Ok now what about MB vs Audi ? - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

rickg · #16 06-03-2002, 10:54 PM

I've owned 3 early '80s AUDIs. The '83 5000 was a good car up till 200k. I had an '86 5000, wazza P.O.S.! I now have a '82 coupe, which is a 4000 chassis with the 5 cylinder engine in it. The odometer died 10 or so years ago, but it has to have well over 200k on it, and the thing is still solid as a rock. Those pre-hydralic-lifter 5 cylinder engines will rivel anything Japan can put out for longevity! The body still is rust free, and the transmission is great. And I've driven the hell out of it. The only real problem with it has been a bunch of electrical problems. But mechanically it's been great.
After 1984 or 1985, AUDI really went down hill for some reason. I've wondered if they have ever gotten back up there with their quality. Sounds like maybe they did finally figure it out from what I'm hearing.

Ashman · #17 06-04-2002, 02:50 AM

To be honest this is a long thread, so I havent read it.

With that aside, I like audi. When in europe, we rent a 1.8 A4, and it was fun, and quick too. drove pretty nice.

a Friend has an S4, and its a killer car. Fast, handles like its on rails, and the stock stereo is amazing.

I like audi. The cars a very nice looking, and they do drive nice.

But I'd still take my benz. I don't care about quick off the line, I like knowing, I can cruise the highway.

Alon

Alon

rbn3 · #18 06-04-2002, 07:01 AM

I have a '96 Audi Cab which I bought used from an MB dealer. It was "under warranty" by the documentation from the original dealer in Quad Cities. When I took it in for some minor repairs, the Audi dealer said it was out of warranty by a couple weeks in the computer. I sent documentation to AUDI NA, including copies of dealer signature, original title date, etc. Audi told me to take a hike - computer rules. To me this was out and out fraud. If I had time and/or $$ I'd pursue it further. I'll never buy another Audi and advise everyone I know to steer clear of the crooked company.

#19 06-04-2002, 08:25 AM

How aobut the TT ugly ahape but man what a great sounding engine.

#20 06-04-2002, 11:32 AM

BAd 124:
My brother did not speculate on MB quality going forward. He did however say that MB has been rushing new models to market in order to capture a broader market segment and younger buyer. In doing so they have taken some shortcuts and last year their warranty costs exceeded their development costs - a real sign that quality is slipping. Would MB ever admit it? Probably never. But that statistic speaks for itself.
He also said that a big part of the problem is electronics. The newer cars have a lot of gadgetry in them and he feels that the cars may need 24 volt systems to support it all.

jjrodger · #21 06-05-2002, 03:25 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by KPG
The newer cars have a lot of gadgetry in them and he feels that the cars may need 24 volt systems to support it all.

Doesn't the new 7-series BMW have a 24 volt system?

Does anybody need all that crap cars come with? ESP is great, and I'm sure the new electro-hydraulic brakes and the fancy suspensions are brilliant, too. But who needs satellite navigation? When did you last get lost? Or linguatronic, or distronic cruise control, or parktronic? Not crashing into the car in front is one of the fundamentals of driving, as is parking; if you need electronic help with either, should you really be on the road? Don't get me started on the air-cooled massage seats!

I always thought that Mercedes-Benz luxury was about simplicity and solidity, not baubles, tat and frippery. The W124, with its oh-so-simple but beautifully constructed dashboard and timeless exterior design, absolutely epitomises this principle for me.

BAd124 · #22 06-05-2002, 10:18 AM

jjrodger- I fully agree. I wonder what will happen if something ever goes wrong with this stuff 5-10 years down the road with all of this electronic stuff. I would think the car to be basically useless if it did.

#23 06-05-2002, 11:59 AM

jrodger:
I generally agree with you regarding the extreme to which electronics has invaded cars. But I have a 2000 540/6 (my other car is a 2000SL500 which is technologically very simple compared to the BMW) and it has NAV. I have to say that it has come in very handy on a number of occasions when I was in unknown territory, and I'd probably get it again on my next car. The map feature has also helped me re-route myself in a number of huge freeway backups. I also wish the BMW has the parking beeper. With the tall rear end, it can be tough to judge how close I am to an obstacle when backing up.
But I have also been a victim of the NAV system. A few months ago an electronic malfunction in the NAV drained my battery, and then on the chill morning that followed I couldn't even open the door (electronic locks). It really is a mixed blessing. On one hand electronics have made most machines more reliable, but on the other, when something does go wrong, everything shuts down, you're totally screwed, and forget about figuring it out yourself and doing a backyard mechanic fix.