One man's opinion (Japanese vs German mid-size luxury sedans)

[carbuff]

Over the years I have owned American, European and Japanese automobiles. At one time I believed that the Germans produced finer automobiles than their American and Japanese competitors.

Today I find the Japanese luxury class automobiles to be equal to or superior than Audi, BMW and Mercedes. The attributes that separate the makers comprising the luxury class are slight degrees in exquisite exterior styling, technical excellence, precision mechanical performance and rich interiors. It is my opinion that today the Japanese makers provide these attributes in an overall better product at a lesser amount of cost to the buyer.

This opinion is subjective and will probably be hotly debated by owners of German luxury automobiles. If so, I think that they have support by the bias propagandized in writings of magazines and internet reviewers. To read these reviews, one would think that the standard of excellence was a proprietary possession of the German makers only. In fact, the patronizing snobbery prevalent in these writings indicates that the Japanese cannot match or surpass the Teutonic juggernauts by any criteria other than lower price.

The build quality of my 2006 Infiniti M45 is better than any of the five German mid-size luxury sedans that I have owned. Mechanically, my M45 has driven the miles since my purchase in flawless fashion transporting me with speed, comfort and luxury. None of my German cars did any better than this.

The technical features that identify the mid-size luxury class of automobile are present in today’s Acura RL. They are a match or better than any found in the big three German makes. The cost of the RL is tens of thousands of dollars less than the the Quattro, E320 or 550 comparably equipped.

My journey with the M45 has made my ownership of it a satisfying and pleasurable experience. I wish I could say the same for the German cars I have owned. While I eagerly anticipated owing and driving my Quattro, 750iL and 560SEL, I grew frustrated that I was deprived of my treasured sedan so many days in which it sat in a dealer’s bay for repairs or replacements. Cars of this class and expense should not fail so quickly. Conversely, my former RL’s and LS430 never sufferered any kind of failure during my ownerships of these cars.

Thus, the three Japanese brands of mid-size luxury sedans that I have owned, outperformed, have been more reliable and have matched or bettered the German cars I have owned. One would think that snobbery would be exhibited by owners of Japanese cars rather than those of German cars.
Modified by carbuff at 1:06 PM 6/9/2007

[edh13]

One problem I run into with my BMW/Benz friends is I have a hard time convincing them that our M is not a warmed-over Maxima, a G is not an Altima, a Camray is not an LS etc. etc. While this has been a case in the past with some brands it’s not now. And there has never been a BMW or Benz that is a warmed-over anything.

[mousie]

Who needs to convince anyone of anything? You're owning the car for YOU, not for someone else. I just came out of a Lexus GS and into an M35, and both are far better cars than all of the 530i and E350 I see on the road. Here in LA, I have to believe that some buy their cars for the emblem on the hood.

[auditech10]

Maybe being a bit biased since Audis have always been my passion, BUT they have the absolute best interiors. Everything just flows as one, Japanese(and other companies) use plastic pieces that just dont have the fit and finish that I love.

[scjconsulting]

Maybe being a bit biased since Audis have always been my passion, BUT they have the absolute best interiors. Everything just flows as one, Japanese(and other companies) use plastic pieces that just dont have the fit and finish that I love.

I agree with the fit and finish of the Audis (yes, I have owned 6 Audis). Everything is just right on Audis. An example would be the fast up and down action of the power windows on my Audis, versus my Infiniti.

One word that is hard to use with our Ms and other Japanese sports sedans is SPORTS. If you have never driven a BMW, Audi, or VW, you do not understand the word.

[carbuff]

scjconsulting, I do not dispute your opinion about German “sport” vehicles. They did launch a rush in me when I drove them at high speeds around curves and over uneven terrain. Nevertheless, I consider the Acura TL and the Infiniti M45 Sport to provide me with a real sense of handling excitement.

When discussing “best”, we enter the realm of subjectivity. It really depends on perspective. Age has something to do with this I think. When I was young, I craved speed and excitement. My former Audi 4000 S1 gave me plenty of it. Today, I simply want comfort, luxury and performance. My M45 base model provides all of these things.

I cheerfully leave the pulse-rising driving to you younger men. I will stick to the creature comfort chariots such as Infiniti, Lexus and Mercedes offers us old codgers.
Modified by carbuff at 6:21 AM 6/11/2007

[scjconsulting]

I cheerfully leave the pulse-rising driving to you younger men. I will stick to the creature comfort chariots such as Infiniti, Lexus and Mercedes offers us old codgers.Modified by carbuff at 6:21 AM 6/11/2007

It's nice to be 61 and considered to be "you younger men".

Lexus bores me silly and I won't touch front wheel drive cars. The Mercedes has become a lot more interesting in the past 5 years.

Don't get me wrong, I love my M35x. It has everything I need and want in a car today. It is the first automatic transmission car I have owned since the 70s.

It just does not make me want to go out and drive, and drive, and drive like my BMWs use to.

[auditech10]

You didnt/dont feel like driving, driving, driving in the S4s??? The only reason I still havent bought one is that I would put 10K miles a month doing just that! But hey 61 is still young!

[carbuff]

Although I enjoyed being sixty-one once, approaching eight decades is even better.

I have been very fortunate to have indulged in my passion of owning and driving cars. At this point in my life, I have purchased thirty-two cars. Most of them were excellent. Some, real dogs.

It is a great pleasure seeing the advancement in cars today from what they were when I first started to drive in the 1930's. From mechanical brakes driving recklessly at the blinding speed of 45mph down a bumpy dirt road to crusing near one-hundred on a almost vacent freeway, I have enjoyed the long ride to today.

I wish you all good driving and great cars in your future. I have had mine and perhaps will go around in a new car one more time before I turn in the key.

[Afliction523]

No one here has seen any issue with the M35-45 horrible wood dash. Its so fake looking its like being in an old mans 1990 Buick. Overall I would say the new M is a great car beyond that. Both German and Japanese vehicles have their ups and downs. Audi's interiors are amazingly tight and noise free. I take these cars apart at work everyday, and the fit and finish of them is great. The M35 I found to be more responsive by far compared to the A6. It’s always going to be a matter of personal preference in the end. I have an A4, and I think it is not bad for the money. Of course I could have gotten something else 3 years ago with the money, but again personal preference.

[auditech10]

Afliction, where do you work?

[buhdda]

I have only owned 3 cars in my lifetime (only 21)

89' Maxima - I really like the car considering the price, however I originally bought it from a police auction and it was stripped (narcotics search?) and therefore i sold it when i come into some money

96' BMW 740il - I still think this is a better car than my M, granted it was old and the technology was outdated, but if i could have had the pleasure of owning it when it was first released i think it is a better car for it's era.

03 M45 - Jury is still out, has alot of potential to surpass the bimmer 7 but it just doesnt have the same flare and grandeur. The cheap price tag however compnesates for it's other shortcomings.

[Afliction523]

The company I work for is Navigation Solutions. We do all the navigation, sirius, and air iq "lojack" installs for the Hertz Corp.

[CakeDaddy]

I guess I have the best of both worlds. I have the luxury of driving my M and my girlfriends Mercedes CLK and I do marvel at some of the features in the CLK, but on the other hand my girl drives my M and she goes bezerk over some of the things my car is equipped with.