Bangle seems to be bungling *** big time at the mo, and this is the danger of being succsesful - it leads the likes of them toward complacency, which could be their downfall. Regardless of build quality and the like, if all the German players are getting aloof (and it seems they are) then tastes and opinions could change without them being aware.
The only underrated German car was the Ro80-I know the engine bankrupted NSU, and led to many owners installing even the likes of the awful Ford V4 (even the Transit of the time had that) just so they can have a reliable lump insuch a wonderful car. Even today, it's ghost lingers on in the shape of the larger Audi's. It certainly was, along with the Mini, one of the "Cars of the century" IMHO.