Is a BMW pretentious to you?

[Anonymous]

How about BMW vs. Audi vs. Mercedese.

Rank in level of pretentiousness.

Updates

+1 y

Interesting.

I like BMW best. Historically Mercedes was the top dog in quality and luxury. BMW was the cheaper, smarter, less pretentious choice. It was classy, smart and powerful. Then Audi came along and tried to be the new BMW and started their smear campaign. BMW is my favorite. Mercedes is awesome but not for me. I admire it but I prefer BMW better. Audi I despise and I hope all the tool-bags go to it and leave BMW. Audi has been trying to be BMW for ages. However a BMW is a BMW.

Updates

+1 y

BMW = Smart, Classy, Sexy, Fun
Audi = Obnoxious wannabe
Mercedes = Old school Old money Rich beautiful looking cars.

[Applefan1]

This is what I have seen.

BMW = nothing but reliability problems including engine failures.
Audi = is known for gearboxes failing as well as engines failing.
Mercedes = is one of the worlds most unreliable cars to.

Here is a study that found German cars to be the world's least reliable. As you can see in the least reliable cars 4 out of the 6 spots are taken up by German bands. German cars may have been reliable 40 years ago but the are the world's worst for reliability now.

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-32332210

As for which one has the most class I would say this

Mercedes = More of a luxury car.
BMW = More of a sporty image than Mercedes.
Audi = Somewhere between Mercedes and BMW

[Asker]

I have owned 2 bmws. First was for 8 years bought brand new. I would say mechanically the car was sound. Nothing broke. However, past the 6th year mark... maintenance costs felt high and in its 8th year the ac stopped working. I can't see how German cars are worse than a lot of American cars and some Asian cars.

[Applefan1]

When did you buy your first BMW brand new? I can't comment on American cars as we don't really have in of them in my country. The cars Asian cars that are on the level with German cars for reliablity will be things like Chinese cars probably. Korean cars and Japanese cars are way more reliable than anything form Europe. You still see 20 year old Japanese cars on the road you do not see very many 20 year old Audis or something much at all.

[Applefan1]

I mean don't get me wrong, there are lots of very nice cars that come out of Germany just the reliability is a big problem for them.

[Asker]

2007. I can definitely attest to it having high maintenance costs. You have to pay top dollar for quality performance. Lately the brand has lost its mind however. Electronic a/c i can see failing... but mechanically BMWs are like the best. Japanese are reliable and durable and maintenance is cheap... but in some cases not as good in performance.

[Applefan1]

I think all brands of cars have made some models that are not so good in performance to be honest.

[slatyb]

The Mercedes is the most pretentious to me, because I test drove a Mercedes SUV and it didn't handle well. I own three BMWs and yeah, they are a bit expensive but once you go German you never go back. The people who buy Porsche and BMW aren't pretentious, they just want a car that handles like a Porsche or a BMW. Once you have something good, it's hard to settle for less.

[AngryHorny]

Mercedes are German too. Just sayin.

[ambertaylor]

According to a survey in Britain, the worst drivers are males who drive BMW's, specifically the colour blue. So on that basis I'd be slightly put off.

An Audi would impress me far more.
Mercedes... meh.

[AngryHorny]

BMW seems to attract bad drivers. Of course that doesn't make it a bad car.

[ambertaylor]

@AngryHorny No but when you see someone driving a BMW I can't help but assume that the person behind the wheel isn't responsible.

[OliviaSkumps]

Let's look at BMW's page

[Asker]

I am not sure what you are implying. BMW once was iconic for performance and quality through robust engineering. The pretentiousness is more of stupid mainstream people buying it and BMW marketing that is chasing them. Yes they have some luxury today, however, it is not all luxury. Thankfully, we have Audi to attract all the trendiness... hopefully they keep getting more popular.

[PropaneAccessories]

No car brand is more pretentious than the other.
They all have their own dick drivers and courteous drivers.
I would happily own a few vehicles from all 3 companies.

[AngryHorny]

None of them is pretentious, least of all the Audi. Given the choice I would probably go with a Mercedes.

[Asker]

I find Audi to be most pretentious if any. BMW and MErc are nice but my prefernce is BMW.

[AlphaAussie]

I drive BMW, Mercedes leather smells like dead fish and Audi is try hard. I like German because they used to make the best tanks.

[OrdinaryGentleman]

It screams "I can pay for the ridiculous maintenance bill every day its in the shop"

[NotMyUsername15]

Jaguar XF S AWD Sedan

[mooky06]

-BMW
-Mercedes
-Audi