Am I crazy - or is a Lexus a good car - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

tivoliman · #1 06-21-2007, 11:35 AM

Time to think of buying a new car.

A 2003 Lexus LS430 is available. Looks and rides nice - not cheap, but less than a comparable S-Class.

It's a nice car....

I am an avid Mercedes driver.

So tell me why I shouldn't buy the Lexus? Do they last? The Lexus may have fewer repair visits.

Your thoughts please.

truckinik · #2 06-21-2007, 11:39 AM

Good car...Yes.

It is made by Toyota, and will last forever as a result.

Do you want to go Japanese though..?

Never get me in one, same goes for Acura, and Infinity, and every other Jap car out there. Course, a lot of people swear by them though. I guess it all comes down to personal preference in the end..

TX76513 · #3 06-21-2007, 11:41 AM

Not trying to provoke and "apples and oranges" fight I believe they are good cars. My brother-in-law bought a 92 new and still drives it daily. I don't recall any nightmares he has had. Like any car, if the maintenance is kept up you can make them last. Abused vehicles break down more often.

Zeus · #4 06-21-2007, 11:44 AM

It is a nice car, no doubt.

What bugs me about Lexus is just how much they have copied Mercedes. I can't remember all the times I've seen a Mercedes in the distance, only to get closer and realize it is a Lexus.

When something copies something so closely, it says something about the copier and what is being copied, doesn't it?

I'll stick with the original, flaws and all.

truckinik · #5 06-21-2007, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeus

It is a nice car, no doubt.

What bugs me about Lexus is just how much they have copied Mercedes. I can't remember all the times I've seen a Mercedes in the distance, only to get closer and realize it is a Lexus.

When something copies something so closely, it says something about the copier and what is being copied, doesn't it?

I'll stick with the original, flaws and all.

Yes, the Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 motorcycle I have is a great example of that.
It was the bike that Harley actually sued, and beat Kawasaki, for mimiking the Fat-Boy, so closely, with everything, including the Harley sound. Pretty cool, because even the emblem, on the tank matches the one on the tank of the Fat-Boy. I have one of each, so I see the similarities when they are next to each other.

Harley won the lawsuit, for everything except for their claim on the sound. The courts said that they could not patent the sound. Kawasaki changed the bikes as a result..

suginami · #6 06-21-2007, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by truckinik

Do you want to go Jap though..?

Here we go again.

Is "Jap" the only racial epithet that people feel they are still allowed to freely use?

Can we refer to Japanese cars without calling them "Jap" cars?

My family is half Japanese. The term "Jap" is offensive.

Zeus · #7 06-21-2007, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by suginami

Here we go again.

Is "Jap" the only racial epithet that people feel they are still allowed to freely use?

Can we refer to Japanese cars without calling them "Jap" cars?

My family is half Japanese. The term "Jap" is offensive.

Fair enough, post edited.

Jim B. · #8 06-21-2007, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeus

It is a nice car, no doubt.

What bugs me about Lexus is just how much they have copied Mercedes. I can't remember all the times I've seen a Mercedes in the distance, only to get closer and realize it is a Lexus.

When something copies something so closely, it says something about the copier and what is being copied, doesn't it?

I'll stick with the original, flaws and all.

That is so true, Chris. Those LS430 Lexus sedans really do look like well massaged W140 sedans. They don't look quite as chiseled as the Mercedes, but to me they are very covetable, in fact the only Japanese cars that are.

They seem to be another case of taking a vey good idea andmaking it better;
no question about it, its derivative style flatters Mercedes very much.

I have driven one of them and they are truly impressive cruisers, and they really cosset you with luxury, and look beautifully stiched together. They aren't meant to be driven with verve though, like you could with a Mercedes 140, or a BMW 7 series. They do lack character, involvement and soul, though.

But, they are near bulletproof in quality and durability, and their near horizontal depreciation reflects this. Good ones still can appear in the upper $30k range for sale. Not bad for a car that cost about $60k when new.

I doubt they would be as safe in a severe accident as a big Mercedes though, but other than that, they are just about as good a way to get from here to there while looking and feeling good as you could find.

To the original poster, I can't think of any real reason not to buy one, if you like it. They won't disappoint, and they look a lot nicer than the current ones, or even the original LS400. Big comfortable highway haulers always appealed to me, and this model is one of the very very best ones that has emerged in recent years.

The one I about swooned over was a new one in Black Cherry.

GottaDiesel · #9 06-21-2007, 01:03 PM

Toyota quality and Lexus quality are two different things IMHO -- I looked at a bunch of Toyotas... and Honda is far better. Lexus quality if far ahead of Benz.

Gurkha · #10 06-21-2007, 01:09 PM

Lexus is generally a very good brand of cars from Toyota, you will never regret buying them, they serve you very well, reliable and refined with long life to boot.

Zeus · #11 06-21-2007, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim B.

That is so true, Chris. Those LS430 Lexus sedans really do look like well massaged W140 sedans. They don't look quite as chiseled as the Mercedes, but to me they are very covetable, in fact the only Japanese cars that are.

Agreed. There is an LS430 that usually parks near me where I work. I'll park beside him in my E430 and compare them. It's a big car, with bigger stock wheels (something Mercedes has only recently upped their ante on, finally).

I also noticed the interior of the Lexus is more sumptuous. Not sure what year/options this one has, but it has a wood and leather wheel (should be standard on Mercedes) and other wood/leather appointments inside that make my E430 somewhat more utilitarian looking.

Overall, however, I prefer the look of my Mercedes, especially the front! To me, the headlights of the Lexus betray its origins!

BENZ-LGB · #12 06-21-2007, 01:42 PM

I fyou like the toyota...er, I mean the Lexus, you should go ahead and buy it.

You will never, however, see ads for Lexus like the ad below:

SL Moments

Mistress · #13 06-21-2007, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeus

It is a nice car, no doubt.

What bugs me about Lexus is just how much they have copied Mercedes. I can't remember all the times I've seen a Mercedes in the distance, only to get closer and realize it is a Lexus.

When something copies something so closely, it says something about the copier and what is being copied, doesn't it?

I'll stick with the original, flaws and all.

I pledge alegiance to Mercedes Benz....