TwiBlueG35

I don't understand why so many people like CLS styling. It is absolutely the ugliest sedan I could find......Among the mid-sized luxury sports sedan in the current market, I found most of them extremely good looking, my favorite is 5-series, then the aero-package equipped Infiniti M, then Lexus GS. RL is good but too heavy and engine kind of small....But my final choice would be BMW 550i, if it is not as unreliable as 545i. CLS? Way too wierd looking and too much troubles with the M-B cars today.....GS and M might be the best deal, just not as appealing as 5-series to me.

Overclocker

Congrats on the purchase and welcome!

Very cool story regarding the factors surrounding your purchase.

Lisa_GS

Good choice !
but please wait few quarters for the 2007 GS460 as well as the 2007 CLS550

jwa

Diversity of opinion is good; otherwise, we would all be driving the same car.

In fairness to the CLS, it looks much better in person than it does in photos. I've actually taken my GS to the MB dealer, and parked next to a CLS so I could compare the two. IMO, the CLS styling is more agressive, interesting, and inspiring than that of the GS.

LexFather

lmao....................

Analyzer

Ok, I'm back. Thanks for the cool replies.

HemantS - had I purchased it, the CLS may have been my mid-life love interest, as I am 41. I say if it's the car you want, go for it! I am in a little different position as I am about to enter into a new business partnership and was hesitant about the employees perception of the new co-owner (me) driving a car that looks even more expensive than it is (IMO). Of course, the perceived mechanical problems helped sway my decision also.

sCWells 72 - good analysis. The M45 was in my top 5 as well as a Range Rover Sport. The M45 is a great car.

jwa - the CLS 63 is going to be a BEAST!!!

TWIBlueG35 - the CLS is polarizing but if you have not already done so, take a look in person.

Also, I wish I had time to wait until the 460 comes out, but the timing of my new business was such that I had to purchase now.

For all of you trying to decide on a car, keep a VERY open mind. I drove myself batty doing so, but in the end, I made the right decision for me.

yell01

I had my choices narrowed to the CLS and GS430. I have one friend with the CLS and he's had problems. I have another friend with and E320 and he's going back to Lexus for his next car (too many problems). I had a similar perception issue as Analyzer, didn't feel right pulling up to clients in a Benz thinking I was making too much. I've had my GS for 6 weeks and 2000 miles and love it.

shiznak

We tested the CLS500 before the GS430. We were disappointed with the "off-the-line" power, (I had to drop it into manual mode just to get a nice jump off the line), and the interior space was just way too small. Seating for only two in the back, and when the drivers seat was in my preferred position, the back of the seat was practically flush with the front of the rear seat. So either me, or the person sitting behind me would have been uncomfortable. I'm 6' 2" by the way.

To this day, the look of the CLS500 is one of my favorites and by far the best feature of the car, however the GS430 did not have any of the shortcommings of the CLS500, making it a no brainer on our part.

PoppFlyy

Before I bought my GS, I spent almost 2 full days at an MB dealership trying to find a Benz I liked.... I mean REALLLY liked. I even helped a friend by a new Benz on the second day at the dealership. Well to make a long story short, I spent like 5 minutes in the GS and I loved it and was hooked.

2 days vs 5 minutes
That speaks volumes

Nice choice Analyzer, welcome to the forums...

Raptor.1

CLS = Banana.

LexFather

I have to say out of all the reading I've done on forums, the GS is the only Japanese sedan people seriously compare and shop with to the Mercedes CLS. Says a lot about the GS styling, as the CLS is a very stylish car (I personally love it).

GStateOM

I drove a friend's 550i and was sort of disappointed. Although it handles well, the car feels like a heavy pig. These cars would be that much better if they weighed less.

doug_999

The 550 has the second lowest weight in its class and the highest power to weight ratio - unfortunately it will never handle like a 3-series.

lexguynj

I love the look of the CLS - man it that a beautiful car.

I am biased towards the 550i and love this vehicle, since it's one of the most fun cars to drive, HOWEVER for my next car, cost-wise when the future 380HP GS460 comes out at the same price as a loaded 530i, than the GS460 with all that power seems like a no brainer against a 530i and a better bang for the buck against a loaded 550i.