I currently have a 93 LS400 with 190000 miles on it, and I'm considering making the jump to a 99 Benz CL500, last year of the big body cars. Anybody here owned a late model Coupe before or can compare reliability, etc, with the lexus? i know hands down the lex is a better car maintenance wise, but just how bad is the benz? I've always liked the styling of the benz as well as the lexus, but I think the lexus is getting a bit sedate for me, need a change. Any opinions?

 

I had a 95' LS400 with 145,000 miles and I ended up got rid of it to get a 95' Mercedes S600 coupe with only 65,200 miles. I have nothing much to say, I got rid of the big benz in 2 weeks. This is not the first Mercedes I have owned. I have always thought that it costs a lot of money to maintain the Benz. The car before my Lexus was 94' Mercedes E420. I got rid of it because of the same reason. Now I am driving a 2004 Camry Solara, I know it is a Camry, however you cannot compare to the 4 door Camry. Interior looks very much like ES300. It has the V6 3.3 ltr. It rides really really nice. Better than my MB. Stay with the Toyota/Lexus products and you will be happy everafter.

 

yeah i heard the earlier models had their share of problems, but i'm yet to find out if most of the bugs have been worked out by the time the 1999 model year rolled around. That is really the only year I'm considering. Even on the benz forums nobody has posted any info on the topic.

 

i used to work at bobby rahal mercedes and cl's always have something wrong with them, true they are good cars, fun and fast but do u want to drive your car or always have a loaner car??? just my 2 cents man

i would stay japanese