Or has the term been overtaken by time?
German solidity, we have the idea that you hear the term less and less in the car world these days. Is that because other cars are more reliable these days or has the hipness of the alliteration just worn away? Time to dive into the numbers to see whether German reliability in 2021 still exists. Oh, and don’t hesitate to give your opinion about it in the comments Deutsche Gründlichkeit. I’m sure there are plenty of people who like it.
Where does the term German solidity come from?
Certainly in the past there were quite a few car brands that did not have everything going well. According to the stereotypes, all Italian cars had electrical problems and you didn’t get that far with a French car either. Not to mention English cars from the last century. The term Monday morning model was invented in America. We deliberately say stereotypes, because it is not always correct. The Peugeot 504 from the sixties is still happily steaming through African countries, just to name a few.
If you had to choose at that time, then you had better go for something German. The term German solidity probably originated because it sounds good in the first place, because Germans are known for wanting to tackle everything thoroughly (again: stereotype) and because the other stuff was just less reliable. Incidentally, it was also a must with Japanese cars and Volvo’s moving bricks at the time. Of course there are plenty of exceptions to the rule.
What about German reliability these days?
Nowadays most German cars give the feeling of quality. The interiors are neatly put together and they use the right materials. For example, for a long time, Japanese cars were not at the level of German cars in terms of interior experience. The feeling of German solidity therefore still exists. Although brands from other countries have already mastered the interior design.
If you look at the statistics, German brands usually don’t top the rankings. Japanese brands such as Toyota, Lexus, Mazda and Suzuki often rank high in most reliability surveys, along with the brands from South Korea (Kia and Hyundai). The German Porsche also often manages to get a high listing. It is important to note that each study uses its own criteria.
In the research of What car? BMW is in ninth place, Volkswagen in twentieth place and further on we find Opel, Audi and Mercedes. The Consumers’ Association puts Mercedes at 11, BMW at 12, Audi at 20 and Volkswagen at number 22. Looking at the figures, German reliability is therefore not necessarily applicable yet.
Are bad cars still being made?
Cars that fall apart from the showroom of misery are usually not there. Of course you can always be unlucky. The fact remains that there are an incredible amount of things on cars these days that can break. There are, however, cars that price themselves out of the market due to excessive emissions. Or cars that are reliable, but, for example, are not so nice in terms of chassis. Recalls are also very common these days. So if something is really wrong, car brands fix it.
Do I have to leave the German car?
Like we said, there are no really miserable cars anymore. In any case, we believe that there is more to choosing a car than reliability or consumption. You also have to like the car and be satisfied with the finish and the ergonomics. If you want a car that will last until the end of time, you have to fish up an old Toyota Corolla somewhere. What is especially important is that you do good research beforehand. For example, to which engines for a model are the most reliable. Choose wisely, but also listen to your heart.
