Nearly seduced by 'The Dark Side'

[The Editor]

Went shopping with the brood today. On the way back stopped off at a (sorry for swearing...Lexus dealer).

Tried out the new GS 300 !!.... OMG, what a vehicle !! MB had better watch out... No, no.. SERIOUSLY.

Lexus already have the status of MB and BMW in the States. I have to say I am VERY tempted (I know I should wash my mouth out and go and whip myself with a birch stick for even thinking it but.....)

I've got another appointment there next week and the sales guy has said "Take it out for 3 hours on your own" He actually said. "Make an appointment at MB to test drive the E - Class. Turn up in the Lexus and drive the MB. Then when you come back, jump back in the Lexus and bring it back..... I'll let the car do the talking"

He must be pretty confident !!!.... I can feel I'm wavering

Help me, help me....


Mark

 

[pascal]

That Lexoyta salesman is good.

Good for Lexus, not neccessary you.

Well, You turn up at the MB dealers in a brand new Lexus. What does the salesman think.
'Here is a new Lexus owner coming in to do a comparison, with the MB' 'Timewaster'.
Even if you tell him that you have it out on test, he will think the same 'Timewaster'.

End result, you will be treated even worse than you would have been normally :twisted:

What E engine are you test driving. I thought you were waiting for the facelift.


Good luck though

 

[The Editor]

Well he can think what he damn well likes.... I'm not investing (sorry I mean spending) over £35,000 of my money without first making sure I spend it on something I'm going to be able to live with for a few years.

The trouble is the E-class (W211) is such a great looking car and the Lexota just doesn't have the street presence of the 'E'. The Lexus is if truth be know a better ride than the MB and the goodies are just mind boggling. You would have to spec up the MB to such a rediculous level to come close you'd probably push the price up another £12,000

Pascal, you're right, I AM going to wait for the facelift so that could make my mind up for me because if I don't like it then it will probably be the Toyexus. If I DO like it I'm back to square one

Oh gawd I'm gonna be confused next Saturday.......

P.S - Have driven the 270cdi and am going to try the E240 (2.6 v6)

 

[shrekky]

<<<throws a bucket of water over the editor and shouts WAKE UP !...........you are having nightmares.. :lol:..................alright so it gives you more toys...............but with mercedes,you know what you're gonna get,and in my opinion as far the prestige and relaibility,and build quality........its gonna have to be pretty special to superceed a MB.and toyexus.......hmmmmm parts expensive too.besides they look like beamers.......arghhhhhhhhhh!
I personally think the lamborghini coutach is one of the sexiest cars ever build and would love to own one.....but i wouldn't trade my MB to have it ;-) ,wouldn't get rid of her for the world,she maybe old but she gives me everything i want from a car :-D

 

[turnipsock]

Went shopping with the brood today. On the way back stopped off at a (sorry for swearing...Lexus dealer).

Can you see the point where you went wrong?

Anyway, the solution is to buy both cars.

The countach is a great looking car and was scarey fast in it's day, however I would have a Muria anyday.

http://www.autocar.co.uk/RoadTest_Summary.asp?RT=202085

8000rpm in 1970 was pretty impressive.

 

[littlebrooklyn]

We struggled for a while between buying a Mercedes and a Lexus. The only good thing we could see at the end of the day about the Lexus was that it did appear to be cheaper to service etc., but let's be honest they don't really look like a prestige care do they?

I have great trouble recognising a Lexus on the road, my partner has to point them out to me, they look so ordinary, as do the BMW's too. You can't beat the look of a Mercedes, they stand out a mile.

 

[The Editor]

I know... The E-Class has fantastic road presence, it really does.

Thanks for the bucket of water Shrekky, I needed that in this hot weather

True about the Lexus service though... Only once every two years/20,000 miles (with an oil change once a year)... plus that new six speed auto has to be experienced to be believed !!... But then again, the MB is...... well it's a Benz isn't it!!

I will report back after next weekend when we will have borrowed the Lexota for a few hours and done a back to back comparison.

Confused?.... Yes!!

Wavering??... Yes!!

On Valium??......Yes!!!



Mark

 

[fwb44]

I think everything's been said that needs saying but last year I drove an old pal from San Francisco round Britain for 3 weeks for a sentimental tour in my M-B E300TD. Now he has run a Lexus 430 back home for 10 years, which has never let him down, &c &c. His comparison of the 2 cars: there is none, they are equally fine. But he had to concede that with the Lexus there is just something missing ... impossible to define exactly what ... just something ...

