Small, anectdotal evidence of German fit/finish. My old roommate had a Jetta she bought new. We were roommates for over 5 years. The car didn’t break down – but pieces would randomly fall off. The trim pieces on the outside would fall off – sometimes causing a hazard as they could get wrapped up in the wheels/axles etc. Not fun on roadtrips. It didn’t break down.. just had pieces fall of bit by bit.
My honda civic was as peppy as her jetta… but that might have had more to do with my honda being a stick, vs her automatic.
