Daihatsu Satisfies Germans

Daihatsu has been named the top manufacturer in this year’s German J D Power Vehicle Ownership Satisfaction Study. Daihatsu scored 843 points out of a possible 1000 – scoring particularly well for service satisfaction and ownership costs – and beat Alfa Romeo and Mercedes-Benz (835 points each), BMW (834), Audi and Toyota (831 each).

The industry average score was 814, and several manufacturers struggled to get anywhere near that. The worst performer was smart on 772 points, followed by Chevrolet on 775, Fiat on 778 and Kia, Peugeot and Vauxhall/Opel all on 790.

The Daihatsu Sirion (pictured) was the highest scorer in the Small Car category. Other category winners were the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and CLK-Class, the Toyota Aygo and Corolla, the Renault Laguna, the Skoda Roomster and the Nissan Qashqai.

Overall, the top-scoring car was the Mercedes CLK-Class (pictured), followed by the BMW Z4, the Nissan Qashqai and, tied in fourth place, the Mercedes E-Class and Renault Laguna.

Eagle-eyed readers will have spotted that there has been no mention so far of Lexus, which was recently named top manufacturer in the UK J D Power survey for the ninth consecutive year (see separate story). The reason is that the survey does ignores brands below a certain sample size, and Lexus, along with Chrysler, Land Rover, Porsche (yes, really), Saab and Subaru all failed to make the cut.

Daihatsu Satisfies Germans | Road Tests, Auto Features

The "expression of joy" advert featuring the blue BMW Z4 making paint trails with it’s wheels has been banned in Australia.

"BMW has been running an international television commercial in most major markets across the globe since the launch of its new Z4 roadster.

However the TV advert, which depicts a Z4 convertible driving around inside a warehouse with paint on its wheels, has drawn two complaints in Australia and has been subsequently removed.

The first complaint reads: "I would like to make a complain (sic) about and advertisement on Channel 9 screened on 12 May 09. I am referring to the BMW car advertisement that I believe would encourage car "Hoons" to spin and burn their tyres on public roads. You will have to see the full add to understand my complaint and argument. I have already complained to Channel 9."

The second complaint reads: "This is a formal complaint regarding the BMW Z4. It appeared over the weekend on Foxtel. The vehicle is shown doing 4-wheel drifts (sustained loss of traction). You can see the tyre marks in red in the second image. This is a very serious driving offence in all Australian jurisdictions. The offense attracts heavy penalties and Demerit Points."

Australia is the only television market in the world where the advert has been banned, a fact that BMW Australia’s PR & Corporate Communications Manager Toni Andreevski said was not surprising, considering that it only takes one complaint to force the Advertising Standards Bureau to take action.

Andreevski said he believed the banning of the advert on Australian television was an "overreaction", adding that BMW has a strong history of driver training in Australia."

BMW advert banned ? Car Reviews, News & Advice – CarPoint Australia