Which Brand OR Model Did You Used To Like Has SOURED On You And WHY?

Who:

BMW

Why:

Styling. To me, BMW's styling use to be the epitome of "Conservative aggression". Their designs were clean, chiseled and bold. When I look at the current generation of cars, I ask, why so: bloated, bland, gelatinous and boring.

Watchout MorePower, here comes JRobUSC with his sword raised riding on his BMW horse ready to defend BMW to his death :-)

I'm not scared. Besides the Gran Coupe and the X5, I do not feel he has an argument against my post.

Winner: Mercedes--They went from the most classic and gorgeous line of cars about a decade ago to the most jarring currently.

Runner Up: Japan, Inc.--Too many odd lines and angles in just about every car from every manufacturer.

BMW for sure - great performance, styling is hurting in their car styling and interiors AND Acura, so lost in their design and position in the market place AND Infiniti QX56 SUV - an abortion on wheels. Every single feature says design direct from the Flintstones or Wacky Racers. It is a caracature of an SUV. Audi is great but needs to private product distinction between models..

Audi's product distinction between models is on its way. It should arrive in 2014 in the form of the 2015 Audi A4.

..."Triggered by Egger, as well as R&D chief Wolfgang Dürheimer, the company’s award-winning design strategy is under review. Audi has recently come under considerable, perhaps exaggerated, criticism for the visual similarities between its different model lines. When speaking with Egger at the New York auto show, he assured Car and Driver that the time of “scalable design” is over. Check back to C/D for more information on the changes within Audi design and what they mean for the brand."

Honda/Acura

BMW - I owned a 2002 3 series and the interior layout was beautiful. Check that model year out and then check out how the dash area kinda wraps slighly inward, while the cockpit had that nice arch upward where the speedo is. Now - we have the silly crazy dash that "twist"; did they get rid of those cheap cup holders in the dash yet.

Acura for me. I thought the previous (pre-beak) TSX and TL were great-looking. The TL Type-S is still one of the best-looking sedans on the road. But the post-beak Acuras all look like crap to me. I can't wait until they replace their designers entirely.

Who: Lexus (back in 2000)

Why: (LS) marginal materials made the interior and exterior wear at accelerated rates. Dealer was unable to fix numerous issues and car was finally returned under lemon law.

(RX) marginal materials made the interior and exterior wear at accelerated rates.

Have bought two more since hoping the would do better.

A 2008 RX hybrid. Numerous niggling issues with TPS that required multiple visits to correct, dead starter battery that required a tow, both headlamps had bad seal and had to be replaced. Mileage was no better than the ML350 it replaced.

A 2012 that has had ZERO issues and scores almost exactly the same gas mileage.

Still concerned about the quality of the leather, but so far so good.

As with the others, I have to list two. BMW - I don't mind the designs, but they have concentrated too much on electronics instead of mechanical engineering. The driving experience is not what it was, and our 2008 X5 was plagued with electrical problems. Secondly, I would say Honda/Acura. They have made every effort to get away from what made them the best overall cars on the road in the late 80s are are now also-rans. They allowed the accountants to take over and thus got rid of the double-wishbone suspensions, best ergonomics, low cowls, etc. The Civic was an example of them hitting rock-bottom.

After many, many BMWs over the past 25 years, there will be no more BMWs in my future - our 2007 BMW 530i will be our last. Bloated cars, poor quality run-flat tires, no spare, no smooth running 6 anymore. There are alternatives - we are out.

Gosh - I couldn't agree with your statement more. I see the BMW fans don't like the truth and mark the bloggers done. Yet - they will put up with the TERRIBLE run flat tires, the electronic gizmos and are moving away from what got them here - performance, handling, precision engineering. I've owned a total of three 3-Series with the last a 2002. They keep getting more bloated, trying to please all range of drivers. The exterior design look pretty good. The interior and performance they seem to be moving further away from their original roots.

"no smooth running 6 anymore"

Every series in the BMW's line up offers a in-six.

Infiniti used to be cool ten years back, now it is still using nearly the same parts and technology...

Acura is no surprise to disappointing the public lately with their lackluster designs and lack of real innovation

Audi!

I purchased a new 5000S, and it was a pig. The thing ate power steering pumps, even while parked. It is the only car I have owned that had to be towed out of my garage, after the battery fried. The passenger rear brake locked up and caught fire while my wife was driving it. A passerby flagged her down, and a mechanic from a garage on the street ran out with a fire extinguisher and saved the car. We packed for a vacation trip, and I picked the car up from the dealer, with a new power steering pump (#4). Parked it in the garage and the next morning power steering fluid was all over the floor. I then found out Audi was replacing the pumps, under warranty, with remanufactured ones instead of new ones. That was it..never again.

The phoney AutoSpies ask what brand has soured you and conveniently pictures a sleek BMW.

Come on AutoSpies, you can be more clever than that. Or can't you???

Honda(Acura,too)and BMW. Honda seems to be making an effort, however weak and slow. BMW has forgotten their roots and the enthusiasts that put them on the map.

So the conclusion is, pretty much all brands and models. Or are they?

Look at the Koreans. They are relentlessly improving their stable. They are after all of the established players, and all of them wake up at night worried about those damn, pesky, and relentless, but hardcore working and dedicated Koreans.

Or look at Tesla Motors. A couple of Silicon Valley nerds make their first car and it absolutely turns the industry upside down?

It really boils down to the trajectory rather than the state. Are the new model better, faster, more exciting, more economical, more versatile? The tragedy is that for many of the established players that does not seem to be the case. Is it just a sense of nostalgia, or taking things for granted, or the grass being greener? Is it that traditions hold the big guys down where as the small fish is more nimble and more willing and able to reinvent themselves? Is there a better case against auto companies consolidation?

As a BMW lover, I have to say BMW. They lost their way in the mid 2000's. The E34 was my favorite driving 5 series, and the e30 and e36 3 series were great. E46 isn't bad either. everything past the E39 and E46 went downhill, save for the M5 and its high reving V10. Only drawback is the electrical nightmare that plagues post 2000 BMW's. I won't be buying any new ones. They lack the steering feel and overal driving experience that made the older ones famous. I honestly don't know where I will go for another car to replace them. Honestly I don't really like these newer cars. you can't work on them and too much electronics. I'll keep my e30 and e23 thank you.