Mercedes Vs. Lexus

I am just wondering, because I cannot really afford a Lexus, but my
brother claims that a LExus would never do for him-its gotta be a
Benz.I told him I thought Mercedes were overpriced unreleaible
overengineered machines, and that a Lexus would be more reliable and
just as comfortable. What say ye?


--
sloppybeak

On Sat, 4 Mar 2006 10:35:33 -0500, sloppybeak <sloppybeak.245jgz (AT) no-mx (DOT) forums.yourdomain.com.au> wrote:

I am just wondering, because I cannot really afford a Lexus, but my
brother claims that a LExus would never do for him-its gotta be a
Benz.I told him I thought Mercedes were overpriced unreleaible
overengineered machines, and that a Lexus would be more reliable and
just as comfortable. What say ye?

I would never buy a car from a company that makes the Dodge.

I see you're in Australia, so you probably don't see the American
magazine, Consumer Reports. It just came out with it's ratings of
reliability of various cars, as gathered from subscriber's surveys.

Most folks in the US (but not all) view these ratings of reliability
as the best available.

In response to your post, I just looked through the new ratings, and
the results are striking. Lexus is clearly on top in every relevant
category, as is Toyota. Honda is just about as good-- the differences
are likely not to be statistically significant.

Below is an article, cut a pasted from the Pittsburgh PA Post-Gazette
in Pennsylvania, reporting on the results:

For the first time since it introduced the annual listing in 1997,
all of Consumer Reports' Top Ten vehicles are Japanese-made.

The top picks are models that scored at or near the top in the
magazine's testing program, have average or better predicted
reliability , and performed adequately in overall crash protection as
tested by the government or insurance industry.

Here are the top picks in each of the 10 categories: sedan, less than
$20,000: Honda Civic 2; sedan, $20,000-$30,000: Honda Accord 3; sedan,
$30,000-$40,000: Acura TL 4; luxury sedan: Infiniti M35 5; SUV, less
than $30,000: Subaru Forester 6; SUV, more than $30,000: Toyota
Highlander Hybrid 7; minivan: Honda Odyssey 8; pickup truck: Honda
Ridgeline 9; green car: Toyota Prius 10; fun to drive: Subaru Impreza
WRX / STi.

In a survey of Consumer Reports subscribers for predicted reliability,
Chrysler and Mercury improved their showings. Mercury was the only
American brand to crack the Top Ten, checking in at No. 8, while
Chrysler moved up five places, to No. 15, out of 36 brands.

Lexus was named most reliable, followed by Honda, Toyota, Mitsubishi,
Subaru, Acura, Scion, Mercury, Mazda and Suzuki.

In the meantime, Chevrolet, Ford, Dodge and other American brands
languished in the lower rungs of the predicted reliability survey.

Predicted reliability rates for American brands have been about the
same for the last two years: 17 problems per 100 vehicles in 2004 and
18 per 100 in 2005.

But the most unreliable brands in the survey were European, with an
overall 21 problems per 100 vehicles.

The 10 lowest-rated brands were Audi, Infiniti, Saturn, Lincoln,
Jaguar, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, Land Rover, Hummer and Porsche.


On Sat, 4 Mar 2006 10:35:33 -0500, sloppybeak
<sloppybeak.245jgz (AT) no-mx (DOT) forums.yourdomain.com.au> wrote:

I am just wondering, because I cannot really afford a Lexus, but my
brother claims that a LExus would never do for him-its gotta be a
Benz.I told him I thought Mercedes were overpriced unreleaible
overengineered machines, and that a Lexus would be more reliable and
just as comfortable. What say ye?

"sloppybeak" <sloppybeak.245jgz (AT) no-mx (DOT) forums.yourdomain.com.au> wrote in
message news:sloppybeak.245jgz (AT) no-mx (DOT) forums.yourdomain.com.au...

I am just wondering, because I cannot really afford a Lexus, but my
brother claims that a LExus would never do for him-its gotta be a
Benz.I told him I thought Mercedes were overpriced unreleaible
overengineered machines, and that a Lexus would be more reliable and
just as comfortable. What say ye?

When you start talking about cars in the league of BMW, Lexus and
Mercedes-Benz, they are all extremely nice. Even though I personally own a
Lexus brand product, I have a lot of respect for BMW and Mercedes-Benz both.
I would be proud to drive a vehicle manufactured by any of these three. BMW
and Mercedes-Benz traditionally have had better exterior styling and superb
driving dynamics, while Lexus tends to concentrate intensely on initial
build quality and downstream reliability. Good electronics are a high point
for Lexus. I realize that a car's looks are subjective, but in my opinion,
BMW and Mercedes-Benz both make some great-looking vehicles.

