A very good evening!

[Unkle festa]

A very good evening ladies and gents come on in and the first drink is on me!
I have had a variety of Lexus for the last 15years and i am now looking at dipping my toe over to a Mercedes. I have been driving the Rx models for the last 10years which i must admit have been absolutely superb. The only niggle has been the cost of the main dealer servicing which is always expensive! I am not a tight arse but the police are called when i break into a tenner!
Now looking at the s350 d l amg, is it a good choice?
Thanks in advance

 

[Gazwould]

S Class is sublime , but overall Mercedes Vs Lexus reliability is no contest .

 

[John Laidlaw]

Welcome , S Class is superb ...

 

[richlumb]

The 350d engine with 9 speed auto box is excellent

 

[Unkle festa]

Evening, what would be the motor of choice, S350 or an Rx450?
Thanks again

 

[Blobcat]

Hello and welcome

I’d always have a S-Class over a Lexus.
Toyotas are very good and very reliable but don’t make me feel special like Mercedes does

 

[Unkle festa]

Hello and welcome

I’d always have a S-Class over a Lexus.
Toyotas are very good and very reliable but don’t make me feel special like Mercedes does

Hello and welcome

I’d always have a S-Class over a Lexus.
Toyotas are very good and very reliable but don’t make me feel special like Mercedes does

Thats the sort of nudge i am after!

 

[Srdl]

Welcome - I suspect main dealer servicing is just as expensive (probably more expensive) from Mercedes as it is from Lexus.

 

[sonic]

A Lexus is possibly the only other car I would buy other that a Merc. But I still have 2 Merc's at the moment.

 

[John Laidlaw]

I test drove a number of Lexus models but just couldn’t get excited I’m afraid- absolutely nothing wrong with them , build quality and after sales quality is arguably better too- as BC didn’t feel special . Absolutely no disrespect intended.
John Williams on here drives one of each maybe he could give a view

 

[Unkle festa]

Thanks for all the honest opinions. After the last 3 lexus you sort of know what to expect, time for something new! Thanks again

 

[mioba]

The launch of every new s class model is a moment of a pinnacle of engineering and innovation. What you get in new s classes drips down to other marques 10 years later, an s class any day over a Lexus given the choice. Take one for a test drive and you will see.

 

[A.J.]

Hi and welcome to the forum I have driven Lexus albeit a few years ago. As BC has said they are very good in pretty much all aspects but they just don't make you feel special as a Mercedes does. The 'S' class has always been the absolute pinnacle of engineering and technology.

I had an IS200 as a company car when they were first introduced back in the late 90's. Whereas the quality of the car was superb and it was at that time an eye catcher it was a uninteresting car to drive. One of the things I remember is that the steering wheel didn't self centralize which was strange. Once you have an MB there is no way back

 

[SmartAmg]

Welcome, definitely an
S class 350d no contest, the Lexus is well built and very reliable, BUT bland and soulless, whereas the
S class is a sense of occasion every time you drive it, it looks great, and the interior is gorgeous.

 

[daveenty]

I have a 2014 Lexus RX450h. Had it a couple of years now although it's only getting occasional usage at the moment due to a combination of factors which are out of my control. The only issues I've had with it have been a flat battery (the small one in the back to keep power to the electrics) which caused a lot of electrical faults, and a tailgate motor dying, replaced under extended warranty which is a must have to me. It's a good reliable motor though typically Toyota in that it's mind-numbingly boring to drive. This is probably a good thing if you treat your cars as "white goods" but, for those of us with more than a passing interest in mechanical things, it gets frustrating and tedious, almost soul destroying in fact.

I also have an S Class Mercedes. OK, it's an AMG S63 so a bit special and not really a comparison to the Lexus but any S Class is on another level, to me at least. Maybe not as reliable as Lexus in the long term but, if treated correctly, should give you no problems and the comfort levels are as good if not better with probably a better class of materials being fitted, dependant on spec.

Incidentally, if you think Lexus main dealers are expensive, wait till Mercedes get hold of you. The consolation with this is that there are a lot of good independents out there

 

[Blobcat]

One thing I would take into consideration is how many miles you're likely to cover and what type of journeys. Then decide if a Diesel is the right way to go...

I commute ~55 miles per day and am averaging 32mpg in my V6 3.0 petrol...
A diesel would be good for my commute as a lot of it is motorway on cruise rather than stop start crawl along. The latest emission equipment on all Diesels (not just Mercedes) can be very expensive to maintain and don't like short trips. Lots of Ad Blue and NOX issues on Diesels unfortunately.

I would seriously look at an S500 in your position

 

[00slk]

My son has an older Lexus 430 V8, it is a very nice and a solid feeling car with all the toys and sounds the part with a new sports exhaust. It drives very smoothly and has some grunt. At only 22mpg I compare it with my SL55 (same year) that is averaging the same mpg as his Lexus. Although his car is lovely I think I do prefer my Mercedes as it has style and a feeling of specialness where the Lexus leaves you a bit disappointed when you get out and walk away from it. With Mercedes you always look back at it as you walk away
I know it not a comparison for you being older cars but thought I'd add my two pence worth