What's hilarious is I went on cars.com and brought up a 2015, and it was $63k used? I woulda thought maybe that's only 10k less than brand new. If you told me an Audi A8L is in the 80's, I would believe you. A Lexus doesn't seem to belong in that price range, but that's perception....

 

​​​​​​I think even the previous separate brand Maybach failed to attract enough buyers of royalty status, and thus is now defunct
The current much cheaper S class version of Maybach are more like executive limos to me ...

 

I think XJ has the flagship limo design nailed right on. Its the most exquisite out of bunch. It's flows just right, it looks like a driver's car unlike S-class.

S-class is probably pound for pound best car in it's class but I do agree with few posters here its overhyped. It's not all that, it's an S-class like the one before. Sure you can opt for crazy Designo white wood and what not but in usual package it's an S-class. Don't get me wrong that's not a bad thing at all but it's not a spaceship as many believe it is. Screen integration is pretty cheap and dash design is how snob imagines modern luxury interior, it's grandiose but it doesn't evoke any emotion in me besides admiration for build quality. Seats on the other hand excite me a lot more than anything else inside the car, MB like Lexus knows how to design their seats. Aesthetically its like oldschool Bauhaus Ritter meets '10s technology and somehow they can't gel right. But again that's nitpicking on my side.

BMW and Audi really have nothing on S-class. They want to play contemporary techno theme, one business executive oriented and one the usual alternative subdued elegance but they can't capture that flagship panache just yet. Audi is close but BMW is so far off. That's why Lexus got so successful because they were available to replicate that flagship feeling and with the newest LS they have nailed the presence.

 

The XJ is a gorgeous car I agree. What held it back for me was the firmer, louder ride and the technology which was horrible. Now they have their updated system which is much better, not sure if the XJ has that since it's so old.

If the XJ had the new tech when I was shopping I may have gotten that. Leasewise it was as good a deal as the LS.

 

Not a spaceship (REALLY) Tell me what car has more features than the new S class?

 

XJ looks great from the outside but the interior is nothing special. Looks more like a mid level interior then a flagship interior.

 

I actually think the XJ has the best materials and interior in the segment, outside the S Class.

Everything is stitched leather basically. Real metal chrome trim, lots of piano black materials

 

thanks but i have no interest in buying anything 5 or more years old, especially something as insanely expensive to maintain and fix as an s65 tt v12.

 

Word lol

10char

 

Just checked, canadian S class models, don't think it will be different in the U.S., the V12's depreciation are just hilarious.
$ 200k S600 sedan residue after 4 years will be under $40k.
$ 260K S65 AMG coupe residue after 4 years will be under $40k
Find a CPO one for a taste of V12 to drive for a couple years should be worth it.

 

2014 S63s are going for high 70s, low 80s with decently low mileage. great fun and prestige for that price

 

In most aras, it's hard to fault the S-Class. It is indeed, as Steve puts it, one of the best Magic-Carpet rides under 200K. My only beefs with it (and I have yet to see a perfect car) are the complexity of the electronics (which is pretty much Run-of-the Mill in today's luxury cars) and the sheet metal/fenders/doors, which, IMO, feel tinny for the price, and clearly lack the tank-like solidness of Mercedes products of old.

 

It also begs the question if anybody who can afford to own an S65 would actually want to sell it.

 

I think you're embellishing. Granted I don't know if you're referring to the $90k S-class (the real S-class) or the $150k-$200k S-class (the S-class used for marketing).

I haven't experienced the new A8 or 7er, but compared to an LS460 the W222 just feels like a newer car, and it is. 7 years newer. There is nothing special about it beyond that.

The S-class I drove had headliner that felt straight out of an economy car. And in fact this is a complaint I had for the A8 as well. You can call it woven matrix or whatever, it looks and feels cheap. The LS460 door panels are buuutttery soft, and beautifully stitched. Go feel your own W222, door panels rock hard, even if they are covered in leather. Same goes for seats and arm rests.

Yes the S-class interior has a slight edge overall over the LS460, but never did I feel it was $30k+ better inside.

But forget the LS460, like I said the W222 is 7 years newer. The LS500 design wise at least blows the W222 interior out of the water.



I also think Lexus stitching quality is the best in the industry right now.

The prestige is not merit based, it's based on the the big Mercedes grill, star, and S-class nameplate. Put all of these on an LS460 and you will garner the same prestige. Not that an LS lacks for prestige.

A Model S Tesla, now that's a car with merit-based prestige, and I bet people would be more impressed with that than any S-class.


Sales and merit don't always go hand in hand. The S-class is also perennially the most overrated car in the world and among the fastest depreciating. Mercedes doesn't lose here. Guess who does.

I have no doubt as far as merit is concerned the LS500 will easily approach and in many areas exceed the W222. It will also be the more desirable car in the long term.

As an aside, people talk about the A8. The A8 doesn't belong among these cars in the US market. Its sales have always been dismal and it's FWD based. People only include it because it's German.

This segment in the USA has always firmly been S-class/LS/7Series. It has never been S-class/7series/A8.

 

i honestly can't stand that cut glass and oregami 'quilt' in the doors... elvis would have approved though.

i am so over stitching and how many dead cow hides can be crammed into an interior.

their lack of prestige must be why most diplomats the world over are ferried around in s-classes, why they're in front of every high end hotel in every major city in the world, why they're seen on the most famous rich streets (rodeo drive), etc.

funny, you bash the s-class interior yet the tesla s interior is in some ways weaker than a premium brand.

to some, i'm sure, but the ls has a tough road to dethrone the s class.