LA Times Dan Neil on the new LS
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: South Orange County, CA
4 wheels
OK...I'm jumping in here for a second. My dad has a LS430. He spends more time driving Corola loaners than the Lexus. Seems like the A/C is always out and the car stranded him at least a dozen times...wouldn't start. Turns out after hearing about this I asked if the Lexus dealer had considered the neutral safety switch. Amazing discovery...bad neutral safety switch!! I'm trying to get him into a E320 CDI or an E500...I think he's ready. At 76 I think my Father has earned the the right to move up to an "Automobile" and quit driving just a "car".
A well deserved upgrade I must say. It's time that your father got to drive a real car.
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From: Phx, AZ moving to OC, CA
2007 S550
Not married, Never been.
Just want a car that I can drive for 300K miles without having to go to the dealer.
I realize most poeple on an MBZ S-class forum believe there is that little bit of mistique that makes it worth the extra headaches.
Answer this for me, what am I gaining when I'm driving a C230/320 with beta testing reliability? as opposed to the cheapest Lexus.
Am I still missing something in Mistique that cant be interpreted in a JD power survey?
Just want a car that I can drive for 300K miles without having to go to the dealer.
I realize most poeple on an MBZ S-class forum believe there is that little bit of mistique that makes it worth the extra headaches.
Answer this for me, what am I gaining when I'm driving a C230/320 with beta testing reliability? as opposed to the cheapest Lexus.
Am I still missing something in Mistique that cant be interpreted in a JD power survey?
Last edited by NeverColdCall; Sep 10, 2006 at 04:37 AM.
Almost a Member!
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From: Phx, AZ moving to OC, CA
2007 S550
We still have an LS in the family with ~330K miles, nothing but a timing belt replaced at 180K miles.
others:
LS with 190K SOLD
LS with 140K SOLD (looked so new at 140K, it was shipped to a Judge in Dubai where they dont pay attention to mileage)
GS with 173K
GX with 80K
ES with 80K
none of the above cars have had any service ohter then timing belts.
others:
LS with 190K SOLD
LS with 140K SOLD (looked so new at 140K, it was shipped to a Judge in Dubai where they dont pay attention to mileage)
GS with 173K
GX with 80K
ES with 80K
none of the above cars have had any service ohter then timing belts.
If I were obsessed with reliability I'd go back to one of those cars, not a Lexus. That's why limo companies buy them and routinely take them beyond 500k.
My 2000 S500 that I'm trading for the S550 this week (yes it's finally coming!) has 80k with no problems thus far.
What I find interesting, from JD Power themselves is that MB only has 15% more reported problems then Lexus, so why all this hype? Lexus owners make it sound like MB has 200% more problems, not a mere 15%.
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From: Puerto Rico
08' S550,,,C63!
I don't quite understand why you would want to drive a car to 300k. Even if it continues to run, you'll be re-uphostering the leather seats and re-painting the car at that kind of mileage. You want reliable, buy a Camry or Crown Victoria with cloth seats and forget about luxury.
I totally agree! I am waiting for the LS 460L to dump the LX 470 99' I have which has 125,000 mi! I hate to have cars with so much mi's.
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From: DFW
BMW M850i Gran Coupe
I must respectfully disagree with you. Even though the LS460 is a technological masterpiece, I believe the inital impact of Lexus on the luxury car market has now passed. No doubt it is a very fine automobile, but it is not a benchmark vehicle. Lexus is marvelous at duplicating and improving what others have initiated. They are good at it, as Toyota has demonstrated to Chevrolet and Ford, but they are not a Mercedes or BMW.
Super Member
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From: Puerto Rico
08' S550,,,C63!
I must respectfully disagree with you. Even though the LS460 is a technological masterpiece, I believe the inital impact of Lexus on the luxury car market has now passed. No doubt it is a very fine automobile, but it is not a benchmark vehicle. Lexus is marvelous at duplicating and improving what others have initiated. They are good at it, as Toyota has demonstrated to Chevrolet and Ford, but they are not a Mercedes or BMW.
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I don't quite understand why you would want to drive a car to 300k. Even if it continues to run, you'll be re-uphostering the leather seats and re-painting the car at that kind of mileage. You want reliable, buy a Camry or Crown Victoria with cloth seats and forget about luxury.
I want to drive them 300K cause I dont live to buy , I buy to live. @ 300K the driver's seat had a crack in the left lumbar support, I think I'll stick with the more luxurious version for a cracked seat at 300K.
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Prior to buying my first Mercedes I had two Lincoln Town Cars, which I each took to 150k with zero problems, and with me neglecting any maintenance, including way overdue oil changes. (And that's here in Phoenix where it's over 100 degrees for half the year.)
If I were obsessed with reliability I'd go back to one of those cars, not a Lexus.
If I were obsessed with reliability I'd go back to one of those cars, not a Lexus.
I'll take a powerstroke tho'
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From: GMT -8 hours
Mercedes-Benz
You guys on the forum may not like Lexus or the LS460 but it has made a BIG impact on the german luxury makers... for the better. It has forced Mercedes-Benz to improve their quality to stay competitive. The S-class still leads the large luxury sedan segment and probably will for years to come with the V221 on the US market.
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From: Weehawken, NJ
LX470
I think the hype with the luxury cars is totally blown out of line. Lexus, Mercedes, and BMW build great cars, but for different reasons.
Lexus-reliability, dealership customer service, and build quality.
Mercedes-styling (by a mile), and engine refinement.
BMW-comfort and handling.
As I said, they all have good qualities and poor qualities. It's just a matter of taste IMO. Arguing who makes the best car is like participating in the Special Olympics though, because no matter what place you finish in, you're still a retard.
Lexus-reliability, dealership customer service, and build quality.
Mercedes-styling (by a mile), and engine refinement.
BMW-comfort and handling.
As I said, they all have good qualities and poor qualities. It's just a matter of taste IMO. Arguing who makes the best car is like participating in the Special Olympics though, because no matter what place you finish in, you're still a retard.
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From: Las Vegas, NV
2011 E350 Cabriolet..White and Almond Mocha
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 627
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From: The Earth
Mercedes all the way!
The new LS series is going to rock the luxury sedan world like the original did in 1989. Nuff said.
drive down the streets of Asia (at least SE Asia) or Europe, and you'll just about never, ever see an LS. the IS, ES, and GS, yes, but buyers outside the US are still not willing to part top dollar for a Lexus, even after all these years.
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Other people's cars
I'm not sure Lexus wants tto be revolutionary. They want to copy the Germans and do it better.
And while they lack some of the benefits of a MB, the sales speak for themselves.
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Las Vegas, NV
2011 E350 Cabriolet..White and Almond Mocha
