Big Purchase in a few,please help! GS 350 Lexus vs ES350 MB
#51
MBWorld Fanatic!
Looks like she got the base model Lexus for $32k over Merc with Distronic Plus and KeyLess go, with a wonderful combination of exterior and interior(personal preference) for $27k or less.
I'm not sure whether the MB has Parktronic but, I see some marking on the cruise control knob, which suggests it has Adaptive Cruise Control(Distronic Plus).
@OP, even though you triggered most of us, congratulations on your new car and you're always welcome here when the Lexus gives up on you, even if it doesn't
I'm not sure whether the MB has Parktronic but, I see some marking on the cruise control knob, which suggests it has Adaptive Cruise Control(Distronic Plus).
@OP, even though you triggered most of us, congratulations on your new car and you're always welcome here when the Lexus gives up on you, even if it doesn't
Lexus is car of choice for new buyers of luxury cars, they have a lower maintenance cost and new luxury car buyers are more easily influence by the over the top Lexus dealership experience. What most unexperience buyer do not know is that the difference is not what you can see, it is what you cannot see. An good example is that Japanese luxury cars use mostly recycle metal for their cars where as Mercedes use mostly virgin steel. Where a Japanese luxury car might use stamped steel for its suspension parts, German luxury cars will use a cast metal part, the list goes on and on. On the Lexus, you will read how much more reliable Lexus is compare to its German counterparts, but the truth is that the gap is closing everyday, as of now, its pretty damn close.
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raja777m (06-14-2017)
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raja777m (06-14-2017)
#54
MBWorld Fanatic!
Yeah, she did take us for a loop and get us all riled up...lol.
I don't think the MB had Parktronic or Distronic (if you look at the star in the grille, you can see it is 3D and not flat). But hope the OP is happy with her purchase, for now. In 3 years, she'll realize how dated the Lexus looks, and she'll be looking to buy a timeless Mercedes. :-)
I concur; my '98 W202 had almost 200k miles on when I sold it, and it was still kicking as strong as ever.
I don't think the MB had Parktronic or Distronic (if you look at the star in the grille, you can see it is 3D and not flat). But hope the OP is happy with her purchase, for now. In 3 years, she'll realize how dated the Lexus looks, and she'll be looking to buy a timeless Mercedes. :-)
I concur; my '98 W202 had almost 200k miles on when I sold it, and it was still kicking as strong as ever.
#55
Looks like we will never hear from the OP again. Just thought I'd weigh in though as both a Lexus and MB owner since it's something I think about myself.
I work in consulting engineering, my experience is that Japanese companies in general (and Toyota especially) are process driven so there is a high level of focus on refinement and improvement. Lexus reliability comes from manufacturing millions of vehicles and recycling parts throughout its lines, gradually quashing the bugs by the time they make it into their top models. The cars thus tend to be very conservative and date quickly (bland) but are extremely dependable (boring). (GS/IS are probably the least reliable and most exciting normal Lexus for a reason.)
The Germans tend to focus their engineering more on design and innovation, which immediately go to their top end models. The typical result is something that looks, performs, and handles better. The flipside is that the bugs are controlled only at the end of a model generation, so the consumer has to more often than not literally pay the price. (Embarrassing what stuff breaks/leaks on what is the most reliable Euro marque).
Since about 2009, the gaps are closing on both ends (especially since both are relying on NA supply chain for better or worse). Still though the engineering philosophies are inescapable, the Lexus will generally be more reliable than a MB, will cost significantly less to maintain on a budget, and will get you from A-B with more amenities at base with a better price point and depreciation. The Mercedes is superior in handling, performance, and safety as long as it is well equipped and you are willing to pay the TCO, also it consistently looks better.
Aside from that is the dealer experience. Frankly IMHO not any of the MB dealers in the Northeast or Midwest can hold a candle to a Lexus dealer. (I have been to quite a few and all the MB dealers I feel sooner or later leave you more often than not a little disgusted.)
Full disclosure. My family still owns our 98 Lexus ES300 now at 320K. Leather quality is better even than on my 16 E350. No rust, no leaks, always starts, and impressive base options, average $100 on maintenance a year. You can forget about an E/C of that era or even today being anywhere close to that on quality. That being said all our newer cars are MB.
