https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=679247220890356&id=100064152517154&set=a.436206195194461

I treat them both as equals.

From personal usage, I've found that Japanese
kitchen knives are superior to German made, at
least the way I use them.

My German Zwilling chef's knife simply doesn't
hold an edge like my Japanese-made kiritsuke knife,
but the German knives are certainly more robust.  All
Japanese chef's knives can chip very easily, if for
example you unwittingly hit a bone in meat.

I think with German-made vehicles, you're paying
a price premium for the word "German".  One of
my mates bought a brand new 4-door E30,  and
within a couple of months, the finish on the entire
bonnet was crazed.

Of course he had it refinished under warranty, and
the reason was that the bonnet had "missed"(?) being
clear coated!

AusGeoff wrote on Dec 17^th, 2023 at 1:23pm:

From personal usage, I've found that Japanese kitchen knives are superior to German made, at least the way I use them. My German Zwilling chef's knife simply doesn't hold an edge like my Japanese-made kiritsuke knife, but the German knives are certainly more robust.  All Japanese chef's knives can chip very easily, if for example you unwittingly hit a bone in meat. I think with German-made vehicles, you're paying a price premium for the word "German".  One of my mates bought a brand new 4-door E30,  and within a couple of months, the finish on the entire bonnet was crazed. Of course he had it refinished under warranty, and the reason was that the bonnet had "missed"(?) being clear coated!

yes, my Japanese knives are far better than german ones.
They are sharpened on a finer angle and need different stones to sharpen them, that is how much better they are. I have a mix of Tojiro and Yaxell.
Funnily enough, have a Mundial boning knife (Brazillian), it's quite ok. Wiltshire are quite ok too.
Have sharpened friends german knives, very similar grade steel  to wiltshire, only heavier.

Sprintcyclist wrote on Dec 17^th, 2023 at 9:17am:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=679247220890356&id=100064152517154&set=a.436206195194461

Not a fair comparison Sprint.

Inline 4cyl with 2 camshafts is always going to be simpler than a V motor with quad cams for timing chain.Gear driven cams in V motor is better option.

Honda engines have won for the last couple of years in Formula 1 they ended Mercedes domination.

Typical V6 engines can (generally) produce more torque at a lower
RPM than turbocharged I4s.The best engine configuration is a boxer.

AusGeoff wrote on Mar 4^th, 2024 at 8:01am:

Typical V6 engines can (generally) produce more torque at a lower RPM than turbocharged I4s.The best engine configuration is a boxer.

Boxers are better balanced, low centre of gravity.
Complex engine, less reliable than an I4, higher maintenance costs, shorter life.

One example of German engineering that I was unfortunate enough to work on was a packaging machine.
Superbly built and finished.
However there was a problem with some internal actuators, rods, levers and bearings and they had to be replaced, simple job no problems; until we actually started.
The bearing blocks were held by screws that entered from the outside of the body that was superbly finished in perfectly smooth glossy enamel and over the screw heads as well.
Careful measurements ensured that we found the right spots [with reference to the new bits] then we found that the Allen screws had had their heads filled with a hard filler, more time lost.
By comparison the very similar Japanese and American machines had a rougher finish but access to all parts and they worked just as well.

The company never bought any more German machines if they could avoid them.

Another bit on German engineering; the company bought a comprehensive set of general purpose spanners and sockets by a leading German maker.
They were superb in both finish and tolerances, so good and true to the International Standards that they would not fit most commercial nuts and bolts, the Company ended up buying Australian ‘Sidchrome’ which was a very useful product, the German stuff was unused and I later bought it for a fraction of its cost price
I used it on machine tools where it came in very useful because of the close tolerances.

Sir Eoin O Fada wrote on Apr 14^th, 2025 at 8:41pm:

Another bit on German engineering; the company bought a comprehensive set of general purpose spanners and sockets by a leading German maker. They were superb in both finish and tolerances, so good and true to the International Standards that they would not fit most commercial nuts and bolts, the Company ended up buying Australian ‘Sidchrome’ which was a very useful product, the German stuff was unused and I later bought it for a fraction of its cost price I used it on machine tools where it came in very useful because of the close tolerances.

