What's the best car to drive?
European, Asian, American, Other...?
What characteristics should I look
for when buying a car...?
Here's the article....
What’s the
Best Car to Drive: European, Asian, or American - Fact
or Opinion
I’m
frequently asked “What’s the best car?”
My answers have varied greatly, but over the past two
decades in the
automotive industry, I have come to the conclusion that European cars
are superior. This is not to say I don’t appreciate some
Asian or American cars, but they just don’t compare to the
engineering thrills of European cars. American and Asian cars are
missing something. They’re
missing passion!
Is this my
personal opinion? Or is it my objective expert opinion...?
I never
understood what the fuss was about with European cars until I got
behind the wheel of a 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class for a 12-hour road
trip. From the start the car practically drove itself. I merely kept
one finger on the steering wheel, regardless of speed. It seemed to
anticipate my desires and it responded effortlessly.
When you can
push a car into 3 digits MPH, and it feels like you’re only
driving 55MPH, that’s engineering…that’s
Mercedes-Benz. I never appreciated that!
Now we all
can’t afford a Mercedes-Benz, but I noticed similar
characteristics in other European cars: SAAB, BMW, Audi, VW, even
Volvos.
Quick Audi
story:
When my
brother got his license at 16 (I was 15), my mother, for some unknown
reason, allowed us to take her brand-new 1984 Audi 4000 from Nashua NH
to Needham MA—about an hour’s ride at 60 MPH. We
made it in 30 minutes.
At the time
I did not realize the engineering that was keeping that car glued to
the road as we weaved in an out of traffic, as only reckless teenagers
do so well. This is not an endorsement for driving like an
idiot—although sometimes I “still”
do—but to show how European engineering has been and
continues to be far superior than either Asian or American cars.
Sloppy
Pontiac Bonneville:
To give you
an idea of how much better European cars are, here’s another
quick story (another stupid high-speed one). Again
my brother and I were on a road trip. We rented a brand-new 1996
Pontiac Bonneville: heavy, powerful, and comfortable. This time I was
driving. Despite its newness and its weight, it started to practically
lift off the ground as we buzzed across the Nevada deserts at a buck
twenty.
The car
couldn’t handle being pushed. The heavy front suspension and
front-wheel drive felt unstable. It was a burden, and not just at high
speeds. Verdict: poor engineering! You can replace the Bonneville with
any mid-sized front-wheel drive American car—Buick, Olds,
Ford Taurus…etc, they all handle like CRAP!
Boring
Toyota Camry:
I
don’t want to leave out Asian cars in our comparison. In the
late 1990’s as a Toyota certified technician I grew to love
Toyota (especially Lexus). This love started to fade a few years back,
however, as I got behind the wheel of so many comparable imports in the
same class. Yes, Toyota is dependable and reliable. But these are also
words for boring and uninspired.
I got bored with my own Camry after 3
days! Toyotas all feel the same, and do the same
thing—they’re predictable and bland. If
I’m going to spend as much time as I do in my car, why not
have excitement too—better yet: PASSION!
The
realization over the past two decades in the automotive industry is
this: There
is a passion to driving. The Europeans have known this
since the beginning.
Asian
automakers have missed the mark. They try to elicit passion with fancy
car names and accessories, but it’s just not there. Americans
car makers aren’t even close. And they get even more creative
with their car names: Alero, Fusion, Magnum, Vibe—there are
hundreds more that attempt to elicit driving excitement, but that
can’t live up to the challenge.
European
cars don’t have fancy marketing technique names.
That’s because they don’t need to elicit passion
and excitement in their vehicles—they’re a given!
Passion and excitement are engineered into the cars!
For example,
•
BMW states it’s the “Ultimate Driving
Machine.” That’s because, in many ways, it is!
•
Mercedes-Benz states that it’s “Like No
Other!” This is true…plain and simple.
•
SAAB advertises that it’s “Born from
Jets!” Ever sit in the cockpit of a SAAB? It’s
pretty cool!
•
How about Audi? They claim to “Never Follow.”
Again—true. Check out the new 2008 R8 to see an incredible
“expression of engineering.”
Is all the
above an advertisement for buying a European car—No!
It’s a philosophy of driving. Driving can be
fun—AND safe, AND dependable! European technology (safety,
mechanical or otherwise) is light years ahead of Asian and American
cars.
Even Lexus,
who hails “unprecedented triumphs,” is only nipping
at the heels of Mercedes-Benz. Sure Lexus ads make it sound like they
came up with the latest and greatest technological advancements —NOT.
The
Ferrari Test Drive: Last Crazy Car Story…I Promise.
I had the
rare pleasure recently of driving a Ferrari. I have driven some
incredible cars over the years, but I had never driven an Italian
super-car like a Ferrari, nor had I ever understood why anyone would
want to, despite their striking looks and appeal.
As you can
probably guess, the car was gorgeous—brilliant red,
incredible body lines, sleek…very sharp—a true
head turner. Oh yeah…I looked great behind the wheel too!
Anyhooo….as I sank into the Italian leather
driver’s seat it seemed to suck me in and support me from
areas where I didn’t know I needed support—at least
I didn’t know yet….
As I fired
up this rear engine craft, I swear the engine seemed to be
urging…”go ahead, make my day.” I am not
being metaphorical. The car was eliciting something….oh
yeah…PASSION, EXCITEMENT, FUN!
