Waiting to get into traffic from an alley onto a busy street in Eugene Oregon today the driver of a late model Lexus stopped to let me out. My question is is this Mercedes envy or pity that I drive a twenty year old car......
William Rogers....
74 240 D
81 SD
81 454 2wd blazer hot rod toy.....

envy


your car will last another 20 years, the Lexus, 5-10 depending on the maintinence and if it plows into the back of a 18 wheeler on the freeway cause the driver was pressing buttons on their cellphone.

On Sunday I actually saw a Lexus where the guy was driving at a good 80 mph clip while holding the cellphone up next to the steering wheel trying to read the screen and dial the number, obviously unaware that there were cars around him.

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2005 Audi A4 1.8T CVT -Silver/Black "Siegfried"

1982 300D - Silver/Blue "Ralph" -For Sale:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?p=852260

1989 VW Diesel Jetta Blue/Blue "Bodo" RIP

Regarding the cell phone stuff... TONS of Mercedes and BMW drivers do the same. So do people in large luxury SUV's. Actually, I've seen it happen in all vehicles. Doesn't really make much a difference.

And maybe he let you in because he was just being nice.

Yes, the possibility exists that he was just a polite guy who happened to be handicapped by driving an overweight Toyota.

Have a great day,

Okay, this is turning into the Usenet groups, where it has been so pompus for so long! Nothing wrong with a Lexus car, they are fine machines, but much different than a Merc. I got news for you, a Lexus is a pretty simple car. Being an overweight Toyota is not a bad thing. It's a great product, and I feel they have attained plenty of panache in such a short while. We're talking legendary reliability and durability with none of the fuss of complex German engineering. (Let face it, an older Merc, even maintained to the hilt, can be like a diaper patient at times...) A Lexus is a super car, albeit not as strong as a Merc, they age gracefully and have great re-sale. Just remember, plenty of jerks drive Mercedes Benzes. Plenty!

He let you out as a sign of respect! After all, his car is a cheap Mercedes knock-off!! LOL!

Well.....I am not sure knock off is the word.....but I will agree that Lexus was after the same market weh they came onto the scene.....but it seems it worked....as MB has sharpened their pencil and are building cars to a competitive price point....don't think many people(no matter how much money they had) could justify the 30K price difference in a 420SEL and a LS400 in 1990...and from what I have seen the Lexus cars are holding up....I have seeen several older cars on the road that appear to be in great condition......partner that with the cars reputation for reliability.....maybe a win win situation?...the only negative thing I can say about the cars ,of the early 90's anyway, was that the ride was way too soft for my tastes...but then again I know people who swear by a BMW ride/drive over a MB


Warren
1992 300SD 126K
Columbus Ohio

Well, I guess there must be a bunch of jerks that frequent this site, since most people here drive MB's.

Sincerely,
Jerk # 1

Well, I'm not getting involved in the "jerk" debate - I think there are many more qualified people available for that discussion. BTW, I *always* let other cars in - it's simply polite, and let's remember the roads are a shared resource; no one of us owns them.

I'll take exception to the Lexus not depreciating comment. Say what you will about the car itself, they are still much more expensive to own than an MB simply because they depreciate so much. A co-worker of mine drives a 1996 LS400. He bought it used three years ago for $35K. He's getting ready to trade it in, as the three year warranty is about to expire. He's looking at a $15K tradein. Ouch.

As for the car itself, I've never understood why folks are so taken with Lexus. Yes, it's solid and very reliable. But that's the only good I can think of to say about it. The interior of even the LS400 is quite "plasticy." The A, B, and C-pillars are all plastic. Lots of plastic on the door panels and elsewhere as well. The only wood is surrounding the shift lever. The only fabric is the carpet and headliner. The interior of the LS400 is less plush than an E-class, let alone an S-class.

I also really don't care for the design (or lack thereof) of Toyota/Lexus products. Things like flat black plastic panels to house the radio/climate controls in the LS400. And what's with having LCD display for the climate and LED for the clock, directly above it? Don't their interior designers talk to one another? Or do they shop at different suppliers? Or do they just like their cars to look as if they were built at radio shack?

OK, this is turning into a rant, so I'm gonna shut it down. But one last thing first. I know everyone thinks the instrument lighting in Lexi is sooo cool. My first thought was - night blindness. That thing is so bright, I don't see how you can drive at night. Instruments should be as dim as possible, but no dimmer. MB has the right idea here. The better you can see the instruments, the less well you can see the road. I know which one is more important to me.

