SL/R230: Lexus SC430 Better???
I have been watching this thread grow and grow and wondering why????
I have been telling myself..."don't contribute...don't encourage the thread"...but I can't stand it any more....
This is not even a valid question....I am sorry but the SL...even the 500 is in a whole different league...Please....Give it a rest!!!
It's too obvious which is a more desirable car. But, ok, let's do the good deed and say it out: my SL breaks down all the time, I wish I bought a reliable, better value, nicer interior/exterior Lexus (with the killer radio). In fact, the SC430 is so much more superior one shouldn't even need to test drive the SL500 to compare!
And of course, all SL500 owners have been secretly checking on all the Lexus forums but they're just too shy and embarrassed to show their interests.
Yes, I wish I bought a Lexus, I wish I bought a Lexus, I wish I bought a Lexus..
If any of you guys were planning to sell some WorldCom stock to pay for your SL, now might be a good time to re-evaluate the Lexus...
http://www2.marketwatch.com/tools/qu...1&imgInput.y=8
I agree, lets all sell our crappy Mercedes (my CLK55 is too slow anyway) and go out and buy Toyota's today! Let us all embrace poor styling and bad taste and buy an SC! I mean, who cares what a car looks like as long as my Bee Gees 8 tracks sound good on the factory radio.

YES the SL500 is a very very sexy car. I never said it wasnt. I just said the price looks very very ugly for the quality. Mercedes could've made the car better for the price. At least put a better system in it.
I only like the sl500. All other mercedes is junk imo.
I dont care what you guys have to say about the Lex. I think it looks hot and thats all that counts right?
How many of you guys actually have the SL500 and not just 'on the waiting list'?
And how many of u guys are under 25?
Last edited by pot_head; Jun 26, 2002 at 07:33 PM.
Now, repeat after me (remember this is you saying this) "I will stay on the Toyota message board and not venture where I don't belong, I will stay on the Toyota message board and not venture where I don't belong, I will stay on the Toyota message board and not venture where I don't belong"
Last edited by ibanez; Jun 26, 2002 at 09:24 PM.
Besides, the stone interior is really nice, for some reason most dealerships only order the charcoal leather with walnut which doesn't do the car justice. Charcoal should only be ordered with ash while the stone goes really well with the walnut wood trim.
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Umm, i think you guys should go back to school or at least learn to read. I said the least mercedes could've done is put a better system. I didnt say the sl is cheap cuz it has a bad system. I didnt say the sl sucks. Ppl on this board are pretty uptight. Loosen your collars lay back and relax. Breath..in...out...in...out...
And why does everyone here say i cant afford one? Even tho the sl is overpriced, im going to get one anyways. Why? Just to rub it in your guys face. well, not just that. i like the sl also. Its the first and last benz i would buy for myself tho.
But seriously, i bought a 01 slk230 for my girlfriend today. its not bad. i like hardtops converts but seriously, that interior is pretty crappy. My bmw has a similar interior. And its a 95 e36 too. I would think Mercedes wouldve made the interior of a 01 car much nicer than a e36 bmw. The slk rattles more than the bmw, even tho the bmw has 35k miles more than the slk.
So nobody here agrees with what i said? about the sl being a very sexy car? How come nobody here agrees with me? Does everyone here think the sl's interior cant be any better? i can think of a few things mercedes couldve done to make the interior better. Oh sorry, i forgot all mercedes owners are biased. Prove me wrong. I own a lexus and i even have good things to say about the mercedes lineup of cars. And i admitted i was wrong for saying all mercedes are crap except the sl and i apoligized. in my first post on this subject, i've said good things about the sl. So do u guys think everything about lexus sucks? i'd like to hear from some of u guys on this. i really want to know what kind of ppl are on this board. uptight little kids who think what they have are the best and will go to the end of the world to prove it or ppl who admit that what they have can be better.
I don't remember that I criticized any Lexus (my personal opinion is any car in or above this price range is not for "practical" purpose anymore, and it is personal taste being dominated when you choose car with this kind of price tag).
I do remember that you mentioned (indirectly) my car (2002 CL600) is junk.
-- mb_newbie
Well in reality I was also under this impression. MERCEDES BENZ had this mystique and panache factor UNTIL I began to understand cars and details.
IMO, the cars are simply not worth the extra dough for comparable models (not talking about AMG cars or V-12 cars as obviously not only does Lexus not offer comparable models but hardly does the competition). Driving and sitting and feeling these cars, I could not undestand why pay more.
I think most people think the same as Lexus has only a handful of models but it the best selling luxury car brand here.
