Johnjohn13

Hey guys. Just wondering if any of you considered and compared an E320/E420 versus a Lexus GS300 when you were shopping for your car? What made you decide to get what you have? I'm in that dilemma now... Thanks in advance.

shadowgriffen

That's a tough choice.

I have always been a fan of the GS (until they decided to go ala w210 healights, since lexus is always hanging of MB's *******) since it was the only "different" lexus on the road, but I wouldn't say it has the "class" and timeless look of the w124.

although certainly much cheaper to maintain (toyota) but I would say the w124 is just as reliable.

ZedStyle

i thought about it, i was debating between a gs 300, 1999+ acura rl, e39 bmw, and the w124. i ended up buying the benz because this has een a car i have always liked and wanted, but if it wasn't for that, i would have gone with one of the japanese choices. the gs is nice though... RWD, supra motor... lots of potential!
also, the quad headlights were taken from SC styling cues more so than w210...

ZorroAMG

The "cutting-edge" lexus is always a step behind an MB.

They are reasonable facsimiles without the prestige. Reminds me of a knock off Breitling haha

Johnjohn13

Thanks for the input guys! Yup, definitely a tough choice. This is what I had in mind and very fine examples of the offering from the other camp...

TheEngineer

I faced the same choice: Lexus doesn't make a wagon and I really like the ride of the E320. We'll see, if the things I fixed, stay fixed.

Arnie

Lexus. I have a '94 E320 and I am getting tired of dumping money in it just to keep everything working right. Theis is BTW my 3rd and last Benz. They need to get their **** together in the quality department before I consider buying another Benz.

bjay51d

cmon man what you been smoking?

Garfunkle_W124

Hey! I have a knock off Breitling...and sure enough it is broken

ZedStyle

didn'tt hey have an is 300 wagon for a bit? 'twas ugly though...

shadowgriffen

In four years ownership, almost five of daily driving

1. battery
2. alternator
3. starter

I'd say for a 19 year old car with 241K, that's pretty damn reliable

Chappy

The IS Sportwagon was too small. Other than an SUV (my wife already has a Lexus RX330), no decent-sized wagon was offered.

I like the lines of the W124 Estate.

Saijin_Naib

Some of the wagons look SICK. IN the picture thread, Zomg...

bjay51d

maybe you got the one that was put together right.If you look at the threads you can see that everyone seems to have the same problems.tranny,rough idle, headgasket,wire harness,a/c system all within 100,000 miles.

shdoug

I guess reliability is in the eye of the beholder. I would give it a 4 out of 10 for reliability. What other car can you spend as much on repairs every 3 years as you did to purchase it?

shdoug

Who can argue with that? If only your experience was typical.

shadowgriffen

I do recall bjay's times with his car, and learned a couple things about him and his car.

1. He's Ballin', to spend that much on repairs on a car is
2. His car was straight up built by the factory, but not by engineers, but by the salvadorian cleaners that illegaly work there

ZedStyle

depends on how much you bought it for?
if your car was not taken care of properly by the previous owner, no ***** it will have problems. the newest car in this forum is 12 years old, and probably has over 100k miles. if you want cheap repairs for a used car that's over ten years old, why the hell would anyone buy a mercedes? and then act like it's the car's fault?
anyway, i'm with shadow, only thing in the last two years was that i had to change the battery, which was original to the car.

KA8

First of all I prefer lexus over MB. BUT I don't like that model GS because it's slow as hell. I test drove it but man I think a 4 cyl camry can keep up with it. I guess it looks good if you do it VIP style but I'd choose benz. Of course lexus is more reliable(if maintained well). Either way you can't lose. Just make sure whatever you buy has all service records especially the benz

bjay51d

Im not ballin by any means if I were I would still have my money pit.I really spent about 2.5gs on a car that I was planning on keeping for a minute.Thats little money compared to the guys that rebuilt trannies and head gaskets & wire harness.ill be the first to admit I fell into that well *I spent this much might as well go all the way with it* way of thinking.I miss that car alot but glad its gone.I no longer worry about the big typical BM problems .

bjay51d

I dont mind repairing my vehicles as long as it doesnt have a laundry list of thing that need to be fixed.With more expensive typical repairs on the horizon.I wish I had a positive experience with my car like you and shadow.i actually did get her running pretty good and was loving it for a minute but money got tight and had to decide on benz quality or honda reliability.funny how my honda had almost 100,000 more miles on it than the benz and it still more sensible to keep.

bjay51d

i heard your car never leaves the car port

ZorroAMG

It doesn't. It's JBWelded in place.

bjay51d

shadowgriffen

haha! Whatever *****! I wish my car stayed in there, this wouldn't have happened last night

It looks OK because I spent a good two hours banging the grill out, and putting the lights back on with Fokin duct tape.

SONOFA!