"The fun of being on top of the mountain is defending it."

Props to DCX for saying they want to go after the big dog... The people that will benefit from this is the consumer. Who will get better, affordable cars that will last!

whoa, easy.....are we forgetting about bang-for-the-buck factor and customer service here?

Funny, but I dont seem to recall MB ever being highly-regarded for anything but fit and finish, prestige of the name itself, etc.

Having a lot of technology is one thing, but they have to be really useful(not excessive), easy to use for most, and reliable for them to be truly enjoyable & beneficial.

ebruce and arrazzzzzzooooooo! (that's a fun name)

both of what you guys say are valid points, but i've never been handled with anything but a velvet glove when i go to the MB dealership. Lexus is pretty good too so i never really concerned myself about customer service.

bang for buck, easily belongs to lexus. You're paying a good price for a great vehicle. However i feel on the higher end models, lexus doesn't have it. What i mean on higher end is S, SL, CL, AMG models. I realize lexus doesn't have comperable stock vehicles nor a performace division, but i feel that the AMG's that MB builds are well worth the money (especially the engine that come with the cars).

I know some of you may argue that the LS and SC are great vehicles, which i understand, they are. But straight up i feel that NOTHING in the mass market touches the S in terms of flagship sedans. I dont think it's fair to compare the SC with the SL either. I know some of you might not be happy with that comment, but i feel that it's valid. Driving both, the SL totally feels like a different class.

As for electronics, I've always enjoyed MB's electronics. They may be a little over the top but they're functional and they let me customize almost EVERYTHING that i could want. My 2006 GS is ALMOST the same way. I fiddle with that little flip panel on the left every single day i drive it. Sometimes i feel that the GS was lacking because i could do a lot more in the MB.

The MB electronics are easy to use after maybe two weeks. My lexus learning curve was maybe a few days. It's a big difference but the MB had a LOT more to tweak. I feel that everything is enjoyable and beneficial because i love to tweak the car.

Soooo yeah. I guess a lot of it is subjective but that's what i feel.

Yes, they did...............

Jracerlmn, not to single you out but what dealership do you go to? Can I have the name of the person who I should ask for b/c I can't stand House and Fletcher Jones

I agree with the MB electric gizmos....lots of weird one too. Like the one where you push the button to let the engine heat warm up the inside (on a cold day). To this day I haven't even used that one..............especially not now

However to this day, I can't open the damn gate/garage using mb remote without being literally 1 feet or less in front it They said they even replaced the amplified antenna.

When I use my GX remote literally 20 feet (or farther) out in front of another car (an MB), he was like "Huh, who opened the gate?"

LOL that's hilarious about the remote....i've never had an issue with that too...

go to MB of escondido... that's where my family has been going for about 15 years. Ask for stephen manning, rick, or john devries.

and you're right about the weird gizmos...i LOVE how weird everything is

Don't they realize that Toyota/Lexus will be aware of this announcement and will work to remain 10 steps ahead?

I'd be very suprised if I saw Toyota/Lexus just sit back and let someone else pass them by in quality when quality is perhaps their biggest (but definately not only) selling point.

Lexus has been the LUXURY benchmark for a long time.

Toyota/Lexus...

QUALITY over Quantity

...some brands just made a mass production of their own and didn't think about the QUALITY at all ...only beeing concerned about how to make a lot of $$$

the materials in my CLS feel 2X better than the materials in my GS...not necesarily put better together, but definitely feel richer

That's because it cost 2X MORE!

This proves the superiority of Lexus. People have to compare much more expensive cars
to Lexus vehicles.

The CLS55 is listed at $86,600. How much was your GS?

And yet you had to say the CLS55 isn't neccesarily put together as well.

the recent CLS500/550 7 speeds transmissions arent the gem of reliable tranmissions

i got my GS for $46.3K out the door

That's my point. Half as much as your CLS55.

So why would you compare the 2?