I owned a 1975 Mercedes 450SL. very well built, reeked of old money, almost every passenger asked me if they could drive it.

I owned a 2006 BMW 5 Series perhaps the best handling and all around driving best car I ever owned. Trouble is style was a bit boring, looked like every other 4 door sedan.

The Audi plain out stinks. All my had issues with them, they were expensive to buy and maintain and lacked the status of a BMW or a Mercedes.

I also had a 2011 Cadillac CTS that car I really really liked the style and was very cheap to maintain and ran on regular gas. But it liked the performance and handling of my BMW and a Cadillac does not have the same status as a Mercedes or BMW.

Now the new small Volkswagon cars have amazing handling and performance and come at a good price and easy to maintain. But once again less status and much smaller. I had a Jetta for a while and it felt like driving my wifes Camry ,very reliable and boring looking.

My favorite car I every owned and kick myself every day. I had a 1969 Charger in Black two door I sold back in 1993. Long before Vin Diseal drove it in Fast and Furious. Everytime I drove I had notes under window asking to buy, folks talking my head off at gas stations and thumbs up everywhere. Did it handle well NO, did it have any creature comforts no. Vinyl seats, AM radio, no AC, no power windows, drum brakes, bias belted tires.

Cars are all different. My 1969 Charger if it handled like a BMW and was as reliable as a Camry and had the interior of a Cadillac it would be great, it does not exist

We have a Audi Q7 and an A4. Both are great cars and I am reminded of that when we travel and have to lease something like a Hyundia. The drive just doesn't even come close.

Could we get to and from work and errands in something cheaper? Absolutely, but we can afford it and like them.

NY Times headline, Nov 4, 2017:

BMW Recalls Roughly a Million Vehicles at Risk of Catching Fire

Quality. Drive. Total experience, as PPs said.

I have an Audi. Awesome machine. Before buying, test drove everything - Toyota, Honda, Mazda, Chevy, Lexus, Acura, BMW, Mercedes. Have owned Infiniti, Toyota, Jeep, Honda before. The German cars are at a totally different level of experience. Personally ruled out Mercedes because the dealer was a total snob - totally soured my drive experience, and actually liked Audi more than BMW. About maintenance cost - car is still new, so keeping fingers crossed. But can tell you that I love every single drive I take in the Audi.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What about other "luxury" brands that are less expensive--such as Lexus, Acura, Infiniti, etc.?

They aren't luxury. Just like a 3 series isn't luxury.

Agreed. Focus on quality than technological bells and whistles.

Anonymous wrote:The european luxury and near luxury cars focus on the total experience. The driver ergonomics....the driver connection to the road. (at least the german cars). It is like driving a sports car that is designed to haul a family.

When driving, it is exhilarating. I have received a 3 series as a rental one, almost bought one (but got cheap). I ended up with a VW -- similar handling characteristics, but not as well made.

Today, I drive a subaru. No illusion of sporty, but it gets the job done.

Subarus are good cars and dependable for 10+ years, unlike a German luxury car.

The sweet spot for German luxury is 3-5 years old. You'll pay 60-40 cents on the dollar, and yet get German luxury for a few years more before major expenses kick in. If you're worried about major expenses, find a good mechanic and buy an extra warranty (before the factor 3-5 year warranty) runs out that allows you to take the car to him.

For German luxury, I would also recommend buying a car that had low production numbers. Many of those will actually increase in value after the initial 3-5 year dip.

The european luxury and near luxury cars focus on the total experience. The driver ergonomics....the driver connection to the road. (at least the german cars). It is like driving a sports car that is designed to haul a family.

When driving, it is exhilarating. I have received a 3 series as a rental one, almost bought one (but got cheap). I ended up with a VW -- similar handling characteristics, but not as well made.

Today, I drive a subaru. No illusion of sporty, but it gets the job done.

There's aesthetics. The Audi is a beautiful machine.

There's quality. The smoothness of the ride is amazing and on American or Japanese car comes close enough.

Is it worth the money? Eh. If you get pleasure out of owning it then you won't mind the expenditures. I don't kid myself that it's a better performing machine than a basic Honda or Toyota, it's not, but it's a more pleasurable machine and therein lies the difference for me. And that I can afford it helps.

Drive one and you'll see. But then buy one certified pre-owned coming off a 3 year lease that has less than 25k miles and save 40%. That will make you feel very good!

We have an Audi A8 and while a ridiculous purchase (I wanted a minivan), it is an incredible car. You just have to think about accelerating and responds. It handles well and can speed up and slow down so quickly and smoothly. Very quiet ride, so listening to music sounds about the same as in your living room. It also has needed no work yet in 2+ years, although I know when that time comes it will be $$.

After we bought it I drove my old Camry again (we’d given it to a relative) and it felt like a total piece of junk. If/when we sell it, though, I still want my minivan.

I’ll never own a car without heated seats and quality speakers. Heated steering wheel is really nice. I hate massage seats. The kids love all the different colors we can change the interior low lighting.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Toyota and Honda drivers = peasants

BMW, Mercedes and Audi drivers = superior beings

Exactly, I don't have time to be in the service shop as often as you are with the German brands, there's a reason they have free snacks and drinks, you are there often

But if you have money for extra cars, and staff to take it to service, then they are well worth the fun of driving

Ok if you say so.

Anonymous wrote:What about other "luxury" brands that are less expensive--such as Lexus, Acura, Infiniti, etc.?

They aren't luxury. Just like a 3 series isn't luxury.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Toyota and Honda drivers = peasants

BMW, Mercedes and Audi drivers = superior beings

Exactly, I don't have time to be in the service shop as often as you are with the German brands, there's a reason they have free snacks and drinks, you are there often

But if you have money for extra cars, and staff to take it to service, then they are well worth the fun of driving

The real luxury brands send a flatbed or a covered trailer to pick it up for service.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Toyota and Honda drivers = peasants

BMW, Mercedes and Audi drivers = superior beings

I don't know, Audi is in between. It's a step down from Mercedes. BMW has cheapened their brand so much with the 3 series for everyone and now the 1 series. If that's all you can afford, just get a Honda.

I have the GLS 450, and it's such a nice car. Not plasticy, great pickup, smooth and quiet. It's luxurious.

By your logic Mercedes is guilty of the same thing by selling the $35k CLA and $40k C class.

I think you merely pretend to drive a GLS on the internet as the interior *is* mostly plastic, and it's the holy-grail soccer mom mobile on a site where everyone's stated HHI is their real HHI inflated by 150% to 400%.

Yes, Mercedes has also cheapened their brand selling the crappy lower models. I've never posted my HHI on here, and I never will.

It's not all plastic dash like Japanese cars. It's it worth the extra money? No, but it's a beautiful car, and the extra money is irrelevant.