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  #1  
Old 03-16-2008, 07:42 PM
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Old Top Gear Lexus review...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4N8hiUZL6gk&feature=related

And that car is exactly why MB and BMW started to go wrong. MB overshot it with the W140, then they pulled back and cheapened the W220 up to try and match it. Then they tried to stick a lot of electronic crap in there cars because Lexus did. Now they are fighting this stupid 7 or 8 speed transmission battle with them.

The MB costed more because it was a better built car. For example the Lexus used plastic interior bits, MB's were aluminum covered in foam and vinyle. The average person can't tell the difference, but there is a difference.

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Old 03-16-2008, 08:07 PM
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I agree...I have a Toyota Supra (Toyota's flagship model) that is from around the same time as the LS400...and while it is reliable (over 220,000 miles) it just isn't built as solidly as the Mercedes, or BMW, or Jaguar. It sort of "flops around" alot...kinda hard to explain, but it just doesn't feel like it was carved out of a solid piece of granite like the Mercedes does.
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  #3  
Old 03-16-2008, 08:44 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by johnathan1 View Post
I agree...I have a Toyota Supra (Toyota's flagship model) that is from around the same time as the LS400...and while it is reliable (over 220,000 miles) it just isn't built as solidly as the Mercedes, or BMW, or Jaguar. It sort of "flops around" alot...kinda hard to explain, but it just doesn't feel like it was carved out of a solid piece of granite like the Mercedes does.
The luxury cars you are referring to probably have an extra 500 pounds of body reinforcement which gives them a better ride... naturally at the cost of a bit of performance.

That 80's LS sure was a boring looking car. The new ones look much better than the German sedans now IMO. Less of those body creases everywhere everyone seems so fond of using nowadays.
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  #4  
Old 03-16-2008, 08:57 PM
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I agree this is where Mercedes started to lose their way.

But it's not an excuse, nor is it the "fault" of Lexus. (Note - not saying that's what you mean. Just making a point.)

There is no reason why the Germans should not be able to build a vehicle with electronics as reliable as the Japanese at a similar price point. None. Nada. I have not owned one of these cars (recent Germans) but what I have read is shameful and unacceptable.

I will never believe it costs less to build a car in Japan. If MB, BMW, Audi, et. al. charge moderately premium prices to the Japanese on account of more solid body structure, etc. that is fine. But the gap in electrics is absolutely ridiculous.
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  #5  
Old 03-16-2008, 09:03 PM
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Well the Japanese are good at electronics, they are playing to their strength.
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Old 03-16-2008, 09:10 PM
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Heven't we been here already?
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  #7  
Old 03-16-2008, 09:17 PM
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I remember seeing this issue when it first came out. The glass of water on the engine cover still impresses me.
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  #8  
Old 03-16-2008, 09:52 PM
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Originally Posted by alabbasi View Post
I remember seeing this issue when it first came out. The glass of water on the engine cover still impresses me.
Me too. I'd try that with my 123's, but I don't feel like breaking a glass.

I drove an LS400 once. It was a customer's car and I just got to pull it out of the shop and park it, but I remember thinking it had a similar "feel" to the Lincoln Town Car I was driving at the time.
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  #9  
Old 03-17-2008, 06:01 PM
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Originally Posted by Skippy View Post
Me too. I'd try that with my 123's, but I don't feel like breaking a glass.

I drove an LS400 once. It was a customer's car and I just got to pull it out of the shop and park it, but I remember thinking it had a similar "feel" to the Lincoln Town Car I was driving at the time.
I dated a girl with an LS400 once. Nice back seat.
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  #10  
Old 03-17-2008, 06:06 PM
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Maybe the Germans ARE buying Japanese electronics.. All the rejected stuff...
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  #11  
Old 03-17-2008, 06:08 PM
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Today I drove (city) an '01 LS430 with 98k miles. It looked like a 40k mile car. The engine was very quiet and smooth, too much however -- I could hear the tires through the rear doors. Nice car, but it felt like an oversized Camry with a big V8.

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