Originally Posted by rossa

Audi have actually won the award for the highest quality build, with all their exterior panels lining up to 2-3mm (thats about 1/10th of an inch). BMW is a drivers car, designed mainly for the driver, and they handle very well. Mercedes are more of a luxury car (old mans car they call them) though they do make some insane vehicles such as the C63 AMG, great value for only 55k in the states, whereas here in Australia it will set you up for a 140k bill to foot. Audi are very nice cars though, but what you should really do when looking to buy one is go and see the quality for yourself, if interior panels are out of line, if the dash feels good when you touch it, if panels line up nicely. BMW/Audi/Mercedes will all be of much higher quality than any American built car (no offence, us aussies cant build much better either), and most japanese cars.

Mercedes used to be the best built car in the 80's, since daimler took over though, they did go down hill immensely, but in the late have brought back their rap with quality and are building some very decent vehicles, well those built in germany anyway.