The Pros and Cons of Buying German Vehicles
The American auto industry is in an interesting place. With many electric and hybrid vehicles rolling off the assembly lines, and more coming each year, it’s hard for manufacturers (not to mention consumers) to know what to produce (buy). The situation is particularly complex for buyers, who have more class options to choose from when buying a car, than ever before. Do you buy a classic gasoline guzzling design to take advantage of today’s oil prices? Do you pay extra for a hybrid or electric vehicle to save on fuel, hoping that they don’t become a lot more efficient on next year’s model (after you’ve already bought yours)? What manufacturer do you use: an American company? Japanese? German? We’ll talk about that last one.
There are many considerations to make when thinking about buying a German car. Most consumers are aware of several German car brands, even if they don’t know that they’re German, specifically. Among these, we’ve got Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, and Porsche. Most people won’t be able to consider all of these cars as viable options, as even the cheapest is a bit more elite than the cheapest American cars. That’s Con #1: the price. All of these German cars have, at one time or another, been revered for design prowess and value. Most are known to perform well for many years and hold their value over the long term. This is Pro #1. If you manage to buy one of these vehicles (and you’ll definitely pay a premium to do so), you’ll be likely to see a better vehicle lifespan than many of the competitors made in America. This isn’t always so, but most of these brands continue to endure in America specifically because they do offer something in terms of quality.
Because these machines aren’t put together in the United States, you’ll have to search harder for and pay more for maintenance and repair. This is Con #2. Again, you’ll pay a premium for this. But as above, this con can be a pro, depending on how you look at it. Let’s say you buy an Audi. Bluewater Performance is an Audi focused service shop. Like many qualified Audi-focused shops around the country, you won’t find a place like Bluewater around every corner. That’s because they’re specialists. They know more about the Audi models than most mechanics do about cars and general, because these are the vehicles they work on primarily. It’s in their blood. You might pay a little more for this service, and for new parts and things, but the work will be peerless and your vehicle will run better longer than if is was an American vehicle generally serviced by a string of random people.
As you can see, Pros and Cons with German vehicles are all in the eyes of the beholder. A German vehicle is a commitment and a relationship. If you’re able and willing to take the plunge, this could be the best vehicle of your lifetime, one that lasts for years or decades to come.
