luxury1

Did anyone else consider the LS430 when buying their E? If so, what did you like and dislike about the LS and E? Would you make the same decision again?

bmms8

i kind of liked the LS better than the E, but we never drove it i believe. personally, i it was m y decision, i would prolly say no for the E500. i dont know why though, but there is just a certain feeling when i drive a toyota, makes me feel good, no other car has done that for me, sounds wierd i know

Baby Jocko

Yes, I considered the LS430. I liked EVERYTHING about the LS except the exterior design. That alone almost made me want to puke. That was by far the deciding factor. I just could not accept it. Although I felt the E500 has better suspension and handling, I would have sacrificed that for the convenience and luxury features of the LS. But, the styling took away every point the LS had going for it.

My wife made me look at it. That is why it was a consideration in the first place.

ATS

I have to say that their blatant rip off of the Merc styling is what turns me off to their cars. It would be nice if they developed thier own style. Just my opinion..

Phillip711

both excellent cars, but they both offer different goodies.

Guest0001

Odd comparison really. E500 is a Mid-size Sport Sedan and the LS a full-size luxury boat.Wouldnt one cross shop with the the GS model in comparison the E Class?

BMcD-E500

To each his own on the exterior styling of the LS430. The 2004-2005 models improved the look of the LS over the previous generation. Of course I say nice things having recently traded my '03 E500 for a new LS430. I was looking for more comfort, more rear seat room, etc. and the LS430 fit the bill. With it's new 6-speed it's no slouch for a big car. Plus all the cool electronics that perform flawlessly sealed the deal. Don't even get me started on depreciation of the '03 E500. All I can say is "ouch". No regrets on the E500 - mine had only minor problems and was fun to drive. I was just needing to move on for work and personal reasons.

Bruce

Dema

I didn't, since I should consider S500 vs LS430. I wanted more sportier and smaller car. I didn't consider GS either. Actually I do not like Lexus styling. Lexus is also aging much faster than MB, it's cheap and not prestige. As my wife tells, Lexus is MB of poor people. BTW even redesigned GS 2006 doesn't look as good as E500. needless to say it's lacking in features as well.

glojo

I agree with everyone that states it should be compared more to the S class, but apart from that Lexus is not a popular vehicle in South Devon. By this I mean there are simply NO dealerships. I would have to look up on the Internet where the nearest one would be. I cannot be bothered though because in my own humble oipinion they are basically a Toyota which has done an excellent job of copying and perhaps improving a European vehicle. (These pirates get everywhere).

Besides they do not sell an estate version of the LS430

Regards,
John
A very wet cold morning in Torquay

BudC

You have to congratulate Toyota for letting the Germans (especially MB) do their R&D for them. Practically every worthwhile feature on the big Lexus was designed and developed by the Germans and Lexus then incorporated it at little or no cost.

The Germans have brilliant automotive engineers but are lousy at marketing.

I can't understand why Daimler-Benz kept giving away their safety features. The vehicles that have used those features are mostly luxury cars which compete with MB. Daimler-Chrysler should have been receiving millions for their inventions but just gave it away.

So Toyota simply wait until the Germans perfect something new and then just steal it. You must give them credit for how quickly they can add something like Keyless Go to their cars.

Is it any wonder the big Lexus has the reputation for the highest quality while Mercedes get a bad reputation for getting the leading edge wind burn on new inventions.

However, as one American car magazine put it, there is no excitement at a Lexus store.

benzboy

Although well made the Lexus LS430 is for those who like to RIDE, the E500 is for those who like to DRIVE!

Brother Benz

I've owned both. I beileve that the Lexus was of higher build quality but I love driving my E. I actually saw an Lexus LS and Mercedes S torn down side by side at the GM benchmarking facility. I would have to say that the attention to detail in the Lexus was remarkable when compared. The bottom line for me is that these are both great cars at the top of their game. I would charecterize the Mercedes as a drivers car and the Lexus is built for passenger comfort .

Barry45RPM

I thougt the Lexus would be the more dependable, goody loaded car, but its exterior looks are downright homely. I tend to pick a car like I pick a woman... she's gotta have the whole package. I can deal with the litttle idiosyncrasies.

alewifebp

I didn't consider it this time around. The exterior styling is blah. But, everything else about the car is actually very good. The E500 is more sporty than the LS, but it is not that the E is such an awesome handler (not that it is bad, it is super competent, but not necessarily fun). I'm sure that the LS would not drive all too differently, but will certainly be softer (air suspensions and the like being on both cars). I do like the interior of the LS, and the feature list is extensive. Bluetooth and an excellent Navigation and sound system seem to be standout features. As well as all of the rear seat features.