Sidchrome spanners and sockets are too thick to get into tight spots -

you have to grind them down on a bench grinder.   ::)

Bobby. wrote on Apr 14^th, 2025 at 8:44pm:

Sir Eoin O Fada wrote on Apr 14th, 2025 at 8:41pm: Another bit on German engineering; the company bought a comprehensive set of general purpose spanners and sockets by a leading German maker. They were superb in both finish and tolerances, so good and true to the International Standards that they would not fit most commercial nuts and bolts, the Company ended up buying Australian ‘Sidchrome’ which was a very useful product, the German stuff was unused and I later bought it for a fraction of its cost price I used it on machine tools where it came in very useful because of the close tolerances. Sidchrome spanners and sockets are too thick to get into tight spots - you have to grind them down on a bench grinder.   ::)

Granted, but that’s a small problem.

Sir Eoin O Fada wrote on Jul 13^th, 2024 at 10:00am:

One example of German engineering that I was unfortunate enough to work on was a packaging machine. Superbly built and finished. However there was a problem with some internal actuators, rods, levers and bearings and they had to be replaced, simple job no problems; until we actually started. The bearing blocks were held by screws that entered from the outside of the body that was superbly finished in perfectly smooth glossy enamel and over the screw heads as well. Careful measurements ensured that we found the right spots [with reference to the new bits] then we found that the Allen screws had had their heads filled with a hard filler, more time lost. By comparison the very similar Japanese and American machines had a rougher finish but access to all parts and they worked just as well. The company never bought any more German machines if they could avoid them.

hahah, that is typical classic german engineering.
Beautiful to look at and use. Has some serious overengineering 'flaws' once it gets a few years old.

How was the american stuff? I have found it to be be very good.
Robust, durable, overly tough. Can hit it with a hammer and it will still work well.

Sir Eoin O Fada wrote on Apr 14^th, 2025 at 8:57pm:

Bobby. wrote on Apr 14th, 2025 at 8:44pm: Sir Eoin O Fada wrote on Apr 14th, 2025 at 8:41pm: Another bit on German engineering; the company bought a comprehensive set of general purpose spanners and sockets by a leading German maker. They were superb in both finish and tolerances, so good and true to the International Standards that they would not fit most commercial nuts and bolts, the Company ended up buying Australian ‘Sidchrome’ which was a very useful product, the German stuff was unused and I later bought it for a fraction of its cost price I used it on machine tools where it came in very useful because of the close tolerances. Sidchrome spanners and sockets are too thick to get into tight spots - you have to grind them down on a bench grinder.   ::) Granted, but that’s a small problem.

It can take 30 minutes to grind one down.    :-/

Sprintcyclist wrote on Apr 21^st, 2025 at 3:57pm:

Sir Eoin O Fada wrote on Jul 13th, 2024 at 10:00am: One example of German engineering that I was unfortunate enough to work on was a packaging machine. Superbly built and finished. However there was a problem with some internal actuators, rods, levers and bearings and they had to be replaced, simple job no problems; until we actually started. The bearing blocks were held by screws that entered from the outside of the body that was superbly finished in perfectly smooth glossy enamel and over the screw heads as well. Careful measurements ensured that we found the right spots [with reference to the new bits] then we found that the Allen screws had had their heads filled with a hard filler, more time lost. By comparison the very similar Japanese and American machines had a rougher finish but access to all parts and they worked just as well. The company never bought any more German machines if they could avoid them. hahah, that is typical classic german engineering. Beautiful to look at and use. Has some serious overengineering 'flaws' once it gets a few years old. How was the american stuff? I have found it to be be very good. Robust, durable, overly tough. Can hit it with a hammer and it will still work well.

You’re spot on with the US sruff, and a pleasure to work on when the time comes.
Probably just a bit better than Japanese machines to work on.

Bobby. wrote on Apr 21^st, 2025 at 4:33pm:

Sir Eoin O Fada wrote on Apr 14th, 2025 at 8:57pm: Bobby. wrote on Apr 14th, 2025 at 8:44pm: Sir Eoin O Fada wrote on Apr 14th, 2025 at 8:41pm: Another bit on German engineering; the company bought a comprehensive set of general purpose spanners and sockets by a leading German maker. They were superb in both finish and tolerances, so good and true to the International Standards that they would not fit most commercial nuts and bolts, the Company ended up buying Australian ‘Sidchrome’ which was a very useful product, the German stuff was unused and I later bought it for a fraction of its cost price I used it on machine tools where it came in very useful because of the close tolerances. Sidchrome spanners and sockets are too thick to get into tight spots - you have to grind them down on a bench grinder.   ::) Granted, but that’s a small problem. It can take 30 minutes to grind one down.    :-/

Make thar five minutes on a decent wheel.