Again, we
all can’t afford to run out and buy a Ferrari, but there are
several “European” cars mentioned above that boast
these same characteristics.
It’s
not a coincidence that people drive Volvos forever, or that SAAB owners
frequently put 300,000 miles on their cars, trade them in and buy
another one. Nor is it a coincidence that there are many who will drive
nothing but German engineered cars. There is a relationship between
man and machine.
For a little
context, my first Ferrari experience came when I was about 12. I was
driving down the highway in the back of my mother’s beige
Toyota Cressida. I heard, before I saw the Ferrari. When I turned to
look it was right behind us. I blinked and it was next to us. I blinked
and turned, and it was a hundred yards ahead rapidly fading into the
distance. At 12, I could see, hear and feel passionate engineering,
although it would take 20 years of automotive experience to voice it.
The Ferrari
I recently test drove was 16 years-old—a 1990 Grand Touring
Targa. I mention the age to show how
even “dated” European engineering still trumps the
latest and greatest technological breakthroughs of its competitors.
As I pulled
off, I was a bit unsure what a Ferrari would or even could do. But the
car, very quickly, made me feel comfortable and confident. I mentioned
earlier how the seat sucked me in and supported me in places I
didn’t know possible. I experienced this in the parking lot
of all places when I had to make a very quick, sharp turn—I
didn’t move—the car took the corner for me as I
remained perfectly seated.
The 5-speed
shifter was a simple chrome shaft with a ping-pong-sized ball that fit
perfectly into my palm no matter which way I held the shifter. The seat
and steering wheel position were ergonomically perfect, and the gauges
were easily accessible with a quick glance. Even the rear view mirror
reflected so clearly that I thought there was no back
glass—this is handy when “traffic
weaving.”
In terms of
the stability and handling, I’m not sure I have the words to
describe it, but let’s use a Corvette for comparison. In
1996, I drove a brand-new Corvette at 90MPH onto an off-ramp
(don’t try this at home). The tires squealed bloody murder,
the body rolled, and the suspension wobbled. I was a bit hesitant to
try that again in a vette.
Of course
the Corvette and the Ferrari are not a fair comparison, but again, the
point here is to illustrate the superior European engineering that even
the best American performance cars can’t touch.
In the
Ferrari, cornering was effortless, virtually regardless of speed: no
squeals, roll, or wobble—and the technology was 6 years older
than the vette. Cornering in the Ferrari was just plain fun! Never once
did I feel as if I was pushing the car beyond its limits. In fact, as
reckless as I can be, I never found its limits—I ran out of
road.
In terms of
quickness, the engine redlines at 7500 RPM, so there’s plenty
of room to wind er’ up and go, regardless of what gear
you’re in. In fact this engineering design took me by
surprise; I am so use to driving cars that “do the driving
for you.”
The
Ferrari wants you to be part of the experience by empowering you to
work the engine in a very wide RPM range.
The
experience of empowerment was similar at high speeds. At 4000 RPM,
80MPH in 4th gear, you have the option (empowerment) to drop it to 3rd
and take off like a raped ape, or just punch the gas and watch the
traffic around you come to a standstill as you casually slide into 5th,
creeping past 135MPH with so much more power waiting to come out if
only the roads weren’t so congested.
I understand
now why people have to drive a Ferrari. It’s an experience
“like no other.” It’s the
“ultimate driving machine.” It’s not
“Born from Jets,” but it definitely flies! It
clearly leads and “Never
Follows”…nothing else can keep up!
Most
European cars posses these above characteristics in one degree or
another.
Cool SAAB
Test Drive:
On a more
“practical car” level, I recently drove a 2004 Saab
9-5 Aero with 77,000 miles on it. What struck me immediately was the
cockpit feel that SAAB keeps raving about. It really is like an
airplane’s cockpit, making one feel very comfortable, and
more importantly, in control.
The tone of
the engine and the solid feel to the car—even with 77,000
miles—was powerful. It was eliciting emotion—like
the Ferrari!
American and Asian cars tend to feel a bit sloppy after
60K whereas the SAAB felt like new, and was ready to go! It even had
manual “shift paddles” on the steering
wheel—for what?—FUN, EXCITEMENT…PASSION!
No wonder people drive these cars forever.
The models
above were chosen from a hat. There are dozens of cars I could compare,
but the end result is the same. Asian and American cars are no match to
the quality, dependability, engineering, and excitement of European
cars.
These are the facts: PASSION and EXCITEMENT are standard options on
European cars.
To learn more about eliminating repair scams Click Here
-Theodore P.
Olson ©
http://www.repairtrust.com/
Making Sense of Auto Repair Costs
MLA Style Citation:
Olson, Theodore. "What’s the Best Car to Drive: European, Asian, or American - Fact or Opinion" RepairTrust. 23 November 2006. http://www.repairtrust.com/articles_eurocarsbest.html
APA Style Citation:
Olson, Theodore. (2006, November 23). What’s the Best Car to Drive: European, Asian, or American - Fact or Opinion. RepairTrust. http://www.repairtrust.com/articles_eurocarsbest.html
Chicago Style Citation:
Olson, Theodore. 2006 What’s the Best Car to Drive: European, Asian, or American - Fact or Opinion. RepairTrust (November, 23), http://www.repairtrust.com/articles_eurocarsbest.html |
