00:00Who's more passionate about their vehicles, Germans or Americans?
00:04Do they express their passion in the same way?
00:07What are some of the notable differences in car ownership?
00:11And what does your car say about you?
00:15As an American living in Germany, I wanted to get some answers to these questions.
00:21So I turned to Charlie Felder, an American working with cars in Berlin, Mieke Hahn, a
00:27German car collector and manager of Classic Remesa in Dusseldorf, and Marcus Keller, also
00:33a German car collector and a major Cadillac fan.
00:37Charlie, who's the prouder car owner, Americans or Germans?
00:44We'll get to his answer later, but first, Charlie is also an American living in Berlin
00:49for over 20 years.
00:51His business is cars, so he understands both perspectives very well.
00:56In the States, you can pimp, we call it pimping our rides.
01:00You can pimp your rides with lighting under the vehicle.
01:03You've got lowriders in California, hydraulic systems where the cars bounce.
01:13This is a part of their character.
01:14This is a part of their style, their lifestyle, and it's very American.
01:21Let's talk about the size of these cars.
01:24Why are American cars so big?
01:27Well, Americans, they drive great distances.
01:31And you need a car that's going to carry your things.
01:34If you have three kids, you've got football practice, soccer practice, baseball practice.
01:39Like my friend Lisa, who needs her big SUV for all of those reasons.
01:44Hi guys, Lisa out here over in Kentucky, and you guys love my car.
01:48I love the fact that I can seat seven people, that I can get places safely, and I have tons
01:53of room for children and friends and all the sports items.
01:58But my German friend Nicholas, who lives in Berlin, also loves his big car.
02:03He's a DJ and says he needs it to haul around all of his equipment.
02:11I was always laughing about American cars because they are so simply done, until I found
02:17out that exactly this simpleness makes it trustful and going far.
02:24So for him, who's the prouder car owner, Germans or Americans?
02:28I'm afraid Germans.
02:30In Germany, you can easily go by public traffic normally, but each and every German needs
02:37a fancy car to show up towards his neighbors.
02:42One of those fancy car owners is collector Markus Keller, who has a passion for Cadillacs.
02:50So how did this come about?
02:53First of all, my classic Cadillac got me into the history of the brand, which is awesome.
02:59They had automatic dimming headlights, they had cruise control, they had automatic heating
03:06adjustments, all kinds of stuff that the German car industry invented like 30 years
03:13later.
03:14Why are you such a huge Cadillac fan?
03:16You know, I work in the classic car business.
03:18To be honest, I need a car to stand out.
03:20So if you have a BMW, if you have a Mercedes, if you have an Audi, you're always in a draw.
03:26With a Cadillac, it kind of symbolizes this guy is nuts.
03:31For me personally, owning a big American car in Germany is too expensive and not very practical.
03:38And low maintenance is key for me.
03:41Actually, this car that I have now, my little black mini, is a replacement for my beautiful
03:47black Mazda SUV, which was stolen.
03:51Talk about heartbreak.
03:54I got this car afterwards because in a big city like Berlin, this is the best vehicle
04:01to have to find a parking spot.
04:05I turn now to my next expert, Mika Hahn, for more insight.
04:09He's center manager of Classic Remise in DĂĽsseldorf.
04:16It's a hub for classic and luxury car sales.
04:19In your experience, how are Germans regarding their cars?
04:23I think Germans are proud about their cars because the Germans invented the car.
04:30Yes, in fact, Germans did invent the modern automobile.
04:33Carl Benz is credited with building the first Benz patent motorwagen in 1885.
04:39Over 20 years later, the Model T was introduced by American inventor Henry Ford, making cars
04:45affordable and accessible to the masses.
04:49Germans are more into speed.
04:51They're more into zero to 100 in, you know, three seconds.
04:57Which I also experienced when I went over 200 kilometers per hour for my report about
05:01the German Autobahn.
05:02Anyway, that's what I'm talking about, the fun is over.
05:10Germany has a lot of regulations.
05:11For example, a lowrider would not be accepted on a public road in Germany.
05:16They can't put lighting under their vehicles.
05:19No, there's a lot of limitations.
05:23So basically, they invest a lot in tuning as far as performance is concerned.
05:28All right, let's talk about gas prices today.
05:31Does this play a role in the kind of cars the Germans drive?
05:36On one side, yes.
05:37On the other side, no.
05:38Because we've seen an increase in fuel prices in Germany, but people don't drive slower.
05:44So driving is a part of freedom.
05:47Germany, it's the only country in Europe that doesn't have a speed limit on the Autobahn.
05:51And if you take this away, it's like taking away a part of their freedom.
05:54Now it's time for a little car psychology to find out what a car might say about its
05:59owner.
06:03What does this truck say about someone?
06:05I think it's a strong character.
06:07This is hippie flower power time.
06:10This is high class, enjoying the life.
06:12Porsche 911, a true German legend.
06:16And this one?
06:17This reminds me of Timo Mäkinen, who drove the real Mini Cooper on the Rallye Monte Carlo.
06:25And what does it mean for a German to own a Mercedes?
06:29Well, it used to be a status symbol.
06:33That declined, I think, in the 80s and 90s when they built smaller models, like the 190
06:40and then the A-Class, B-Class.
06:43So of course, they lost a bit of the status.
06:47But for Americans, to own a Mercedes means something completely different.
06:51Well, for Americans, it means that you've made it.
06:55You've arrived.
06:56You're successful.
06:57And my friend Jen, a small business owner, can confirm that.
07:01Hi, my name is Jen, and I'm from Florida.
07:03And this is Felicia, my Mercedes, which I absolutely love for so many reasons, including
07:09she rides so smooth.
07:11She has amazing lights inside that change as you customize her.
07:15The interior is absolutely gorgeous.
07:18And not only is it two-row, but there's a magical three-row in the back.
07:21And storage is phenomenal for the ladies who like to go to the store without their husbands
07:25and bring some surprise things home.
07:28So, who's the prouder car owner?
07:31It's actually a tough call.
07:32Personally, I prefer to have a German car when I'm in Germany because I like cars that
07:38perform well on the road.
07:40And when I'm in the U.S., then do as the Americans do.
07:44What does your car say about you?
07:46Auf Wiedersehen!
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