 

[blassberg]

True about the Lexus service though... Only once every two years/20,000 miles (with an oil change once a year)... plus that new six speed auto has to be experienced to be believed !!

Then decide if you like the facelift before it comes out

Get the pre-facelift if you don't

Get the 7Gtronic

My service intervals ML270 are 20k anyway. I read somewhere that you can get 30k on the E.

We have warned you....

And suggest you check the Lexus trade in value for when you change your mind.

 

[peterchurch]

but with mercedes,you know what you're gonna get,and in my opinion as far the prestige and relaibility,and build quality........its gonna have to be pretty special to superceed a MB.and toyexus.......hmmmmm

You obviously have not driven a newer MB then

You need to add

Rusts to bits, Electrics known to packup, and remove build quality from your list I'm affraid....

Yes Mercedes are very nice, and they have some strong history but they are by no means as far in front as they were when they built your car back in 86... I hope to see them back soon but till then they are down with the rest Im affraid

 

[littlebrooklyn]

something missing ... impossible to define exactly what ... just something ...

I think what is missing is that a Lexus says absolutely nothing about the person driving it, they look very ordinary and indistinguishable from all the other clone cars on the road. I would have to be almost on top of one to even recognise that it was a Lexus.

 

[996jimbo]

...Except that there are millions of Mercedes on the road nowadays which, whilst it is a GOOD THING for Mercedes income cannot help but detract from the image of exclusivity. I bet there are less Lexus' than Mercedes in Britain!

 

[littlebrooklyn]

...Except that there are millions of Mercedes on the road nowadays which, whilst it is a GOOD THING for Mercedes income cannot help but detract from the image of exclusivity. I bet there are less Lexus' than Mercedes in Britain!

Ah that's just because the Lexus is sooooo invisible that you just aren't noticing them jimbo.

As for the Mercedes, well one can't help but notice one of them

 

[shrekky]

Your right lyn,i often confuse them for beemers and dont actually realise its toyexus until its close enough to see the badge......lol................a mercedes you can spot a mile away :-D

 

[littlebrooklyn]

Your right lyn,i often confuse them for beemers and dont actually realise its toyexus until its close enough to see the badge......lol................a mercedes you can spot a mile away :-D

You got it in one there shrekky. I don't car how many Mercedes I see on the road, old or new, they always look stunning :grin:

 

[peterchurch]

I drive 100 miles of the m4 quite a bit... The only cars on there are MB C and E classes and BMWs 3s,5s and 7s and of course too many audigolfs...

the days of german badges singling you out as somone that is successful are gone.

Personaly I think there is more individuality in the luxury Japanese badges as I think they convey a less crass statement and a willingness to go _Against_ the heard

 

[shrekky]

hmmmmmmmmmm peter are you sure some of them BM's aren't lexoyas ?...... :lol:

 

[The Editor]

Well..... I went..... I drove..... I was impressed. No.. I was VERY impressed !!

And there may be something in your comment Mr Church... On the way back from the Lexota dealers I made a consious effort to look out for MB's vs Lexus to see how many I spotted.

Answer.... MB's - 12..... Lexus - 0 !! (That was a 35 mile trip) so there may be something in your comment Peter !!

I have to say, the new GS is a awesome car, the isolation from the outside world is something else, and the 6 speed auto is gorgeous.

The new MB 7 speed is going to have to be something special to beat it... I will report back.

Cheers

M.

 

[Myros]

lots of MBs.....true

but you can still have an individualistic MB. Just get onto ECP for some chrome wheel-arch trims. Seriously though, you can spec your MB to heaven and back, and match your lipstick for the leather, if you want to differentiate yourself from the herd.
Or you can buy one from the golden age of MBs and pretend automotive trends are yet to be discovered.I can't even hear the radio in the SL with the roof down and the speed up. The only concessions it makes to modernity are electric windows and ABS and PS. The rest is down to nature and physics.Good old-fashioned fun, but with more than a hint of luxury.

 

[peterchurch]

I have been down to Saab to drive a 2.0ltr Aero Convertible it has 210 bhp.
Im more interested in the 2.8 v6 (260 bhp due in september OMG 350 Nm torque at 4500!!) But I thought I would test the car in the lower engine first...

If you are buying a new MB and you dont test the Saab you are making a very expensive mistake!!!