karl k

That's funny, and I think its true. I do not know about wet dogs.

The Sl is an aesthetic triumph. I just hope that the electrical/electronics match its beauty.

amg55

"Comparing the Lexus to the SL is ridiculous. Its like comparing the smell and appeal of a beautiful rose to the smell and appeal of a wet dog's ***".

Anyone care to paste that one over on one of the Lexus boards??

Oh man, that's a REALLY harsh simile!
Not that I disagree. I laughed the first time I saw that car and I've never seen anyone under maybe 55 years old driving it.

Pretty funny stuff, Ibanez.

ibanez

Hey, it may be harsh, but its definitely true (not that I have smelled a wet dog''s ***, but I can only imagine its not very pleasant).

There are very few cars that provoke the kind of nauseated feeling you get the day after you have drunken a case of beer and a bottle of JD; the SC just happens to be one of them. I honestly cannot believe that somedbody really thought the wheels were attractive. It just goes to show that there are all kinds of taste (including bad taste). I think the person that finds the styling of the Lexus to be revoltutionary, innovative or attractice is the kind of person that wears plaid shirts matched with striped pants. There is a reason they created guranimals (or however you spell it) and these people are the epitome of that reason.

One more Lexus SC buyer just means one more SL available for you and me to get. Keep buying them Toyotas.

Mercedes101

If you own a $125K car - i don't think you should be defensive. Comparing it with the longevity of a Honda is silly - a honda is a fine product - i drove a 92 Prelude thru 85K miles without a single problem and in some ways it "stirred my soul" more than my current C-Class - automotive heritage aside that is. The SL is in a league by itself - it will break down and have more problems than a Honda but who cares!

alkapin

exactly! "who cares"! there is only one question must be asked. what do you want to drive? mercedes ot toyota? and those who says toyota(lexus)...well, THEY ARE LYING!!! :-)

pongydoo

I like both SL and SC but keep in mind that SL is about 30-40k more and one thing that I heard somewhere is that German invent cars but Japanese makes it work.....and also I think that SL is overprice (most German cars anyway!!) sorry

rennrcr

I am sorry...but I think the SC 430 is a god-awful looking car...It looks like a deformed jelly bean. If I wanted 4 seats i'd get a sedan. And about the Mark Levinson...to hell with it...the SLs sound system is perfectly fine.

But the SL is just a beautiful car...just extremely beautiful. Can't even compare...the car is just quality all the way around from the exhaust note to the keyless card and go feature...just everything...plus u can't the true engineering designs like ABC in no stinkin' lexo. Lexus is a wanna be - never will be.

karl k

From the ergonomic point of view of a 6'2 person, the interior accomodations of the SC430 provide superior comfort re space.

I had a 2001 SL500 and felt NEVER comfortable, because the seat did not go back far enough. I sat in the 2003 SL - same discomfort!

In the SC430 the back reclines another 3-4 inches.

The sound beats many home systems. The DVD navigation screen location, the 6 in-disc CD - quality, quality, quality still rings in my ears and my mind's eye. If the exterior, particularly the rear end design would match the interior, the SC430 would be an automotive design triumph.

alkapin

comfort is 'subjective' thing. i am 6'5" and felt great in my SL.

and you know what, where are several posting of yours about 'discomfort' in SL and how great is SC. i guees you trying to prove it to yourself. try repeat before going to bed SL sucks SL sucks, SC rules, SC rules, then get one of those ugly *** midlle age women style toyotas and get the hell out of this board.

W210

I haven't taken the SC430 out for a test drive yet but from all sources, the 2003 SL500 offers a far superior driving experience. You cannot even begin to compare the active safety between the two cars.

I'm 6 foot 1 and I feel more comfortable in the 2003 SL than the SC430. The SL has much more head room and is a more practical car in my opinion, with a useful trunk to say the least.

karl k

My remarks simply focused on stationary ergonomics, which for my 6'2" frame, the SC430 has it over the SL.

W210

I agree with you alkapin, I feel far more comfortable in the SL too, it surely beats the SC430, 996, CLK, Z8, 360 for comfort. With my driving position, I actually have more headroom in the R230 than the W210.

Angel_Dust

i don't understand what the hell you guys are arguing about.....at the end of the day what it comes down to is how much money do you have to spend on a car.....people who buy the sl's can afford the sc430 but choose not to buy it....the same cannot be said for the sc430 owners.....or maybe they like bargains....i don't know....and for god sakes...i don't give a ****.....

a benz will always be a benz no matter how you break it down....yes reliability....comfort....interior styling....engine....etc etc etc....they are all important but remember different people like different things.....

are people who spend 90 grand on an acura all idiots??

no way....maybe they just like the ride of an nsx.....as for me if i had 90 grand i wouldn't be buying an acura but there are those who will......

if ya like the sc430....GO BUY IT......if ya don't....then DON'T BUY IT

as for me the sl is just pure sex.....can't get enough of that car....

karl k

Well put AD.

