USLEX

Comparison:

1 2003 Lexus LS430 • $70,447

2 2003 Mercedes-Benz S430 $82,760

3 2003 Cadillac DeVille DHS $55,035

4 2004 Audi A8 L $74,640

5 2004 Jaguar XJ8 Vanden Plas $71,545 New

6 20003 BMW 745Li $81,545

7 2003 Lincoln Town Car Ultimate $46,520

Lexkost

I don't even need to read Consumer Reports I know the LS430 is Tops!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

daryll40

Actually, Town Car is about $10,000 cheaper. Not that I would ever trade my LS for a Town Car

Vik

Can you give us a link please ?

Sounds so interesting...

drink300

It still amazes me how the general public believes that Mercedes quality is top in the world, despite reports like this. My business partner has struggled for months on what car to buy. S500, LS430 or 745il. I helped out by sending him reviews, studies, etc... This guy is a multi-millionaire. A super-genius in my opinion, yet he simply won't let go of the need to frive a benz.

Even after reading this latest report, he has decided to go for the S500. He says to me, "Even though the reliabiliy sucks on the S500, to me the Lexus is nothing but a Benz knock-off". "I don't want to drive a poor man's Mercedes."

I think that he is caught up in the prestige factor that goes along with driving a Benz.

drink300
2003 LS430 Custom Lux Parch/Ecru w/ 17" Chrome

daryll40

More and more and more are "getting it". Look at the Mercedes bulletin boards on the internet. Go to alt.autos.mercedes newsgroup. Nothing but bortchin' and moanin'. The Lexus boards are not that way.

I will say that most NEW car buyers are pretty insulated. Mercedes provides 4 year free maintenance and, of course, the warranty. So folks buying a NEW Benz don't experience the hassles that happens as the vehicles age. Check out resale prices, however. You can clearly see that Lexi bring a higher % retained value and sell quicker, etc. A used SClass Mercedes (I had a '99 with 74000 miles before "coming back" to LS430) is a TOUGH sell...why???....because everyone knows that repairs are VERY frequent and VERY expensive and usually requires the skill of the dealer at top dollar. An out-of-warranty Lexus, however, still carries SOME expensive repair risks but they are MUCH less than the MB. And Mercedes are notorious for expensive brake repairs due to those soft pads that make sense in theory, but are a real world headache for American drivers.

Two final thoughts on why people buy Mercedes vs Lexus. One is because the LS really is a smaller car than their "S" Class. Most big-buck people want a B-I-G car. The LS is actually in between the EClass and the SClass...sort of a feeling that it's not QUITE at the top of the lineup. The other reason is the same reason people continued to buy Cadillacs into the 1980s, LONG after GM squeezed the quality out of them. NAME RECOGNITION. Mercedes carries the same cache' as Cadillac did in the 1970s and before. It took an entire generation...about 25 years...for Cadillac to be known for what it had become....a depreciationmobile that was relatively worthless after just 6 or 7 years. To give them some credit, Cad does seem to be making a minor comeback with rebadged GMC trucks and Cutlass Cruisers on steroids. Longer term, however, quality reigns and Lexus is the absolute king.

USLEX

www.consumerreports.org

You'll only be able to see the article if you are a paying customer. I think $24 anually.

drink300

That is yet another urban myth that I am talking about. Everybody simply assumes the S-class is SO much bigger than the LS430. The LS is NOT in the middle of the E and S classes. If you look at the dimensions, the Lexus is just slightly smaller in most cases and in some case is actually BIGGER and ROOMIER than the S-Class. Eiher way, we are talking about 1-4 inch differences in most cases.

Case in point: The WIDTH. My business partner SWEARS that the Benz is wider by a big margin. The numbers don't lie. The benz is 73" and the Lexus is 72". Big deal. If anyone out there notices 1/2 inch on either side of the car, they need to start hitting the gym more often....

Front leg room is another good example. The lexus has 3" more front leg room. The luggage capacity is one of the bigger differences. The LS430 is 25% bigger in this area!

drink300
2003 LS430 Custom Luxury Parch/Ecru w/ 17" Chrome

daryll40

I don't argue with your numbers. But in a "real world" side-by-side test, the Benz LOOKS bigger because it IS bigger, mainly lengthwise. Mercedes used to sell a short wheel base version of the prior "S" Class model. Guess what? They discontinued it for this latest bodystyle because it was a slow seller. Again, I am not criticizing Lexus, just pointing out that the big-money crowd frequently goes for the bigger car.

kjbro

A bit off the mark, but I think the Lexus image is much more preferred over the Benz image. I live in an area rich in "car ego" and see many Benz owners. I've noticed that most Benz owners follow the SUV stereotype, which tends to be me, me, me. The Lexus owners are stable individuals, with practical views. They tend to be "balanced" in lifestyle and profession. Not only blessed with superior intellect, but good looks as well. Now I am being a bit flippant, but I find most Lexus owners as very helpful individuals with a good outlook on life. I like being in the minority and if Benz ownership is considered top, I like the quiet existence as a Lexus owner. Plus, I'm not so insecure that I need the Benz attitude.

carguyay

I think you have touched on the truth about Lexus verus Benz in many cases. This is my first High dollar sedan and I have owned say 150 or so cars since 14 years old. I looked at all of them ,drove them all,did research on all of the lux sedans. I know 3-4 people who own LS from 93 to 04's. All love them period.I tried to talk myself into a Benz S but just so many other things simply made go with the Lexus. Also I need to fly under the radar a little because of my business etc. I think your partner is right it may very look like to others that he stepped down. I completely understand that thought process. Great post. Thanks for sharing.I just got my vin number today.

LS430inTX

Wow, interesting choice of words. Those are my thoughts exactly. My LS430 is my first luxury car. I shopped Mecerdes but things that made Lexus the winner over Mercedes for me: 1) Price 2) Reliability history 3) resale value 4) understated design 5) Lexus owner testimonies

When I look closely at the design details of the LS430, words like "subdued", "muted", "graceful", and "understated" come to mind - words that are incompatible with "attitude", "ego", or "attention grabbing".

I think that if I were to say anything negative against Lexus related to this thread it would be that the 3rd gen LS430 looks too close like a Mercedes, especially when you look at the rear quarter. Lexus needs to stop copying other makes and being a "me too" brand when it comes to technology and start innovating a little.

carguyay

I was behind a say 2000 med size Jag , Honda, and newer c Benz. all where gray ok silver and dirty. From 100 or so feet without seeing logo's they where all the same. Also BMW folks are upset about say the new 5 front looking like a Grand Prix. Yes LS430 looks like a Benz with the tail lights and that's ok. I loved the head lights on the old Benz. They even copied them on to the White semi trucks. I think it's the brand that Benz owns.Gee the list could go on and on. After a 100 years or so it is tough find designs that fit into a rectangle that will be different. I copied my friends who bought Lexus. Birds of a feather. Hope all is well with you and yours. I must go shopping for winter tires and wheels.I don't car for the wheels tire rack has offered. Larry

daryll40

I really don't care if Lexus copies. I just like it that they copy with better quality. We're not talking about copying answers on your kid's SAT test. In this business, copying the good stuff and improving the bad stuff is FINE. ITS A CAR.

Maeve

iTrader: (2)

The same reasons why I bought mine
Lexus should use this phrase for the new LS430 campaign !!