- JCY

In this day and age, I'd like to believe the guy was just being nice to you. People do that.

My two cents on the Lexus v. Mercedes debate is that while the Lexus may not drive as well as a Mercedes (although they are tuned for different demographic buyers), there's little to fault about Lexus who has bulit up a reputation for infallable reliability, curtious service and support, fuss free operation, and technical innovation in ONLY 15 or so years. Mercedes has been around for........ 100 something years? Also it would be unfair to compare longevity because Lexus cars have really yet to face the test of time.

I love my 300D and would not trade it for a Lexus ES because the 300D has way more personality, but to comment on reliability, who has a tech support website (this one) and who doesn't?

Alex

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1983 300D (parked for four years)
2012 VW Sportwagen TDI Manual
2001 Miata SE
1962 Chevrolet Corvair Rampside

I guess I'm a jerk too. Just an opinion, but I think Subaru is the only Japanese make with a sense of originality.
My boss has a 96 SC400. Beautiful car I suppose, but the leather feels cheap, the wood looks like Cadillac plastic from the 80's, the door panels are coming apart, etc. The car has been reliable and they have kept the service strictly by the book. It has around 50K miles. Her husband drove a CLK 320 and now has Benz fever. When I get in the Lexus, well, it doesn't have the old world "coach" feel of my 300E...the closing of the doors, the materials, the comfort of the seats.
I've spoken to several dealers who agree that while the Benz does cost more to maintain, the Lexus and Infiniti are great lease cars. They tend to become electrical NIGHTMARES and start to self-destruct at some point, and their resale value takes a BIG skydive about that point. Just another observation: here in Dallas I have seen quite a few 90-93 LS400's customized with gold chain license frames, tarnished gold trim, and 20 inch chrome rims. Their drivers usually view the road from the drivers seat mostly reclined. I just don't typically see that in a Benz.
I do think the Lexus has some incredible features...but after riding in them I do agree with some of the reviews I've read. "The perfect sterilized Luxury Car." I'm sure I've insulted someone, but, oh well...

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R Talley
88 BMW E32 735i (make it go away)
95 Volvo 960 "Inga" (valve problems)
95 Nissan Maxima (the indestructible)
89 Ford Ranger XLT (ugliest truck in the South)

I few points I would like to make ....I do prefer the MB cars in general...but...one guy said above that lexus only has wood around the shift lever...thats not correct... every LS 400 I have seen has wood on doors and dash...in regard to repair costs do your homework on repairs on a 140!!...mine has had $24K worth or repairs in the last 2.5 years...all which I have been told by the dealer are typical...resale value...I think they guy being offered 15K for a '96 is being rooked...but we all know how a dealer can be on trade ins... and also I am sure that many Lexus Dealers (as I know many MB dealers do) sell cars at inflated prices that can be above book....in return they usually don't offer you "book" on your trade
I do agree thr ride/drive is not a benz...but many people argue(in fact I think there is a thread on this forum) that the new MB's are not the same solid feel as before....

Warren
1992 300SD 126K
Columbus Ohio

Indeed! The Lexus vs. Mercedes Benz and old Benz vs. new Benz threads crop of frequently. Always entertaining and usually quite informative.

Also, I haven't seen too much rudeness or "jerks", just passionate MB owners expressing themselves.

1. Polite....it even happens in NJ...sometimes.
2. Past MBDiesel owner who wanted a sniff of exhaust.

Jerk's or not, this is a great forum with a bunch of smart folks who help newcomers like myself enjoy the MB Diesels, including faxing documents and accepting phonecalls while I'm under the car staring at motor mounts that won't come out.

JCD

I usually try to "let people in" line because I guess in a wierd sort of way I hope ppl will let me in sometimes. Things are kinda different in the area where I live. There are very few "lines of cars". Ya'll have to keep in mind too that the roads are only going to get more and more crowded over the coming years especially in metro areas - Atlanta, Ga. and LA, Calif. comes to mind. Twenty years from now that may be the only way you will be able to get in line. It does not matter what I, nor the person I am "letting in" drive I still let em in.
I think alot of this mentality comes from having spent hours and hours on a road bicycle covering hundreds of miles.

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Jim