are others doing?

Oops..no edit time.
Big lie there ..I knew Scott from when he was a kid ...but that vid was him working for someone else .....but again please lets not mentioned the company as the bloody ads will appear
here is the mob I worked with for toooo long
http://vimeo.com/962587
Same bloke but different bucket.

At 180 km/h I hope you managed to avoid those trees ahead of you.

Homer

I actually took the photo for the service manager at Morleys in Echuca .....as when I'd asked him about recommended 'run-in' for this brand new baby diesel we'd bought, he'd replied "Drive it like you're gunna!"
So on the way to its 1000km first service I gave the little fart a squirt and took the picture for his workshop wall. ....look closely you'll see she has 985 on the clock.
He liked it

Has done 170,000 plus now and only put a windscreen in her as the other was getting frosted.

The new i30 is a cracker. I suspect one of the Townsville crew may be eyeing one off to replace his current one.
Carsguide rate it as good or better than the Golf (benchmark) in their latest review.


The excel had 4 cars around the globe with faulty welds on a suspension tower that tarnished their reputation for a decade due to an over dramatisation by the media. My dad had an Elantra that did 15 years of faultless motoring for him. He now has an ix35 and wouldn't buy anything but Korean.

only critism is the diesel auto in the first model had no cruise control (disaster) ....and there is no where but no where to put a satenav
Glare gets it where ever you put it on the screen ...so our satenav bangs/hangs around on the end of the lead

new one has it built in the dash I see

(early trans on the i30 had a recall ...but ours was late enough it already had the stronger gear set)

@ ColdFront: Yes, VW has many problems with the DSG but especially with the TSI-engines. The new Polo GTI has a 1.4 TSI engine with 180 horsepower. I mean 180 hp and only 1400 cm³??
This can't work well!

I would never buy a VW. For example you pay around 25,000 € for a VW Golf, but you can also buy a Audi A3 for 35,000 € which is 10k more but has exactly the same engines and technology. Or you buy a Seat Leon for 20,000 € with the same engine and technology. VW puts the same technology in every car their build. Only the brand they put on their cars make them overpriced. You didn't get what you pay! The only german premium brand I would buy nowadays is Mercedes or BMW. Especially in a Mercedes they really don't use cheap materials like VW in their "premium" brand Audi.

My mum and I are driving a 2008 Mitsubishi Colt (in Australia it's known as Mitsubishi Mirage). It's cheap to buy, cheap to run, looks good and works just fine. We didn't have any problems with it. I'm really impressed of the perfect technical quality Mitsubishi has.

I'd have a Merc. I love the new ones but the BMWs are still plagued with reliability issues.

New I30s are a beautiful looking car hey! Funny about the excels hey. Millions of the bloody things around, but man do they blow some smoke. Not sure if it's a actual problem with them, but man the valve stem seals must leak on them. Not saying there is a problem with every excel, but the ones that I still see on the road blow alot of smoke on take off after idling. Which does indicate worn valve stem seals or guides.

It Happens to all cars in the end, but I have noticed it on that model.

Had a nice 250 km road-trip today from Erfurt to Frankfurt with a 2007 BMW 320d E90 automatic. Average speed was around 170-180 km/h. Fuel consumption around 6 L /100 km. Very very nice car!

You have to love rear wheel drive. Been.... comfortably..... beyond 160 in a front driver lately... I think not.

Hey guys speaking of the Hyundai's, I brought one of the Velosters and it is a great car to drive and something a bit different. Would love to take the turbo model for a spin.

Friend of mine has a 2009 Jetta in the 2L Diesel with the 6spd manual, its proven to be very reliable, frugal on fuel and good performing vehicle for something with a 'tractor motor' in it. As something of an ex-petrolhead as well, he's not exactly gentle to it either!

Also heard many bad things about the VW automatic boxes to the point I wouldnt touch them, but its mostly a case of "value for money factor" which keeps me out of the european car market and the fact you will get utterly skinned alive for parts once the warranty runs out. Some of the Japanese cars are also getting expensive for parts as well, Mazda where well known for many years for being quite pricey so it might be a bit of a shock for some Mazda3 owners down the track, but I guess its offset by the fact they rarely break down on their own.

Wont give too much advice on what to buy for cars, I always end up with something stupid... fun, fast and entertaining yes, but ultimately I'm well aware that it was probably an idiotic choice

Did 673.2 km in my Mitsubishi Colt 1.3 with only 36.73 l of fuel. This makes a average fuel consumption of 5.46 l/100 km, which is quite impressive.

Those 36.73 l of fuel costs me today 58.37 EUR (72.15 AUD). 1 litre fuel costs today about 1.58 EUR (1.95 AUD). Back in September this year we had sky high fuel prices. 1 litre was near 1.80 EUR (2.22 AUD)!