So, you're probably correct to some degree with your comments to your
brother. And again, the interior and exterior styling is subjective. One
man's treasure is another man's junk. ;-)

Ron M.

On Sun, 05 Mar 2006 08:24:26 -0500, "Elmo P. Shagnasty"
<elmop (AT) nastydesigns (DOT) com> graced this newsgroup with:

In article <hnjk02loj9hk073f9mksqls7gb1fruc239 (AT) 4ax (DOT) com>,
jdoe <jdoe (AT) aol (DOT) com> wrote:

I am just wondering, because I cannot really afford a Lexus, but my
brother claims that a LExus would never do for him-its gotta be a
Benz.I told him I thought Mercedes were overpriced unreleaible
overengineered machines, and that a Lexus would be more reliable and
just as comfortable. What say ye?
as an owner of both, I like my benz better, the lexus is a fine car if
you just want to get from here to there but for people who really
enjoy driving the benz is far superior

Me, I wouldn't buy a German car with YOUR money. (Been there, done that.)

And yes, I "get" German cars. German cars are the expensive, pouty, and
high-maintenance mistresses of the road. Damn, they are a fine, fine
ride...

....but then the maintenance and pouting kicks in.

At some point, without unlimited funds, you are at a decision point:
continue the high-priced, high-maintenance fun, or go back home and
enjoy your reliable Lexus wife of a car, patiently sitting there waiting
for you to get over the midlife crisis.

Oh sure, she's not as sexy as the German car, and she doesn't handle at
the edge like the German car. She's also not as fickle and high
maintenance and pouty, and she agrees with you much more of the time.
She's always there and never complains, and you come to realize there's
more to life than a high-maintenance relationship with a pouty,
high-maintenance woman--no matter how sexy she is or how fun the nights
out with her can be. Because when she lets you down and demands more of
you than you have to give, and treats you like dirt, you're standing
there all alone outside the club, looking and feeling like an idiot.

Your Lexus wife would never, ever do that to you.

And the occasional fun night out isn't worth what you end up paying for
it, both financially and in time wasted while you wait for the German
car mistress to be in the mood to play.

Do this: start paying attention to cars with tail light and headlight
problems. What brands of cars are you seeing? That's right--VW, M-B, and
BMW. And pay attention to how old, or rather how new, those problem cars
are.

The reality of electrical issues with German cars make Lucas electrics
look reliable.

Now *try* to find a Honda or Toyota, either low brand or high brand, no
matter how old, with non-working tail lights. Good luck.

It's a small thing, but it represents the reality of the situation. You
want to buy a German car? Just buy a GM car. At least the money you're
throwing away stays more inside the country--and you get just as
reliable a car.

Holy shit. Every once in a while there comes on the Internet, a
response that makes so much sense that it MUST of been posted by
mistake.

This one's a keeper.

thanks.

Dear Dude,

You have spoken the truth. What's more, you've obviously lived the
nightmare but can still tell the tale*.

Shag Nasty by name, cuddly soothsayer by nature.

My hero.

---
David

* I've lived it too, but still can't bring myself to speak of it. Help me
Elmo!

Do this: start paying attention to cars with tail light and headlight
problems. What brands of cars are you seeing? That's right--VW, M-B, and
BMW. And pay attention to how old, or rather how new, those problem cars
are.

Absolutely. In my rough statistics, Audi (VW) scored highest in this

category.

I'm in total agreement: if you don't mind the maintenance hassle/cost,
go for German - you get the fun part of driving/ego too. Toyota/Lexus
is your answer if you want to have a dependable car and don't mind
having a bit lesser fun (than the over-priced German that is).

On Sun, 05 Mar 2006 08:24:26 -0500, "Elmo P. Shagnasty" <elmop (AT) nastydesigns (DOT) com> wrote:

In article <hnjk02loj9hk073f9mksqls7gb1fruc239 (AT) 4ax (DOT) com>,
jdoe <jdoe (AT) aol (DOT) com> wrote:

I am just wondering, because I cannot really afford a Lexus, but my
brother claims that a LExus would never do for him-its gotta be a
Benz.I told him I thought Mercedes were overpriced unreleaible
overengineered machines, and that a Lexus would be more reliable and
just as comfortable. What say ye?
as an owner of both, I like my benz better, the lexus is a fine car if
you just want to get from here to there but for people who really
enjoy driving the benz is far superior

Me, I wouldn't buy a German car with YOUR money. (Been there, done that.)

And yes, I "get" German cars. German cars are the expensive, pouty, and
high-maintenance mistresses of the road. Damn, they are a fine, fine
ride...

....but then the maintenance and pouting kicks in.

At some point, without unlimited funds, you are at a decision point:
continue the high-priced, high-maintenance fun, or go back home and
enjoy your reliable Lexus wife of a car, patiently sitting there waiting
for you to get over the midlife crisis.

