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SUVs BMW X3 & X5 BMW X3
3287 messages, Last post on Nov 14, 2009 at 6:14 PM
You are in the BMW X3 & X5 Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & tidester
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Replying to: bodble2 (Jul 25, 2006 4:14 pm) IMO a Timex and a Tucson are two different things (ha ha). A Tucson you would repair, but a Timex you aren't going to repair, you just buy a new one. Anyway, I am sure there is some valuable information in those repair figures, but I am not sure what it all means. However, let me approach value from another viewpoint. My wife just stopped for a red light in her 2003 Mercedes C Class Station wagon. She got slammed by a 1996 Toyota Tercel that didn't stop. The rear bumper has to be replaced and a few dents in the lift gate have to be taken out. The Tercel was crumpled from the front bumper to the windshield. My wife and passenger have no injuries. The garage that does the repairs explained how the rear bumper in European cars is made to hydralically give and there are spacers etc. to allow the rear to crumple, absorbing most of the shock of the crash. I guess my point is that value is not just cost, or design, or feel of the car. Also, factor in safety, and I like the fact the manufacturer respects me enough to make the safest vehicle possible...what value do you place on that. And, a Timex watch on a BMW guy, what's that???? 
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Replying to: driver100 (Jul 25, 2006 5:03 pm) Simple. It's a matter of reliability!  Also, safety is not usually an issue with watches.  tidester, host
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Replying to: tidester (Jul 25, 2006 7:57 pm) Maybe it comes down to this. Everyone prefers the most reliable car possible, or,to put it another way, nobody wants to pay for repairs. However, if the pure pleasure of driving is more important, and if you factor in superior engineering, safety, low cost lease or low depreciation rate, the feeling of a car that has some spirit and is not just an appliance...well, if these things are important, then what's a few hundred bucks a year in repairs. You might even keep the car longer or buy it back after the lease because you don't get tired of it.....in other words it could cost less because you will keep it longer. (I had a 10 year Mercedes loaner once and I would buy that over most new cars). Many people get a lot of joy out of trying to buy the most efficient vehicle possible and if they base their decision on practicality then they have to decide what is the base limit of their practicality. If they believe there is joy in the feeling you get from the engineering and beauty and spirit of the vehicle I think you would go with the X3. I agree, nothing wrong with a Timex. I have had many myself, but my wife got me a (designer watch to embarassing to say the name) so I wear that! 
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Replying to: driver100 (Jul 25, 2006 5:03 pm)
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Replying to: bargamon (Jul 26, 2006 6:28 am)  My ski buddy has a nephew who is a BMW mechanic. He loves the cars and talked his father into flying to Bavaria to pick one up. But, he advises selling them after the free repair period (4 years, right?) since after warranty repairs tends to be expensive. His Dad will keep his longer than that, but it helps when your son is working for the dealer.
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Replying to: driver100 (Jul 25, 2006 5:03 pm) Really? You really think the manufacturer "respects" you, cares about you, wants you to be safe and sound, nice and happy? You wouldn't think, by any slight chance, that they only want your money?  You want safety, so they build safety. If enough people wanted, oh say, a big red gumball on top of the hood, out of "respect" for them, what do you think would start showing up on cars??! 
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Replying to: bargamon (Jul 26, 2006 6:28 am) Tercel was a Timex! It was crumpled from the front end right up to the windshield. The radiator was detached, but the headlights still lit up and the engine though it took a lickin, kept on tickin. He drove it off the road and onto a parking lot. |
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Replying to: steve_ (Jul 26, 2006 7:38 am) I might do that, on the other hand, the older BMW's get, the more beautiful they become (better with age). Few cars look better than a 10 or 20 year old BMW or Mercedes. So, you could save money or at least have a real show piece and it might cost less than trading every 3 or 4 years. |
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Replying to: driver100 (Jul 26, 2006 4:14 am) Perhaps the analogy with watches isn't really all that good. I can think of only three criteria that are important in deciding which watch to buy - reliability, cost and style - in that order. On the other hand, there are probably dozens of factors that go into one's car purchasing decisions. I have yet to see a single web site devoted to comparing watch brands (there may be but I just haven't seen any) while automotive sites come in all sizes, flavors and hues. tidester, host
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Replying to: bodble2 (Jul 26, 2006 8:13 am) Yes I do. i think European car makers take pride in their craftsmanship. If it didn't sell more cars they might not bother, but I think they do want to make the car as technologically advanced and engineered the best it can be within the price range. I believe this because they study accidents to try and make the car more crash worthy. On the other hand you have a Monte Carlo which doesn't even offer side-airbags. They just have to try to sell what they can and not spend any money to update it. I like the idea of that round red light on the hood though!! My brother tried all kinds of smaller cars. Even Toyotas you had to pay extra for ABS. He bought a Jetta because ABS is standard equipment. VW could have made the car cheaper by leaving ABS as an option, but I think it would be embarassing to them. I'm not saying BMW cares about me really when it comes down to it. But, I think in the case of the Monte Carlo they show no respect or pride in their workmanship if they sell a car without as many safety devices as possible in this day and age. I give VW a lot of credit for making ABS standard equipment even though others leave it out to make their price lower. It isn't really respect for their customers in the sense that they really care, but they take enough pride...or maybe don't want to be embarrassed, that they try to make a car as safe as possible, whereas GM can put a car on the market which shows total disrespect for the customer. |
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