I work in consulting engineering, my experience is that Japanese companies in general (and Toyota especially) are process driven so there is a high level of focus on refinement and improvement. Lexus reliability comes from manufacturing millions of vehicles and recycling parts throughout its lines, gradually quashing the bugs by the time they make it into their top models. The cars thus tend to be very conservative and date quickly (bland) but are extremely dependable (boring). (GS/IS are probably the least reliable and most exciting normal Lexus for a reason.)
The Germans tend to focus their engineering more on design and innovation, which immediately go to their top end models. The typical result is something that looks, performs, and handles better. The flipside is that the bugs are controlled only at the end of a model generation, so the consumer has to more often than not literally pay the price. (Embarrassing what stuff breaks/leaks on what is the most reliable Euro marque).
Since about 2009, the gaps are closing on both ends (especially since both are relying on NA supply chain for better or worse). Still though the engineering philosophies are inescapable, the Lexus will generally be more reliable than a MB, will cost significantly less to maintain on a budget, and will get you from A-B with more amenities at base with a better price point and depreciation. The Mercedes is superior in handling, performance, and safety as long as it is well equipped and you are willing to pay the TCO, also it consistently looks better.
Aside from that is the dealer experience. Frankly IMHO not any of the MB dealers in the Northeast or Midwest can hold a candle to a Lexus dealer. (I have been to quite a few and all the MB dealers I feel sooner or later leave you more often than not a little disgusted.)
Full disclosure. My family still owns our 98 Lexus ES300 now at 320K. Leather quality is better even than on my 16 E350. No rust, no leaks, always starts, and impressive base options, average $100 on maintenance a year. You can forget about an E/C of that era or even today being anywhere close to that on quality. That being said all our newer cars are MB.
Last edited by bluegene; 06-16-2017 at 11:45 PM.
#56
I extensively test drove 2016 GS 350 F sport before leasing E350. In my mind GS handled better with substantially better steering feel. However, IMHO, E looks much much better both outside and inside (GS' F sport seats were really nice though). GS' mouse like controller is truly annoying; my wife's ES350 has it too. Anyway, at the end I was offered a lease on E I couldn't refuse. No regret on not getting GS.
#57
Junior Member
Thread Starter
But thank you so much for all your tips, I truly appreciate it 😃
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jahquan3 (06-19-2017)
#58
Junior Member
Thread Starter
I extensively test drove 2016 GS 350 F sport before leasing E350. In my mind GS handled better with substantially better steering feel. However, IMHO, E looks much much better both outside and inside (GS' F sport seats were really nice though). GS' mouse like controller is truly annoying; my wife's ES350 has it too. Anyway, at the end I was offered a lease on E I couldn't refuse. No regret on not getting GS.
#59
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Looks like we will never hear from the OP again. Just thought I'd weigh in though as both a Lexus and MB owner since it's something I think about myself.
I work in consulting engineering, my experience is that Japanese companies in general (and Toyota especially) are process driven so there is a high level of focus on refinement and improvement. Lexus jreliability comes from manufacturing millions of the vehicles and recycling parts throughout its lines, gradually quashing the bugs by the time they make it into their top models. The cars thus tend to be very conservative and date quickly (bland) but are extremely dependable (boring). (GS/IS are probably the least reliable and most exciting normal Lexus for a reason.)
The Germans tend to focus their engineering more on design and innovation, which immediately go to their top end models. The typical result is something that looks, performs, and handles better. The flipside is that the bugs are controlled only at the end of a model generation, so the consumer has to more often than not literally pay the price. (Embarrassing what stuff breaks/leaks on what is the most reliable Euro marque).
Since about 2009, the gaps are closing on both ends (especially since both are relying on NA supply chain for better or worse). Still though the engineering philosophies are inescapable, the Lexus will generally be more reliable than a MB, will cost significantly less to maintain on a budget, and will get you from A-B with more amenities at base with a better price point and depreciation. The Mercedes is superior in handling, performance, and safety as long as it is well equipped and you are willing to pay the TCO, also it consistently looks better.
Aside from that is the dealer experience. Frankly IMHO not any of the MB dealers in the Northeast or Midwest can hold a candle to a Lexus dealer. (I have been to quite a few and all the MB dealers I feel sooner or later leave you more often than not a little disgusted.)
Full disclosure. My family still owns our 98 Lexus ES300 now at 320K. Leather quality is better even than on my 16 E350. No rust, no leaks, always starts, and impressive base options, average $100 on maintenance a year. You can forget about an E/C of that era or even today being anywhere close to that on quality. That being said all our newer cars are MB.
