35d makes 2011 list of "Best Resale Value" vehicles

[deutsch100]

CR also is saying how bad German cars are in their latest 2011 reviews/reports. Yes, most German cars are not as "base" reliable as a Camry, Accord, Corolla or maybe an Altima, But, those "reliable" cars provide as much enjoyment and pride of ownership as a piece of tupperware!!

Over the years, we've had some BAD German cars, and not BAD in the good way!!

But, we had 2 virtually flawless E53s, A 2005 M3 that needed nothing, a 2007 750Li that never went in for service in almost 2 years, a 2008 S550 that went over 2 years without needing one thing, a 2006 and 2008 Carrera that went a combined 5 years without one problem, and Audi A6 that did not need one thing for over a year, a MBZ C280 that went 2 years totally problem free and many other German car that needed little attention.

So, Yes if going to the dealership 1-2x a year makes a German car unreliable....I'll take it. Going 200,000 with no problems on a Corolla or Camry is SO not worth it to me!!!

[kck7]

Originally Posted by deutsch100

CR also is saying how bad German cars are in their latest 2011 reviews/reports. Yes, most German cars are not as "base" reliable as a Camry, Accord, Corolla or maybe an Altima, But, those "reliable" cars provide as much enjoyment and pride of ownership as a piece of tupperware!!

Over the years, we've had some BAD German cars, and not BAD in the good way!!

But, we had 2 virtually flawless E53s, A 2005 M3 that needed nothing, a 2007 750Li that never went in for service in almost 2 years, a 2008 S550 that went over 2 years without needing one thing, a 2006 and 2008 Carrera that went a combined 5 years without one problem, and Audi A6 that did not need one thing for over a year, a MBZ C280 that went 2 years totally problem free and many other German car that needed little attention.

So, Yes if going to the dealership 1-2x a year makes a German car unreliable....I'll take it. Going 200,000 with no problems on a Corolla or Camry is SO not worth it to me!!!

Singing to the choir, Deutsch. Of course we at this forum know whereof you speak. The odd thing about the car market today is the mantra of reliability has been so heavily sold (I hesitate to say 'oversold'... is reliability important? Of course it is, but at what cost?) that a large portion of the buying public -- and CR casts itself in the role of guardian of that flame -- values reliability above all else. They either don't get, or don't want to get, the concept that driving a car can be fun.

I almost bought an MDX before deciding on the X5. I now look back and thank the lucky stars that steered me away; I know I'd have regretted it. Instead I look for reasons to drive my X5 (driving up my fuel bills despite it being a diesel).

From the Jap brands, Infiniti is the only one that comes close to 'getting it'. But they more or less entered this arena by default, as Lexus ate their as-yet-uncooked lunch so badly in the late '80s that they didn't really have a chance to compete in the same space. So they evolved into the 'Japanese BMW', whatever that means.

[ring007]

I agreed to trade my wife's '10 3.5d today with 20k miles on it (original MSRP $73k+, paid about $63k net of eco credit, discounts, BMWCCA rebate, and Fed tax credit) for $55k to my BMW dealer. $8k in depreciation for 20k miles and 15 months on a $63k car is outstanding value in my opinion. We like the '10 so much, she's replacing it with an '11 3.5d. $78k MSRP ($68k purchase net of all the same discounts as listed above).

It is a special order so takes an extra 8 weeks.....I'll post pics when it arrives to see who can identify what the special order option(s) are.

[kck7]

Originally Posted by ring007

I agreed to trade my wife's '10 3.5d today with 20k miles on it (original MSRP $73k+, paid about $63k net of eco credit, discounts, BMWCCA rebate, and Fed tax credit) for $55k to my BMW dealer. $8k in depreciation for 20k miles and 15 months on a $63k car is outstanding value in my opinion. We like the '10 so much, she's replacing it with an '11 3.5d. $78k MSRP ($68k purchase net of all the same discounts as listed above).

It is a special order so takes an extra 8 weeks.....I'll post pics when it arrives to see who can identify what the special order option(s) are.

Congrats, not a bad deal at all.
BTW looking at your cars list it would be hard to tell you like BMWs or X5s.