yea quite interesting indeed.
my friend initially bought a 88 560sel at that time when I had posted. He then later on sold that and got a 99 S500.
While he liked driving both, and he does own a lexus LS400 and 740IL, he claimed that the mercedes was quite boring to drive at it didnt have the kind of "kick" the lexus and bimmer provide with yet lesser engines than the s500.
oh and ofcourse not to mention the gazillion trips he had to make to the mercedes service dealer trying to keep the S500 in running condition. and while he did, and it snows in NJ, keeping the beast going straight in snow was yet another hassle !