even if this is a lexus ls forum, and i know a lot of the ppl will choose the ls, i was wondering which car would u choose, a 1999 ls 400, a 1999 740, or a 1999 s 420? to me all these cars were great and i loved everything about them, except the interior on the s class( unless it was the s600) so if you had to buy one of these cars based on looks, performance, and over all package, which would u by the lexus< the beamer< or the benz. o and by the way, please dont mention the reliability its a pain hearing everyone mention bmws and mb's problems. all i want is a straigth forward answer, lexus, bmw, or mercedes thanks

 

long lasting reliability and fit and finish is the only reason I decided on the LS400 over the 740, S500, A8, etc

 

99LS

i have one so i may be slightly biased

 

You want performance = BMW

You want nice interior = Audi

You want prestige = Mercedes

You want car that can be serviced at Toyota delaer for a lot less = Lexus

 

you want a car that will likely break electronically = BMW

you want a DECENT interior and mid-90s german electrical system (see above = Audi

you want the service of a mercedes dealer**** = mercedes

you want a car thats as fast as a 740, better interior than an Audi, and built hell of a lot better than a Benz = Lexus

 

I too would choose the 99 LS400. In fact that is the year I have. I do also own a BMW E46 330i so I'm not completely biased one way or another. In that segment class that the LS is in, I just think it is the best buy.

 

1st choice = LS
2nd choice= 740
3rd choice= not the benz

 

I really like the body style of the 740, but a dressed up 99LS is sexy too...and those Q45 headlight conversions make the 99LS SICK...

...that's definitely my next car unless I win the lotto, in which case I'd buy me the new LS460h.

 

Take reliability out of the equation and the 99 740i with premium wheel package wins in my book (over OEM LS). However take the 99 LS and throw $5k in wheels/suspension and it wins over the BMW. The Mercedes? I'll pass it on the highway as it is being connected to the tow truck

 

hmm wat if it were a s600?

 

I faced almost this same dilemma, except the Lexus models available to me were mostly UCF10 models and the BMWs slightly older as well. I went with the LS and actually got a UCF20 at a UCF10 price (which I don't know if it was the right thing to do or not, yet)
Anyhow - the Lexus will have fewer problems than the BMW or the Mercedes. But it won't be 100 percent trouble free.

 

That car is a gas guzzler. You probably also couldn't afford to do maintenance on a $120,000 car. It doesn't matter what it's worth now, because they don't adjust parts prices down along with the value of the car as time goes on!

 

My 2 cents, 02' Q45 would kick snot out of any of these choices for about the same cost. DO NOT discount the Q.

 

it's a piece of s#it nissan.

 

I'd go with a 99 LS for a lot of the good reasons people have posted here. I too love the 7 series body style.. but adressed up LS looks sexier I wish I had a 99 instead of my 94! But its FAR too late now...

The point Thermactor made about the S600 and maintenance is a good one. I'm not sure how I see so many young people with cars like that. I'm sure they wont have them for long.

Bottom line.. if you want a car that willl last, go with the LS. I'd love to have an E55.. but these cars just don't last!