Impressions from clublexus.com - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

dieseldude · #1 01-14-2003, 11:39 PM

After surfing around a bit a looking into what makes a site like clublexus tick, here are my intial and anecdotal observations for you perusal and amusement:

1.) Threads regarding MB vs. Lexus seem to center around the percieved prestige (and the quality of life that they impress upon others) of the brands, rather than performance or depreciation/overall value. Next to no DIY'ers seem present. You would also extrapolate from responses that Benz-owners (W140 and W220 owners in particular), spend half the year in a poor-excuse-for-a-loaner while their car's getting worked on in the shop at extortionate shop rates. This, from all the reports I've read, has some truth to it.

2.) Most threads on any model (except the LS and RX forums) are very tuner-orientend and dare I say, have a distinctly 'rice-boy' feel. In particular, suspension upgrades to take the softness away from the handling charateristics. Lots of large chrome-wheels being shown-off as well.

3.) They _are_ passionate about their cars (which I always commend), but I had a hard time finding many intelligent responses as to WHY other than "cuz it's a sweet ride" - no John Shellenburg's, Tracy's, Larry Bible's, or Tcane's (or numerous other gifted writers I'm forgetting) that I've found yet.
Seriously, 'cuz' is used more times than you'd think for such an upscale marque and what one would think are 'upper-crust' owners (Not that internet-speak isn't seen here, but 'cuz'? Come on, there are places where you do reveal your IQ by diluting your online grammer to single syllable grunts and snorts)

Overall a very well-run site and dedicated to it's fanbase. But overall I get the impression that there's some soul missing. Kinda like the cars themselves. Lexus have always been 'isolation chambers' (albiet nice ones), with distinctly appliance like feel to them and somewhat bland in feel (design ripoffs aside) when compared to MB's. No offense intened to any Lexus owners - they do make a fine product and they are to be applauded for their quality and reliability, but this is afterall a Mercedes-Benz forum

...and I'm just glad to be a part of such a refined, discerning group (well, most of the time) of individuals here

Regards,
- Ryan

jsmith · #2 01-15-2003, 01:41 PM

the ambience is definitely different. they were very helpful though when i was researching the gs3's & gs4's...

pentoman · #3 01-17-2003, 05:28 AM

Heh.. interesting to hear all that.. and kinda what I expected too.

SHYNE · #4 01-17-2003, 01:08 PM

A lot of the people on that forum can be grouped into 2 categories;

1) Driving "daddy's car" (parental owned)

or

2) Cheap-skates (people who always make decisions based upon "price" and "value" alone)

The slang is from the "thugs" driving parents cars around, acting out, and thinking they are something special.

The "value" people are always those people who buy things on sale or special. I hate these people because they try and convince me not to buy what I want because of price and price only....

What a crappy way to live life....never enjoying things you really want because you think the price is too much or because you are a sucker for the stupid concept of VALUE....

Mike McKinney

The Warden · #5 01-17-2003, 05:51 PM

I don't hang around the g@$ Benz forums much, but from what you've described as compared to the DIesel Discussion board here, I can think of one crucial difference.

On at least the older diesels, DIY work is feasible. Having looked under the hoods of Lexuses at auto shows, it looks to be very difficult for a do-it-yourselfer to do any work on the engine, with the possible exception of oil changes and MAYBE s$@&k p%$g changes. It's like they purposefully made it more difficult to get to various components (at least partially in the name of making the engine compartment look more appealing

). There's also the major factor of needing a diagnostic computer to do very much work on any computerized engines.

BTW, speaking personally, I have no intention of ever owning a Lexus. With the type of leather they use (I don't know why, but this is an issue with every Japanese car I've ever sat in, but I've never had this problem on any American or German vehicle), I can't stand the smell of the interior, and except the LS400/LS430, I can't fit in any of their cars. Besides, they aren't offering a diesel version

Just my $.02...