I am not knocking anyones car. If I WON a Benz, I'd drive it. With my hard earned dough, I'll stick with Lexus and be a little "souless" (I guess Mercedes Benz cars listen to hip-hop and R&B and James Brown in the factory to get this "SOUL" obviously Lexus cars play Sinatra and Jazz) LOL.
ibanez, get off your Toyota ego trip. Lexus happens to not have EVER SOLD any 4-cylinder cars (well in the US), nor embaressing hatchbacks, cheapening the marque.
IMO, the cars are simply not worth the extra dough for comparable models
(not talking about AMG cars or V-12 cars as obviously not only does Lexus not offer comparable models but hardly does the competition).
Driving and sitting and feeling these cars, I could not undestand why pay more. unquote
I agree. Best car I've owned, the 55 AMG!!
tnx
How do some of ya'll feel about the AMG kits on non-engine AMG cars? I don't think it is right.
I can justify paying more for an AMG car OBVIOUSLY. Just for the exclusivity alone, let alone the cars credentials.
How do some of ya'll feel about the AMG kits on non-engine AMG cars? I don't think it is right.
http://www.mbusa.com/brand/container...&modelCode=AMG
There are only a few true AMG s,
but lots of AMG WANNA-BE s!
http://www.mbusa.com/brand/container...&modelCode=AMG
Hey Sick,
Actually I'm a LONG time member of the clublexus forum.
My name there is Anthracite SC.
I come here for my S430 and for the better forum discussions. =)
In regards to the SC400/430. I agree the 430 is a touring car, and not to be mistaken w/a sports car.
The SL500 is also a touring car, but a more expensive one.
The SL55 is actually a sports CAR. THe thing outruns lamborghini murcielagos, porsche turbos, and ferrari modenas. I think if a car can do that...its steps into the SPORTS category and out of the TOUR category.
If there was an SC430/55 or something that was tuned for SPORT..I'd love to see it.
Until then, I'll be planning for my high HP supercharged OLD SC400
=0 Which will hopefully run w/an SL55
Mr. Norton, so Ferrari craftsmanship is that sub-par? So a Benz supercar to rival a Ferrari, I am assuming people would chose the Benz as poeple are somewhat fed up with Ferrari and their issues.
It is a Ferrari though......
It's strange that you're prepared to forgive Ferrari quality issues for a car which is more expensive than the SL and then berate Mercedes for its quality. I never go out in my Ferrari without the cab fare home. The last time I did a long journey in it, it broke down on the M25 (London's equivalent to DC's Beltway) and I limped into the dealer with 4 out of 8 cylinders on strike.
The SL is probably the most complex car on sale today and to expect some teething problems is reasonable. To assume otherwise is to not understand the nature of technological progress. Very few manufacturers could bring you the technology of the SL and the performance of the SL55, not a single one in the US, or the UK or indeed Japan, simply because they don't have the guts or the design flair to do it.
For me, the new SL is a thrilling ownership prospect, a wonderful design allied to leading-edge technology. I can hardly wait. My SL55 in prospect has me in a work frenzy at the moment so that I can take lots of time out later in the year to sample its delights. I don't think I will be disappointed for one minute.
The SC430 just doesn't press the same buttons. I think I'd be more excited by my new dishwasher.
As I suggested earlier, why don't you substitute the F with TRABANT or YUGO? Who are you trying to impress? If it is so bad -- dump it!
All of your anecdotal crap is meaningless. Re tech & innovation -- do light bulbs fall into this? A perennial and recurrent problem with MBs. I could go on, but I am not going to fall into this anecdotal crap trap.
Study Deming, and you'll get to know quality & quality control. The Japanese auto manufacturers did -- and it shows!
I'll do some digging, but if you can get it before me than go for it.
They reported that the SL55 could outrun those other car to 120mph....
The only thing you guy's can point to in comparing the Toyota and the Mercedes is higher ratings in quality surveys...and the stereo.
Get it? Light bulbs!
The electric light, one of the everyday conveniences that most affects our lives, was invented in 1879 by Thomas Alva Edison of the USA or as you might claim - Sir Joseph Wilson Swan in England.
Today 2002 - 123 years after the invention of the light bulb, burnt out light bulbs are a perennial and recurrent MB problem.
Make products that are eye catching and gadgety...BUT....keep em coming back because they need to keep upgrading or upkeeping their purchase.
German cars are designed to last the length of their warranty, but shorly thereafter it ALL goes to crap (mostly by design) so that you end up buying more of their stuff in the end.
Yes..japanese cars offer less excitement, but that extra couple grand(at least) after warranty on a german car really deflates the initial excitment for owning it.
SO that explains reoccuring light bulb problem, bearing problems(on 90's bimmer)...and any other nagging maintenance thing.
I've gotten wind to their game of their design. This isn't a FLAW on their part. It's marketing.
THey know better. If they really wanted to make things long lasting..they would have.
It's obvious they don't mind us coming back for more.


