Quote:
Originally Posted by Stephen5242
Well, I don't plan on purchasing for another year or so, but I like the technologies that Ford has come out with, with the Ford mytouch developed by Microsoft. I am a tech geek and like as much as I can get for the money.
On the luxury side I just looked at the new Jeep Grand Cherokee (JGC). New territory for me as I am not sure about reliability etc. but again I will keep an eye on it over the next year or so and follow the reviews. I have had serious problems with my last E39 540 as well, and history shows over the past 10 years that BMW and Mercedes have had serious reliability problems as well. I love my 335i and would love the same performance in a mid size suv but not sure the x3 is worth 64K. But there is comfort in the similarity between the X3 and the 335i. If it came loaded for under $50K the decision would be a lot easier.
The Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited and Overland models come standard with Nappa leather, reclining rear seats, heated seats front and back, heated steering wheel, ventilated front seats and comfort access. The NAV is a $500 upgrade and not a $2,000 upgrade. The Overland model has real wood, a leather dash, piping on the seats and leather on the doors. The Limited model can be had for about 45K to 50K and the Overland can be had for about 50K to 55K Canadian (still a lot more than in the US). The Overland also has air suspension and both models have select-terrain for different road and off road conditions. Again this is from a restructured Chrysler and I would give it a year or so to see if it is really as good as it looks.
I have never owned a North American auto, always Japanese until my last two cars which were a 98 540i and my 08 335i. As much as I love my 335i am struggling with the 33% to 50% premium in owning a German auto. I never thought the quality was there with North American autos but I like what I have been seeing coming from Ford the past year and if Chrysler can give the JGC a decent highway ride and reliability, as they have really upgraded the interior with this new model, then I will seriously look their way next year. It looks like Chrysler has targeted LandRover with the new Grand Cherokee.
Still undecided and still looking for the best value for my dollar.
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Hi Steven,
Thank you so much for the excellent feedback it is very much appreciated. I guess having been born in Germany I tend to look at cars made in the old country so to speak. I've owned 7 German cars so far in my lifetime (5 BMW's and 2 Mercedes). I also owned a great deal of American cars among them 2 Jeeps (one Grand Cherokee and one Orvis Edition).
I have to agree with the quality statement of the German cars. I had for 10 months a 2008 Z4 3.0is and found the quality not to be what I saw in Germany when I visited Die Welt and factory in Germany comparing it to the 2009 Z4. I do realize that the 2008 Z4 30is is not in the same ball park as the 2009 Z4 35i, still the quality on the 2008 was not what I had expected.
As for the 2009 Z4 35i if I had researched it more before I purchased that car I would have not made the purchase. I say this in regard to the RFT and the HPFP issues. I'm almost convinced that the RFT have caused 2 rear wheel failures on my car on my US vacation trip this year (one was replaced by BMW under warranty the other I had to pay for ... long story I'm still trying to get my money back for that one). Seams that BMW is run by accountants that try to save a penny here and there and in the process they will loose some former BMW customers (that check and care like you and I).
So yes I do agree, quality on the German cars seams to be at a stand still and the American & Asian car manufactures seam to be catching up. So soon the German car manufactures will have a hard time to justify that high percentage differential in selling price.
Thanks again for the heads up, perhaps I need to wait a bit before I trade in my existing AWD family car
Thanks again for your so detailed input
