This discussion belongs 50 years ago. In this modern age the lines between brands are being blurred. Proton Savvy is a Malaysian car with a Conti engine. The new Merc pickup is a Nissan Navara underneath. Lexus and Infiniti are being compared favourably to BMW and Audi. JLR is owned by Indians, Volvo owned by Chinese, VW owned by Arabs etc. As for who 'makes' the car, engineers, designers, management and workforce are made up of people of every nation. And that's before you include assembly. The Toyota Camry is the most American car in America if you consider where all the parts come from. Toyota Crown feels like Conti car, Renault Captur feels like Asian car.

For a more traditional answer, if you drive Conti car ppl think you rich, drive Asian car ppl think you can't afford Conti lol.

So syiok this thread. I feel for a proper comparison, one needs to go to Europe and test the cars there, go to Japan, USA etc. Comparing prices here in Malaysia puts too many factors into the equation unrelated to the value of the car.
Interior quality may have been true 20 years ago, but getting into a 5 series from a Lexus GS feels like stepping into a cheaper car. As for desirability and fun, I have met many Europeans and Americans who rather have an LFA than a Ferrari, a Q60 than an M5, an MX5 than an Alfa. Then there are the standalone established heroes like the GTR, Impreza/Legacy/Outback, Evo etc.
In this day and age brands should be compared on their own. Country of origin may play some part in that brand's identity, but there may be more differences between two brands from one country than there is between two brands from 2 separate countries.

Four legs good, two legs bad!
Suddenly conti = German. French cars these days are completely different from Italians which in turn are completely different from Germans. Barely anyone brought up British cars and nobody even cared to mention the Russians and eastern block. If all lump together then might as well include Japan and Korea then all one big happy family.
Conclusion is belilah barangan buatan Malaysia!

New drinking game: Everytime someone mentioned double wishbone, everyone takes a shot.

It was started in the American market to combat the perception ppl have that Japanese cars are cheap and utilitarian. Even now, many in America don't know that Lexus is owned by Toyota. They're spoken of in completely different tones. Same goes for Infiniti. As for Acura, it is more a youthful brand over there so Honda sport cars like NSX and Integra plus their crossovers are sold under that name.
Afaik, Lexus and Infiniti are standalone in terms of the models, development and manufacture, whereas Acura are simply called Honda everywhere else.

As for that German Tüv test comparing German and Japanese cars, I think the keyword here is German. There is bound to be some bias. Also, as mentioned, people take much better care of their Merc than their Japanese runabout, yet the Japanese one is equally reliable, what does that tell you?

This post has been edited by djtong: Nov 4 2016, 04:24 PM

I do miss those understated Lexus of before though. Nowadays they look to much like some Gundam/Decepticon. I guess previously their design did not differ from Japanese models whereas these days different markets get different design.
Currently Audi seems to be champion at understated luxury, but reliability and resale are zero. Merc is nice outside but too many flashing lights inside. BMW catering to their main clientele of road bullies at the cost of everyone else (I guess Rolls is their real luxury brand). Volvo running out of ideas whereas everyone else has caught up with safety. Jaguar losing out to Bentley.
Too bad Cadillac and Lincoln all not brought in here, I feel our roads and driving style has alot in common with America.