Look this eficiency and durability is usualy Toyota/Honda stuff.
Most japanese cars have average reliability.
Only toyota and Honda are independent.
As for eficiency, well everybody in their right mind learns from lean manufacturing.
Also Porsche and BMW brand cars have the highest profit margins in the industry.

well you take from those who are best right
now when the jap get their german influence they look at BMW audi and MB right..
they dont look for it in opel.. for example..
you always try to learn from the best..

I prefer German engineering or I would be on japancarzone.com!

I feel Japanese design is purely functional and that's it, while German design is different and has a look of it's own!

I respect how reliable Japanese products are but still prefer German cars!

The Japenese have reliable engineering down pat, but it's nothing advanced like what you'll find from the Germans. The Japanes are still using touch screen navagation systems. I think one day the Germans will finally crank out reliable tech, once the obsession fades.. here is hoping it does.

I thought those were good points. Kinda hilites the difference between European and American work cultures and does make one think.
Not enough to diminish the affection for German cars though in favor of some other cars.

Poll result is kinda one-sided... guess we truly are in a GermanCarZone !

Last week a Toyota Corolla had a minor accident where i live. Nothing serious of course only a small hit with some scratches. The owner asked a towing vehicle to pick up the car. When the driver of the vehicle tried to lift the car using a belt (like it's always done BTW), the car's chassis started to bent and he had to stop.

He left the car as it was and said "if i try again the car might be destroyed".
There were a lot of eye witnesses to this incident.

I have no comment to make.

The Germans often set standards where the other cars are judged. They once, were undoubtley kings of reliability and they always come ahead of anyone else, in terms of Engineering innovation.

And that's why they've earned greater respect, than any other motoring industry around the world.

If you want to know, what your average mainstream car, will feature in 10 you may have to take a look at ever, new Mercedes S-Class releseased on market.

The Germans also are great trendsetters.

Once again, take a look at another Mercedes car. The CLS "Four-Door Coupé" moniker may sound a bit lame, but the sales however are far from mediocre. MB sold 13.000 CLS in the U.S market last year and number just keeps growing.

Sure you say, there is no way a Coupé can have 4 doors, but Mercedes indeed set a new trend. Now every other manufacter, is planing a "Four Door Coupé". Even Hyundai for crying out loud! Their new Talos Concept car, is a mix of a Coupé, with the practicality of the 4 doors and the off-road ability of an SUV. It's what the American calls "Crossover".

It' may not look very good, but at least Hyundai is trying to something unique in their own range, and maybe they can change their boring image. In fact, the Talos was designed by Michael Fink, the same designer of the CLS.

With its love or hate looks, the CLS it is already destined to be a future classic.

You seem to be forgeting one thing.
The germans inveted the automobile.
the idea of reliability and quality wasn't some that had to do particulary with autos, but with german products in general.

Correct me if I am wrong, but the 2.5-l engine in the BMW 525i is pretty "old" by now right? And the Lexus IS250's V6 is brand new. I don't think it's fair to compare these engines head to head if that's the case.

Either way, I've always respected Japanese engineering. I think German engineering is still strong, innovative etc., it's just that the R&D times have been cut short by the need to conserve cash given Germany's current economic state. They've cut costs in the wrong areas if you asked me, and that's caused the drop in reliability. However, I think they're making positive strands and comebacks. Anyway, German or Japanese engineering, can't go wrong either way IMHO.