Oh sure, she's not as sexy as the German car, and she doesn't handle at
the edge like the German car. She's also not as fickle and high
maintenance and pouty, and she agrees with you much more of the time.
She's always there and never complains, and you come to realize there's
more to life than a high-maintenance relationship with a pouty,
high-maintenance woman--no matter how sexy she is or how fun the nights
out with her can be. Because when she lets you down and demands more of
you than you have to give, and treats you like dirt, you're standing
there all alone outside the club, looking and feeling like an idiot.

Your Lexus wife would never, ever do that to you.

And the occasional fun night out isn't worth what you end up paying for
it, both financially and in time wasted while you wait for the German
car mistress to be in the mood to play.

Do this: start paying attention to cars with tail light and headlight
problems. What brands of cars are you seeing? That's right--VW, M-B, and
BMW. And pay attention to how old, or rather how new, those problem cars
are.

Maybe out of the category, but Volvo (you know, that "safe" car) has the
absolute worst taillights and break light mechanisms. Worse than the old
Ford Fiesta (hey, that was German, wasn't it?) and that's saysing a lot.
I always wondered how a car can be safe when noboby else even knows when
you're stepping on the brakes.

I work with a number of Attorneys, most of whom drive 'Benz's. All of them
are on really good terms with the service department at the local 'Benz
dealership. I was at one of their houses Saturday doing some computer work.
He commented on my 01 GS-430, asked how I liked it and told me his tale of
woe: In 2003 he bought his wife a new S430 Benz. He paid $81,000.00 for it
and since:
1) It has spent an average of 31 days in the shop per year. Since this is
less than 45 days per year, Mercedes says it doesn't qualify as a lemon and
will do nothing about it.
2) It has his wife stranded a number of times.
3) After much negation, the only thing Mercedes would do was to extend his
warranty to 5 years, 100,000 miles.
The car now has 23,000 miles on it, Since it's left his wife stranded so
many times, she refuses to drive it. I suggested making a flower planter out
of it.
I told him I paid a little more than 1/3 of the cost of his 'Benz for my
Lexus, have had "0" problems with it. He didn't offer to trade me straight
across, but he was thinking about it.
Personally, I will stay with Lexus.


"sloppybeak" <sloppybeak.245jgz (AT) no-mx (DOT) forums.yourdomain.com.au> wrote in
message news:sloppybeak.245jgz (AT) no-mx (DOT) forums.yourdomain.com.au...

I am just wondering, because I cannot really afford a Lexus, but my
brother claims that a LExus would never do for him-its gotta be a
Benz.I told him I thought Mercedes were overpriced unreleaible
overengineered machines, and that a Lexus would be more reliable and
just as comfortable. What say ye?


--
sloppybeak
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"Bill in Yakima" <wjh1nospam (AT) yvn (DOT) com "Ah I didn't see a hold..." - John
Madden, 2-5-06> wrote

I work with a number of Attorneys, most of whom drive 'Benz's. All of them
are on really good terms with the service department at the local 'Benz
dealership. I was at one of their houses Saturday doing some computer work.
He commented on my 01 GS-430, asked how I liked it and told me his tale of
woe: In 2003 he bought his wife a new S430 Benz. He paid $81,000.00 for it
and since:
1) It has spent an average of 31 days in the shop per year. Since this is
less than 45 days per year, Mercedes says it doesn't qualify as a lemon
and will do nothing about it.
2) It has his wife stranded a number of times.
3) After much negation, the only thing Mercedes would do was to extend his
warranty to 5 years, 100,000 miles.
The car now has 23,000 miles on it, Since it's left his wife stranded so
many times, she refuses to drive it. I suggested making a flower planter
out of it.
I told him I paid a little more than 1/3 of the cost of his 'Benz for my
Lexus, have had "0" problems with it. He didn't offer to trade me straight
across, but he was thinking about it.
Personally, I will stay with Lexus.

$81,000.00 for Chevy Cavalier-level reliability it sounds like to me. It's
stories such as yours that steered me into the Lexus camp.

I have a close friend that said he'd never purchase another Benz due to the
vast amount of problems that he experienced with his. And this guy is very,
VERY particular about maintaining his vehicles properly. So in his case the
problems definitely were not due to neglect.

It would be really, *really* sad to drop that kind of money for a
problematic vehicle; regardless of how wealthy a person may be. No matter
how good a car looks inside or out, or how many features it has, if things
don't work properly it can totally sour you on the manufacturer of the
vehicle. Sometimes for life depending on how bad the problems are. That's
how I feel about GM at the moment. I don't feel as though my opinion of them
will change anytime soon.

Ron M.