Das war einmal: German Cars

German cars were the benchmark for years, but in all areas they matter in a different way than in the past. It does not only have to do with the already developed cheat practices. The sounds about the declining technical quality at various German brands are also increasing in size. And now a cartel scandal has also been added. Money costs principles. Exactly. You read that right.

For years the Germans have used the principle with their German cars profit before reliability. And for years the manufacturers could still rely on historic core values. They still do it. And still my mailbox fills itself with importer PR, where you can read that sales records have been broken again. But sooner or later the Germanic car builders will not get away with it. Credit is not inexhaustible. Principles such as reliability and reliability are under pressure in several respects. And these are precisely those concepts that gave the entire German automobile industry a leading position.

That image was carefully built up by German car manufacturers, especially after the Second World War. All brands stood for quality to such an extent that it really stood out when a car fell in terms of quality. When I drive with classics or youngtimers from Germany, I actually feel that quality. A standard that reached its peak in the eighties and the first half of the nineties. For example, who in an Audi 80 B3 and B4, a Mercedes Benz W123 and W124, a Funfer, an Siebener if a VW Passat from those years has driven knows what I mean.

Those times are over in several respects. In the meantime, skeptics will think that I enjoy the Duitse findings. Nothing is less true. My love for cars was fueled by English stubbornness, French obstinacy, Japanese cleverness and temperamental Italian refinement. With Swedish security. A touch of American grandeur. And with German quality, at times unapproachable within my car hierarchy. It hurts to find that the experience with the current German offer is no longer the same for me as before. Made in West Germany is a quality echo from the past for me. “But everyone cheats. Everyone works together. And everyone saves ”, you hear. That will be true, but for a leading autonomy this should never be an excuse. Like it shouldn't be an excuse for nobody.

For example, innovation is the magic word with Volkswagen and Audi. The now French Opel continues to make German driving affordable. And the adage "Das Beste oder Nichts" and "Freude am Fahren" are still topical, but are especially in keeping with the South German arch rivals from Other Times. Certainties from the past have degenerated into slightly hollow sounds. In the meantime, Kia (whether or not thanks to the German Peter Schreyer) and Toyota lead the lists that listen to {JD Power en most valuable brand in the world. Moreover, they are, together with a number of fellow Asians, one of the most reliable cars being built. Despite the numerous recall campaigns.

Anyway. I can no longer stand the alleged inaccessibility of the German cars, which are still building appealing cars, but with their historical starting points, reliability, punctuality and reliability have been compromised. And in certain cases manipulated measurement values ​​and made price agreements to keep sales figures in line. Impeccability? Undisputed?Das war einmal. Fortunately the Germanic classics and youngtimers are still in abundance. They prove that the adage "everything used to be better" does indeed exist.