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Get an AMG55 type, that's the best version of the engine IMO and as much as the W220 has issues that engine makes the S55 worth it to me.
See that engine outclasses the 430 but just car versus car.
The M113 even in standard form is noticeably stronger than the 4.3 UZ, but like I said it doesn't rev as freely.
If the shift feel is identical in the W220 v R129 then Lexus wins easily. But both are excellent. But in my sedan I want maximum isolation chamber unlike in my roadster.
W220 S Class vs LS430. My dad heavily considered replacing his 98 LS400 with a W220 S Class both in 2001 and in 2004. While we loved the look of the S Class inside and out, niether of us felt it was better enough than the LS400 or LS430 to be worth the additional cost. In 2001 he would up keeping his LS400 and in 04 he got the LS430. Just stylewise he probably would have gone with one to try something new, but he was concerned that it was a little too ostentatious for his customers.
I very firmly believe in those years the LS was the better car.
Originally Posted by jrmckinley
Was the local headline something like "Tesla spotted near scene of auto fire"? I'm joking but I've never seen a brand of car get picked on by the media as much as Tesla.
Current generation is dead, new model debuting next year. Sounds like there will be both ICE (G-Class) and BEV (EQG) versions:
"We really improved the aerodynamics without changing the shape, and what we’ve learned with the electric version we will put to the combustion engine car. So when the facelift comes next year, the cars will have most of the aerodynamic improvements as well, with a tremendous reduction in fuel consumption."
W220 S Class vs LS430. My dad heavily considered replacing his 98 LS400 with a W220 S Class both in 2001 and in 2004. While we loved the look of the S Class inside and out, niether of us felt it was better enough than the LS400 or LS430 to be worth the additional cost.
I very firmly believe in those years the LS was the better car.
It was. W220 looked slick, though. Just shows how strong Toyota was at one point when Mercedes was weak. Interesting history to look back on all these years later. And W220 was significantly, significantly more expensive. "Additional cost" is putting it nicely, lol. You could take an S430 up close to 90 grand, which was where the S500 started and quickly rose to 6 figure territory with any decent options. LS430 superior to both for $55k base and $70k all out. Most LSs were midlevel cars that sold in the mid 60s, ML versions.
W140 wasn't exactly LS reliable but it was absolutely overbuilt like an LS, and over-engineered in a way the W220 never was. It was a "proper Mercedes" for all intents and purposes.
It was. W220 looked slick, though. Just shows how strong Toyota was at one point when Mercedes was weak. Interesting history to look back on all these years later. And W220 was significantly, significantly more expensive. "Additional cost" is putting it nicely, lol. You could take an S430 up close to 90 grand, which was where the S500 started and quickly rose to 6 figure territory with any decent options. LS430 superior to both for $55k base and $70k all out. Most LSs were midlevel cars that sold in the mid 60s, ML versions.
W140 wasn't exactly LS reliable but it was absolutely overbuilt like an LS, and over-engineered in a way the W220 never was. It was a "proper Mercedes" for all intents and purposes.
Yeah the S430 was the only car that was comparable to the LS remotely pricewise, and the LS had more power. The W220 was also reduced in price considerably from the W140
I'm struggling a bit with my impressions of this car, so let's see how this flows if I just list some pros and cons, which may help me sort out my own overall assessment of the car. Note that this was an ES250 AWD, so it had the 2.5 liter 4 cylinder. Here goes:
Pros:
I like the exterior styling of these, which is not something that I can say about every past version of the ES.
Exterior build quality was great - doors had a nice heft to them, panels aligned like they were cut from one piece, paint was lustrous and even.
Dash layout was quite nice. All gauges and controls were easy to read and I could quickly figure them out. I didn't have to hunt for anything.
Visibility was good in all directions.
I was impressed by the car's handling. It felt really well planted and didn't have a lot of nose-dive when braking. Steering and brakes felt good.
Cons:
I was supremely disappointed in that 4 cylinder. I didn't expect it to be a rocket ship, but I certainly expected it to be well isolated, yet I could feel the engine vibrations, even at idle. Anywhere in the power band, the engine felt course and loud. The car just didn't feel like it had 203 hp. It was lethargic. This car deserves a better engine.
Some of the interior materials were not as nice as I had expected them to be. I know it's perhaps not fair to compare it to my GS, but in the GS there is hardly any hard plastic. Even the lower door panels in the GS are soft touch, whereas the ES had a lot of hard plastic, though I will note that the model I had seemed to be a fairly base model so that may improve as you get to the higher trim levels. Not sure.
I read all of the time about how much room these ESs have, and it was certainly roomy, but not at all what I had expected. It felt just a touch larger than my GS. When sitting in the back seat, there was not room to slide my feet under the front seats, so that felt awkward and confining. Disclaimer: I did not check to see if the front seats could be raised enough to provide this room under them.
So where does that leave us? I think Lexus did a great job with this version of the ES, but if I were to get one, I'd want a higher trim level and would avoid the 250. This engine just didn't feel like it belonged in this car. It took any luxury car vibes right out of the car.
Am I jaded? Perhaps. I frequently get email offers from my dealership asking me to come in and "upgrade" from my GS350 AWD F Sport to a new ES250 AWD F Sport. Yeah, I don't think so. I know when the GS was cancelled there was a lot of talk about the ES fulfilling that role with its most recent version, but frankly no. I've loved Lexus for years and have owned several, but if I wanted to replace my GS with another mid size luxury sedan, it would not (could not) be from Lexus.
I was supremely disappointed in that 4 cylinder. I didn't expect it to be a rocket ship, but I certainly expected it to be well isolated, yet I could feel the engine vibrations, even at idle. Anywhere in the power band, the engine felt course and loud. The car just didn't feel like it had 203 hp. It was lethargic. This car deserves a better engine.
That engine is terrible...I can't believe they put it in a Lexus...
i guess you didn't read the SECOND line of the article.
