Is that the case, or is it that if people buy a 'premium' brand their expectations are so much higher, so they're more prone to complain ?

I think a lot of the problems with premium brand cars are when people buy them at 8-12 years old, but still expect perfection !

I've run lots of different makes of cars over the years, including Rover, Volvo, BMW, Audi, Range Rover, Merc, TVR, Vauxhall, Subaru ... and a few more. In all that time, I've had 1 breakdown, off an ancient Cavalier that the engine finally failed on. But I paid £700 for it, and the scrappie gave me £100, and I ran it for 2 years. The rest of my motoring has been largely trouble-free, with a few minor faults - but (and here's the really important bit) - when those minor faults happened I got them fixed before they bacame major faults.

I don't intend to respond to any of the posts that are generated by this but I will read them all with interest.

That's a different attitude.

I don't intend to respond to any of the posts that are generated by this but I will read them all with interest.

I read your question with interest, but