The comparison is fair at least in terms of price. An LS runs in the high 60's, so comparing it against the E500 decently loaded (the only fair comparison in my opinion), it can certainly be compared.

I mentioned this time around. After seeing some of the newest prototype designs (such as the new IS and other concepts), I do like the direction that they are taking their styling, so if a new LS is out at the time that my lease it up, I will definately consider it, especially if they offer a hybrid V8.

Ormond2004

I really enjoyed my 2001 LS 430 Ultra. The electronics (nav, radio) are easier to use. My E500 isn't as roomy, but is more fun to drive. The LS has a better ride. The new ones have bluetooth, parktronic and a back-up camera. The Lexus service, in my experience, is much better.

I like variety, so that's why I now have the MB. However, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the Lexus.

luxury1

You are absolutely right, I was basing it on approximate price tags (E500 vs LS430). For a little bit more money you get a bigger car but many of you make great points about the pro's and con's. The one thing that I still wonder, is a LS430 more prestigious than an E500. Now I know that a GS would not outclass our E class and the LS430 would definitely not outclass the S but does it out class the E???

Barry45RPM

The Lexus just doesn't have the status/cachet the E 500 does. I tend to think its because it hasnt been as highly regarded car as long as the Benz has been prized. Give it 10 more years though.

BMcD-E500

Now that I've owned both - Here's my additional 2 cents. The LS430 does indeed ride way better than my E500. If I lived in area with smooth roads the E500 may have stuck around. But most of my driving is around the Chicago area and the E500 transmitted every tar strip and imperfection right through to the seat. Plus I needed more room for customers in my car and the LS fits the bill. And if you think the LS is a snoozer sit in a S class.

As for the cachet factor - most people see my new car in the same class as the Mercedes. If my E500 was such a prestige car - why was it only drawing a max of $42,500 on trade? $65,700 sticker. That's over $1,000 a month decpreciation. The new E class is a bomb at the dealer auctions - I had three different dealers hit me with that. Ouch!

So - like most you said - both good cars serving slightly different markets. So now I'll go call up a number on my nav screen from my Bluetooth phone, have the nav guide me there and scroll through my preset radio stations, and use voice commands for the climate and nav. (I just had to get that in there after following this forum for two years!!)

Have fun everybody!!

Bruce

Double Eagle

I agree that the E-500 is MUCH more fun to drive than the LS-430. I drove both and think the Lexus is an "Old Folks" luxury cruiser while our E's are more of a Sports Sedan for "young and old". My twin sister and older brother both have Lexus's and both act like "old folks".

Another thing that turned me off on the Lexus was the lousy salesman I had for the test drive. He didn't really know his product and gave me bull s*** answers to several easy questions about the supension and NAV system. I haven't had a lot of problems with my three E's but do believe the Lexus quality is probably better.

So, if you're old and want to feel and act young, buy the E-500 and if you're old and want to drive and look your age, buy the Lexus.

BMcD-E500

Ouch - Old? At 46 I don't think I'm old. But ask my 20-something kids and they thought both the E500 and the Lexus are "old man cars". Like I said in my earlier note - I don't live in an area where you can appreciate a "drivers car" on a daily basis. The E500 was fun but I was looking for something different. We are all blessed we have the wherewithall to afford such choices, right? Now where did I put that Geritol??

Dema

E AUX input is more important for younger drivers for connection iPod or other compressed music players. From other side bluetooth is more important for older driver who likes to talk a lot. Naviagation of Lexus is realy bad for SFBA.

W210

The Bluetooth system in the Lexus is horrible (at least between the RX330 and Motorola V600)! It doesn't automatically sync the phonebook and you have to download entries one by one!

For those who use their cell phones a lot in the car, the E-class CDMA V60 is a far better combination. Bluetooth in the Lexus sounds impressive but the limited usability is pathetic. By far the worst telematics interface I have ever seen.

luxury1

Completely disagree with your kids. I am 27 and I LOVE my E. The reason they think this is because most people in their 20's are driving them but would if they could.

Ormond2004

I think that the MB name has more cachet with the 40+ crowd. When we were teens, Lexus didn't exist. I actually wanted to own a Cadillac or Lincoln when I was a boy.

I owned a RX330 and a LS430, and I wouldn't hesitate to buy another Lexus product. I think that they offer more value than MB. The LS430 isn't any more expensive than a comparably equipped E500.

So many cars, so little time.

Barry45RPM

Lexus is absolutely the better deal, even before you throw in the complete reliability/dependability. They just don't have the "status" yet.