I was just talking about ergonomics: human engineering and quality, NOT price.

For myself, I would not buy the SL (been there, done that ...and disappointed, nor the SC.

I simply love my CLK55 AMG. It not only meets all of my driving enjoyment/requirements - perfectly!

Angel_Dust

good point karl

it's just a matter of taste....like clothing that's all.....

versace is damn expensive but so is zegna but i would never buy any versace....as for zegna.....gots a few suits from them myself....

same thing here.....i have the clk430.....will i buy the clk500....nope....been there done that....as for the sl.....don't know if i'll buy the 500.....from what i hear its a little on the soft side and somewhat underpowered.....

but the sl55....thats a whole different story....but then you come into the "good" problem of deciding between a 911 turbo and the sl55....both are similarly priced.....what do you choose.....just wish i had that problem.....

orangemarlin

But, there numerous differences between upper end german cars and upper end japanese cars. I think it starts at the engineering and design levels.

The Japanese seem to be passive. They sit there and determine what we would like and then try to make it happen. The SC430 looks and feels like a design study from a bunch of students. It doesn't look or feel like a driving machine. I keep think it's an AudiTT when I see it, but only from certain angles.

The Germans are much more aggressive. They sit there and determine what kind of car would they like to drive on the Autobahn. And we get a whole host of BMW's, M-B's, Audi's and Porsches. And each one of them are driving machines in one form or another.

Lexus suspension...blech.
Lexus brakes...mushy.
Transmission...big blech.

I can afford any car I want. And, sorry to the marketing gurus at Lexus, Infiniti and Acura, I don't like your cars. The last high end japanes car I owned was an Acura Legend Coupe. I loved that car, but even so, when I want to DRIVE, I took out the Porsche 944 or BMW 325is.

I'm waiting for the an SL55 or maybe the SL600. Those are cars. The Lexus doesn't do anything for me.

As more of a BMW driver than an MB driver, I often make silly jokes about MB owners. (But I do feel sorry for you MB types since you're about 20 years older than we BMW types....sorry, couldn't resist). :p

But a Lexus owner? Usually female. Or a male who knows squat about cars.

Glad this thread wasn't about the IS300. Now THAT is one ugly car.

Angel_Dust

orangemarlin

don't know if i agree that mb drivers are on average younger than bmw drivers....

mb_newbie

Actually, he claimed the opposite (i.e.: bmw driver are average younger than mb driver).
I don't think I am that old...

--mb_newbie

orangemarlin

This is based on those JD Power post-purchase surveys. I believe, on average, MB purchaser are older than the average BMW purchaser. I think that's why MB came out with the C-Class to compete with the youthful owners of the 3-series.

I'm not going to lose sleep over it, since I own both cars. I think the CL and SL are absolutely gorgeous cars that are going to attract a lot of younger, hip buyers (being neither young nor hip, I'll not be helping the demographics).

rennrcr

well...i dunno about u...but in my world...Mercedes Benz has always been "big pimpin' or big ballin' " depending on ur locale...

so...i think it is irrelevent whether or not mercedes "designed" the CL and SL for a younger crowd...

btw...i m not trying criticizing u...just merely presenting my point but hey...we all in the same boat rite?

Nighttrain

What do you do for a living? You can afford any car you want?
HOW do I join you in that foray! =)

The SL55 is a long limbed beautiful supermodel who.... may not be liked all, but can be appreciated by many. The SC430 is a cute/chubby intellectual type and cute in the eye of a very forgiving beholder.

karl k

How do you like the 1993 Lexus SC400 re reliability, service, fun, etc.?

Would appreciate short a para. tnx

Nighttrain

Hey Karl.

Love my 93 Lexus SC400. I've driven it ALL over the place..has 140K on it and STILL running strong. I've put all kinds of custom mods on it, wheels, stereo, dvd, torque conveter, connelly leather upgrade custom HID headlights and foglights..and it still purs.
Totally reliable, and built to go 300K. In fact, my neighbor who owns a law firm drives a 92 w/320K miles on it..and his car looks newer than MINE! He's got the same engine..but replaced the tranny at 280K miles. I'd say that's pretty good wear =0

Honestly, it performs MUCH better and sounds better than my 1999 Mercedes S430 that has only 60K on it and sounds like it's aging.

That's why my dream car lists consists of getting the last 2000 model and putting some serious forced induction on it.

I hope I don't make the mercedes natives restless here by showing my lexus car picts..but here you go...

Quiet, reliable and fun to drive. I'm not a fan of the SC430, but forever a fan of the SC400

karl k

Nighttrain:

Tnx for the detailed response.

The design team for this SC400 was from Clifornia. They used stretched balloon shapes to develop the beautiful exterior design.

Additionally, the technology and features were ahead of its time. Quality certainly is paying off, as evidenced by the 300k + enginelife.

I wish that the SC430 would be 8-12" longer!!

Nighttrain

I'm always curious how the CLK 55 does against C5 vettes, and M5s...how bout M3s?