Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
Although I presently on Jaguars, I would recommend the new S-class to someone in the market for highline luxury cars. My reason is that it is the only newly developed one in the pack. You can try it while waiting to see what Jaguar, BMW and Lexus will do next. Actually, the new Lexus LS and SC will be out soon, but if you buy the Benz you buy the original not the copy(Lexus).
M
I enjoyed seeing a new DB7 coupe on my way to Orlando the best though. Even though it really the same car as my XK8 coupe, it was a rare treat.
M
As far as the ride is concerned, the S-class has it beat though. I felt a little shake in the steering column. I notice things like that in cars. My XK8 does the came thing sometimes. It may have something to do with the tires, I don't know.
Would I trade in my XK8 for it? Yes. Maybe one day, but not yet. I need a little more time in the Jag.
Budfox057,
Ok this is how they do it. The 2001 7-Series just went on sale, and it has body-color molding and trim now plus more standard equipment....even though the car has about 16 months to go. The did the same thing in 1995 with the 5-Series. The upgraded it for the 1995 model year and then the 1997 (no 1996 models were made) model came out spring of 1996. I like the way they do it personally, they wring everything they can out of a design before changing it, and the customer almost always benefits from this. Have you driven any one of your choices yet?
M
not going to trade in the XK8 yet. I need a little more time in the Jaguar. The convertible CL500 does sound good, but I like coupes more than convertibles. I can see a CL500 in my future.
gstutz,
I had a 95 740il. I think its the best all around luxury car on the market. Hopefully you will not have the electrical problems I had. Looks like you got a good one.
M
Ah well, we'll have to wait a couple of years for headquarters to figure it out and bring back the Mercedes we all love to be intimidated by.
We look at the new S, and just can't do it. We are fairly young too, but the retro on the big Benz does quite work. It remind me more of the 740il. The old problem you have in my mind is that the BMW and Jag are both going to change styles in the new year or two.
Anyway, happy hunting.
The new one just lost that imposing, larger than life aura of the old car, but the new S is gorgeous though!
M
M
Do you mean BMW 528i, and didn't they just get a facelift a couple of years ago?
If it is the 528i vs C320, that a hard choice actually. I think I would go with the C320 though. Newer design, more room than old C, and you save $10k
I don't like the interior. LS400 laser light- show-[non-permissible content removed] Ford F150- [non-permissible content removed] Spaceship Mercedes.
The exterior is very modern. In this case I don't find that to be good.
I think the problem is there is nothing original anymore. It seems probable that styling relates to material. When cars were metal design had to do with the characteristics of metal work. In this plastic world everything looks melted.
As I read this topic it occurred to me that there are two kinds of people who buy these kinds of cars.
Type 1. Those who seek status because they can afford to indulge.
Type 2.Those who seek status and really can't afford to, but somehow manage to find the wherewithal to create the impression.
I honestly believe that we hear most from the latter in this topic.
Sincerely hope I haven't stepped on anyone's toes.
A lexus is a Toyota, with better leather, that costs 20,000 more.
My cousin was looking at a lexus and when we looked at the glass, it said "TOYOTA" on it, not even Lexus. That's an example of how cheap a car company can be. It's the little things that count.
Almost got him into a BMW 540i, but instead he took the Porshe Boxter.
Some think about the 1966 Corona and think this is the status of Toyota. If you look at industry global platform sharing, engine families, and parts sharing you can put the name in some more perspective.
As to the fixation on "Toyota," I've been saying that the Celsior (LS400) is Toyota's flagship.
It isn't.
ES300 topic:
#104 of 105: Crown (jrct9454) Mon 29 May '00 (06:50 AM)
The Crown has always been their flagship car,
intended for the corporate mucka-mucks who are
driven in the back seat. Styling in the past couple of decades clearly is designed to appeal to the local market, and the car has rarely been sold in any significant numbers outside Asia. Think S-Class by way of Maybach...with doilies on the headrests and a bodyguard in the front seat...
Toyota is one of a handful of companies that have the ability to make V-12 cars from the ground up.
LS400 is the highest build quality of any car being sold in the US. You'd better research the glass, the specifications to which it was made, who made it, and where else it might be used instead of jumping on the fact it says Toyota.
Some auto glass says "PPG" (Pittsburgh Plate Glass)or "LOF" (Libbey-Owens-Ford) - 2 of the largest suppliers to the auto industry. Does this mean that the the cars that use it are cheaper or less good in some way? I don't think so.
Sounds like Lexus-bashing to me!
M
Don't know man, that a hard choice. A 5-series is very nice, but the new C-class look very interesting to me. Personally, I would rule out the M3. Good luck on choicing this one.
Anyway, the only person that a name on the windshield matters to is the potential buyer. If you don't care, then its all good.
Since we are talking about these cars Lexus ES300 is a rebadged Toyota Windom and not Camry. How many times have I told you grasshopper. In fairness to the gentleman Windom and Camry share parts "less than 25%. " The glass might be one of those parts.
How many whole engines in Jaguars are made by Ford? SAAB 9-5 is platform sharing with Opel and Saturn. Some Hondas are made in Canada of Canada, US, and Japan parts. If people are going to be "turned off" by this they better stop buying cars.
M
Now, the 5 vs. new C-class is a hard one for me. I could think of many reason to choice one over the other. The facelift thing I understand now, so I guess that give the 5 one more point in my mind.
Good luck in your decision.
Mercedes age well. For me, Mercedes make sense in Germany, at ultra high speeds. But for me, there is stiffness in the car, well oiled stiffness, but a bit of it is there. I like Audis, seem less stiff and I actuall find the fit and finish best of all German cars currently.
The cars also differ suspensionwise and how they work out the important things. To me, so what, if Lexus copies Mercedes to some degree. Inside Lexus is very much Japanese, if not necessarily distinctive Japanese (although I feel the GS series is more distinctive within)
First of all, if I am in the market for a new luxury car, I dont care what it says on the one inch of glass. Second, all three luxury cars out of japan ALL have their parent company names on the glass. Third, they probably thought it was a waste of time to put "Lexus" on the glass, since they would need the glass on a Toyota anyway (hence in Japan). They probably thought that they could spend more time, let's say, building a better car?
BTW, in the "Early" years of Lexus, they had both Lexus AND Toyota on the glass.