So we've come to the decision that Benz may not be our future car due to the monumental problems we've incurred with the E320. My father has been really turned off by the idea of getting another Benz...

We're thinking of the Lexus LS460 and Audi A8 4.2L...What other cars should we consider? I don't want a BMW in our garage at all so the 7 series is out of the question...

 

I thought for sure I would buy a Lexus 460L. I have a SL500, my wife had the new GS300 and my daughter has the new IS. The Lexus cars have been great. BUT, I saw the S550 in person and my decision was over--the S550. It looks great and I believe MB has worked overtime to make sure it does not have the problems of its predecessors. I will pay more for the S550 but I am okay with that because of what I am getting. But, to answer your question, I would buy the Lexus 460L if you are looking for a luxury sedan and it was not going to be the S550. I am not anti-BMW (if fact I have had 2), but I like that new Lexus an awful lot.

 

Thanks Azmike for that input. I'm still hell-bent on getting the S550 yet I've recently found out that my cousin's ECN does not apply to the new S, nor GL or any AMG vehicles. That has turned me off as well...

My cousin is supposed to be getting an S550 company car for a week and is willing to let my ddad drive it around and get a feel for it. I'm hoping that makes up his mind for him as he is in limbo right now as well.

I mean how much could a Quattroporte set us back as compared to an S550?

 

Don't get the QP until the introduce the normal automatic.
The current semi-auto eats clutches, and is not a nice thing to drive slow.

 

Personally, i hate Lexus.

BMW and MB are kings!

The Audi is a nice car, or so i hear. Hmmm just curious why are you anti bmw

 

In my opinion go for the S-class , it's the best choice at this level. There were some test that prove the same thing.

 

I've always been a believer in the quote 'Peace of mind is the ultimate luxury.'



Let's try to give the man a productive comment. "I hate Lexus" and drive fords, chevys, C220's and a BMW SUV which I might add defeats the whole point of the 'ultimate driving machine' theory does not exactly sound well founded unless your argument is to not endorse the Japanese economy.

Considering the LS460 is not out yet, that would be tough to prove.

 

I think one of the main advantage of the LS460 is the price. But at this class I don't think price should be the main problem, also choosing one of this cars is a matter of taste.

 

It definitely is a matter of taste and my father has seen both the S550 and the LS460 (pictures at least, thanks to Autospies.com).

He is into both but he believes that the S550 may cause us more frustrations and problems even though I've been told otherwise by owners and my cousin and his SOS manager...

 

Sounds alot like hearsay and speculation(im not an attorney...;-). Have your dad go drive both and make up his own mind after doing a bit of research. Edmunds.com has a consumer review and rating system he can check out.

T

 

I can definitely sympathize with the reliability concerns. I know M-B is putting a lot of effort into turning around the quality-control issues, but I think they'll need a couple years before a final judgment can be made. I do know that CR put the last-generation S-Class almost at the bottom of the 10-least-reliable list for luxury vehicles, so there's a lot of ground to be made up for improvements to show.

I happen to like the Jaguar XJ8, but if reliability is a reason to prevent buy an S-Class, then I probably wouldn't touch the Jag either. That marque has been bad as they come. Some improvement of late, but I'm still not sure I'd make the leap. Plus, lots of people object to the retro styling -- it easily looks a decade old just sitting in the showroom. I happen to like the effect, but the new grille is hopelessly chintzy.

It's a pity you don't like Bimmers -- i think the 7-Series "cyborg-killer limo" (a British publication's phrase) is one of the best choices in the class (reliability aside), especially for dynamic reasons. However, it all comes down to individual preferences, so let's stick with what you might like.

From my personal preferences, I don't much care for the A8. Pretty good feature content, but the dynamics of it aren't so fabulous, and I don't like the AWD. Reliability is a problem here, too.

I'd definitely give the new LS a close look. Lexi are mechanically bulletproof, and (thus far) the reviews of the new LS. Even "Top Gear" seemed quite smitten with it; said it finally had some character. Acceleration and braking aren't quite what I might have hoped, but should be an excellent choice overall. It's a bit too early to have many detailed specs and equipment lists on this one, but overall it's certainly worth waiting for. The short version starts at $61,000 and the LS 460 L will begin at $71,000.

I agree with vraa about the Q-porte. They've worked on it every year to improve it, but the sequential 'box is still pretty herky-jerky by most accounts, especially in automatic mode. If they put a true slushbox in it, it'd be a fantastic choice.

There's also the Volkswagen Phaeton. There are still plenty of unsold '06 Phaetons lying about, so incentives and deals will be plentiful. It's got excellent feature content and value for money. The interior is very high quality, even with typical VW switchgear. Granted, it's a thousand pounds overweight, it has a VW badge, and it's boring to look at and drive. I also don't know anything about this one's reliability -- probably not too fantastic, given VW's problems lately and the amount of technology wedged into the chassis.

One choice I'm surprised nobody has mentioned is the Infiniti Q45. It's a junior entry of sorts (no LWB, no upgrade engine, less standard equipment, and I don't think the interior is quite as high-grade, albeit with plenty of wood), but it does compete more or less in the same class (the M35/45 is more an A6/5-Series/E-Class competitor). It is also cheaper (starting at $58,000), which means that you can get one fully loaded and still be paying less. It's definitely worth at least a look. Infinitis are more reliable, generally, than the typical German entries, which is a plus. The back seat and trunk are rather cramped, but the front cabin space is one of the largest in the class. It's a dynamic entry, strong on maneuverability and performance at the expense of road isolation and ride comfort, at least compared to the LS. It's a bit sluggish off the line, though, despite having good passing power; it's also 500 pounds lighter than an S550. It's fairly exclusive; Q45s are often overlooked, and so it's not that common a vehicle. Certainly has visual standout; you have to love the Gatling gun headlights. It certainly says "I don't go with the flow." An all-new version may be bowing this auto show season, but that hasn't yet been confirmed.

 

CarsinAmerica, I thoroughly read your interesting explanation in my choices and agree with it. We do not have the Q45 in our eyes because I already have a G35 Coupe, and with that, one Infiniti, is enough.

We've thrown the 7 series out for the reason of its ever so looking mundane interior. I know the S looks similar as far as the dash is concerned but overall, everything else seems so sleek and elegant!

The Quattroporte is out of the window also. And VW's Phaeton??! VW?? No thanks. I like the styling of the LS and would be interested in definitely spinning the wheels of the LS460/460L and the price, if your figures are correct, are just fitting for our budget. If we jump into an S, it'll be loaded and maybe an AMG package, ergo, turn into a bit of a stretch as we have many house improvements planned for 1st quarter 2007...

So many decisions!!!!???

 

maybe Porsche's Panamera? if you're willing to wait a few years. But it's more like the CLS AMG than an S-class, maybe they'll offer the smaller engines.

 

Have him drive the company car and then put this in his morning newspaper everyday...he will get the message..:-)

 

Nevada, when you first posted the pictures of the car, I was viewing them on our home office Plasma computer setup so it was nice and big. my father walked i and immediately asked me whose what that and what features, the cost, and so forth.

After that, he had sat down and went through all of your pictures...haha...

 

That's funny...I hadn't thougth about the TV screen for looking at these shots of mine...I'm going to transfer a batch to a Sony stick and look at them on the HD set...:-))

 

I think that MB has learned lessons from the e320 2003 2004 MY ,and that by the time they roll out with the new w212 they will have had time to perfect the looks, driving and everything...so perhaps you should wait until the w212 in about 1.5 years ?