I work in consulting engineering, my experience is that Japanese companies in general (and Toyota especially) are process driven so there is a high level of focus on refinement and improvement. Lexus jreliability comes from manufacturing millions of the vehicles and recycling parts throughout its lines, gradually quashing the bugs by the time they make it into their top models. The cars thus tend to be very conservative and date quickly (bland) but are extremely dependable (boring). (GS/IS are probably the least reliable and most exciting normal Lexus for a reason.)
The Germans tend to focus their engineering more on design and innovation, which immediately go to their top end models. The typical result is something that looks, performs, and handles better. The flipside is that the bugs are controlled only at the end of a model generation, so the consumer has to more often than not literally pay the price. (Embarrassing what stuff breaks/leaks on what is the most reliable Euro marque).
Since about 2009, the gaps are closing on both ends (especially since both are relying on NA supply chain for better or worse). Still though the engineering philosophies are inescapable, the Lexus will generally be more reliable than a MB, will cost significantly less to maintain on a budget, and will get you from A-B with more amenities at base with a better price point and depreciation. The Mercedes is superior in handling, performance, and safety as long as it is well equipped and you are willing to pay the TCO, also it consistently looks better.
Aside from that is the dealer experience. Frankly IMHO not any of the MB dealers in the Northeast or Midwest can hold a candle to a Lexus dealer. (I have been to quite a few and all the MB dealers I feel sooner or later leave you more often than not a little disgusted.)
Full disclosure. My family still owns our 98 Lexus ES300 now at 320K. Leather quality is better even than on my 16 E350. No rust, no leaks, always starts, and impressive base options, average $100 on maintenance a year. You can forget about an E/C of that era or even today being anywhere close to that on quality. That being said all our newer cars are MB.
#60
Junior Member
Thread Starter
lol no I won. He honestly didn't SELL me, I did my due dillgence with research and comparisons according to my preferences and decided on the GS350. I didn't mention it earlier but I've driven a MB for 4 years fresh off the lot and I've had my woes with it after 2/3 years in. So I've had a taste of the MB world n enjoyed it but wanted a new experience. Seriously couldn't go wrong with either decision.
#61
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Looks like she got the base model Lexus for $32k over Merc with Distronic Plus and KeyLess go, with a wonderful combination of exterior and interior(personal preference) for $27k or less.
I'm not sure whether the MB has Parktronic but, I see some marking on the cruise control knob, which suggests it has Adaptive Cruise Control(Distronic Plus).
@OP, even though you triggered most of us, congratulations on your new car and you're always welcome here when the Lexus gives up on you, even if it doesn't
I'm not sure whether the MB has Parktronic but, I see some marking on the cruise control knob, which suggests it has Adaptive Cruise Control(Distronic Plus).
@OP, even though you triggered most of us, congratulations on your new car and you're always welcome here when the Lexus gives up on you, even if it doesn't
#62
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Really Curious to see where Carla goes
Lexus dealer in NH was so so, yes Toyota loaners... MB in NH was just awful.
MB in Sarasota FL has been excellent so far, been there with both cars, always got a MB loaner... E class...
True measure was when the detailer's damaged a rim on the 2015 E550 Cab, it was 3 month's old... I noticed it but didn't say anything because i wasn't sure where it happened, next time i took pics and had a service guy look before it went over... sure enough more damage...
There where not thrilled but had agreed it happened there and both rims where repaired... they also replaced the rub rails on the car wash...
Since then we have had maintenance done and a few things taken care of on the ML and everyone is friendly and respectful...
but you are right not all the dealers are the same....
Let us know what ya decide Carla
Mike
Lexus dealer in NH was so so, yes Toyota loaners... MB in NH was just awful.
MB in Sarasota FL has been excellent so far, been there with both cars, always got a MB loaner... E class...
True measure was when the detailer's damaged a rim on the 2015 E550 Cab, it was 3 month's old... I noticed it but didn't say anything because i wasn't sure where it happened, next time i took pics and had a service guy look before it went over... sure enough more damage...
There where not thrilled but had agreed it happened there and both rims where repaired... they also replaced the rub rails on the car wash...
Since then we have had maintenance done and a few things taken care of on the ML and everyone is friendly and respectful...
but you are right not all the dealers are the same....
Let us know what ya decide Carla
Mike
#63
Member
Choices
Carla......enjoy !