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A Chinese friend just called me up. Claimed I would know a lot about cars. Asked whether he should invest his hard-earned Renminbi into an Audi Q7 3.6, or a Mercedes ML300, or a BMW X5-3.0, or a VW Tourareg V8?
What do I know. Of course, I didn’t tell him that.
My reputation as a know-it-all foreigner is at stake here. You know, China, all about face. So I’m asking the best and brightest of the Best & Brightest: What should I recommend? Serious, snark-free advice, please. Obviously, this guy has money, and I don’t want to end up on his wrong side. I would suffer a serious quanxi deduction if my advice turns out as bogus. No other brands, he’s fairly set on these Teutonic choices.
27 Comments on “Help A Chinese In Need: Audi Q7 3.6, Mercedes ML300, BMW X5-3.0, Or VW Tourareg V8?...”
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I’d say tourareg unless he needs 3rd row then q7. I htink a tourareg v8 with air suspension is every bit the q7’s equal but i like the smaller packaging. The bMW and MB don’t hold a candle.
Bertle,
Considering he’ll be driving it in China – I’d go with the Q7 as it’s the biggest, heaviest and safest.
1. Touareg
2. (write-in candidate)- Cayenne S
3. Q7
4. X5
5. ML300
What does he want? Status? Low operating cost? Safety? Will he trade it in 3 or 5 years or drive it into the ground? Any kids? Does he hate the Japanese? How are the roads? 5 or 7 passenger seating? More info required.
Kid. One. Doesn’t hate Japanese (at least not in front of my Japanese wife) but is dead-set on German makes.
How does he feel about your Korean mistress? Ah, never mind.
1. Q7, Diesel preferably
2. Touareg (only if is a good deal, if not wait for the 2011 model)
3. X5 (uninspiring interior and ugly steering wheel)
4. ML300 (BORING!)
I would recommend the Touareg, because the tremendous torque will make up for the owner’s lack of endowment in other areas.
Unless it is the new, second generation Touareg, I’d go with the X5. The Touareg is the most cramped of the lot IIRC and while you should get several shorter people in comfortably, if he uses a chauffeur it is the least comfortable choice. Plus it is the oldest available. On the other hand, because of that it allows for the largest (and by far thirtiest engine) in one of the lighter packages, so performance is likely to be OKish. And it probably has the best service network in China (I suppose).
The ML will probably struggle with the engine (300? Do they even make such a beast and is it only for China? I thought the 350 was the smallest petrol?).
But more importantly, I think you can hardly go wong with any recommendation. Something tells me your friend has a car several years old in which case all of those are likely a step up.
A lot of Chinese are like that. They don’t like Japanese stuff, not because they invaded China, but because they are not white. Don’t believe me? Look at how Chinese treat Korean cars (and Korea was also invaded by Japan, so that’s an ally in WW2).
Back to topic. Of course the Bimmer.
VW after all is not a premium brand. Not even in China. Audi is just VW on steroid; not to mention all that shit load of crap A6 produced by JV.
It comes down to BMW and MB. But since BMW already has a JV in China and MB doesn’t (is my info outdated?), BMW should be the choice because it will be easier to repair if there is a JV.
Outdated info.
– Just like Americans, Chinese don’t let their choice of car be influenced by chauvinism. Toyota sold approximately the same amount (700K) sedans last year as GM China
– Korean cars very strong in China. Beijing’s taxis are nearly all Hyundais
– MB has a joint venture with BAIC (the same company that has the Hyundai JV)
– AFAIK (did not extensive research on this) all the models in question in this story are imports
If it were me:
Range Rover Sport Supercharged blah blah blah (it may be the regular one but the 5 lt engine has to be in). An LR4 or Discovery4 or whatever is named would also be nice.
X5
Cayenne
Q7
Touareg
I don’t like Benzes
Given some context, status, stuff, etc…
Benz :rolleyes:, I guess it holds value better, gives automatically status, etc…
Q7
Cayenne
X5
Touareg
If he has money (read modestly rich), I don’t get the point in getting the Touareg save for the V8 engine in front.
Tough call, but I’d go with the X5. I think it’s the most unique of the bunch. They will all be expensive to maintain, but this guy obviously doesn’t care. X5 presumably has the fastest handling responses, very important on the dangerous overcrowded roads of China, where the drivers are absolutely insane.
I think the Audi is the nicest looking of the bunch, inside and out. I’ve heard that MB is one of the best vehicles for snob appeal in China, so what the heck: go for the ML. The Diesel will be fun and Mercs usually ride smoother than the other German marques.
What ever you recommend, you have more than a fleeting chance that your bud gets a warranty queen, or depending on when China ends its fuel subsidies, a depreciation queen.
Anyone of those cars is like a marriage, you hope for happily ever after, but if doesn’t the divorce is expensive.
BD
ML Bluetec
Q7 – this is a seriously large car
X5
Probably would be happiest in a Q5 but who knows
I’d go with the X5. It’s probably the best to drive and is the best looking (to my eye, at least). And in my experience BMW’s are the least likely of those brands to experience major mechanical troubles down the road. Of course, all of them are expensive to fix if something does go wrong out of warranty, but as you note, it doesn’t sound like your friend is short of cash.
Audi. In White or Black. Silver could work too. make sure all the LED’s options boxes are checked and the car has black tint and a towing receiver in the back.
Tell him to go for the Q7 – the King of Bling. That’s what matters in China.
Ask him which designer label he’d most like to be seen in.
i’m guessing he’s asking b/c he can’t get any reliable info from Googling stuff out there . . .
seriously, if it were me, i’d go with the Toureg. but i prefer understated looks and would rather spend the extra coin on other stuff. other’s however, would likely go another direction. MY wife loves these luxo SUVs and commented recently that she quite liked the Audi.
The Merc is so odd looking it would be my last choice. The BMW is nice, drives well, but seems to be nothing special.
If he’s willing to consider the Touareg, why not the higher-zoot Cayenne sibling? It will no doubt carry more prestige, and is just as capable as the VW.
Otherwise, I’d recommend the Audi. Not because I think it’s the better vehicle overall, but because I think it’s the better vehicle in China.
I’d go with the Touareg. Brilliant air suspension, smooth engine, high quality interior. Its also the only one on this list with legit off road abilities, which should be helpful when navigating sand-storms.
I like the Q7s looks the best.
I’d go with the Q7… depending on what trim level he can get with the money.
I don’t know what trim levels are available in China, but if it’s similar to here (we’re practically next door neighbors…), then the 3.0 is going to be woefully specced. Bigger inside than the previous X5, but the 3.0s tend to be pretty basic.
If he’s looking at a big SUV, I doubt he’s looking for something great to drive… just something luxurious.
Do they import the V10 Touareg? If so, that’s the one to rattle the hutong in, rollin on 26’s of course.
Thanks, guys. I discussed your finding with my buddy. He sends you a heartfelt “xie xie” (thank you) for all your help.
He especially likes the Q7 recommendation: “Ah, my father-in-law drives one of those.” That’ll give him a lot of face at home.
For the master race theorists: His current car is Japanese.