jsb1990

Hello to you all!

I am hoping I can get some advice from all you lovely people. I am toying between buying a 1996 S500 Mercedes or paying a lot more and buying an LS430. I would like to buy the 2004 update as it has a lot more features in it in the mid life update version.

I would be willing to pay about $20,000 (I live in Australia) for one. This is a LOT of money, but I am aware they are known for their rock solid reliability. I could pay half for a W140 S500, but I am aware they can sometimes go awry at a rather large cost.

I would be interested to know people's thoughts on this. =)

J

caddyowner

If you want a reliable & luxurious daily driver - LS430 all day.

If you want a high-status project car - S500. Remember that MB quality after about 1990 went downhill due to an emphasis on cost savings (per a MB mechanic I know).

Welcome & good luck in whichever way you venture.

Jabberwock

Agree 1990-2008 is a good era to avoid on MB cars.

AlexusAnja

ha ha... you're not serious right? You'll pay 1/2 now, but over the next five years probably pay triple if you went with the S500. Use the money up front and enjoy the ride...

C8V6C

You're talkin about a car that is almost 10yrs older and cosmetically looks even older than that in comparison, inside and outside.

Now you bring up reliability...any car almost 10yrs older is going to be way less reliable. Now argue even further Japanese vs European reliability.

If you can afford the LS, buy it

TSA1

I love those Mercedes Benz's, I would ask the owner or dealer for maintenance records hopefully critical parts have had replacement or servicing such as the transmission. Other than that if it all checks out, I would still budget some extra money for repairs or preventive maintenance. Buy which one YOU like best, have no regrets.

Dranom

iTrader: (7)

Just get the 430 and enjoy

moonsls430

Had 96 S500 for six years and recently got a 04 LS. Previously had a ls400 and now in hindsight sorry i changed to merc.... go for the lexus..you wont regret.

RickL87

Lexus LS all the way. MB are overrated.

Kansas

Other years of MB cars to avoid are 1886-1989. LOL.

Gosh how I used to be a "Mercedes freak" - began in the 60's as a teenager when my sister worked for a Mercedes dealer and I restored a 1956 190SL getting the parts I needed at cost and toured Mercedes factories and the museum in Stuttgart and bought more parts for the SL in Germany.

The W140 is one of my three favorite Mercedes models of all time with the others being the 1957-1963 300SL convertible and the short wheelbase Grand Mercedes 600 of the 1963-1981.

Even with the painful memories from Mercedes ownership, I would still love to have a W140 if I could find a low mileage, pristine 1998 S600 (unicorns are more common) and had an open garage space in which to park it. Now I will lie down until the feeling passes.

CarGuy89

While I love my 430, I too am a huge fan of the W140. I rode in a 99 S320 a few yrs back and to this day it remains one of the quietest, best riding, and most refined cars I've ever been in. However, the exact same can be said about the LS430. As many have brought up here, the Lexus will most likely be much more reliable. However, if you're paying 2x the price then you have some wiggle room for maintenance on the Benz. Drive both and pick which one you like more, easy as that.

levie

iTrader: (1)

Lexus all damn day, if you can afford it. It will be alot more expensive at first, but if you are able to get it 100% go for it. the lex will last so much longer, and be so much cheaper to fix IF something goes wrong.

Prochamber

Go with the Lexus. I currently own a 1987 Mercedes 420 SEL with 280,210 on the clock and she is still rolling strong. I've had the car for over 9 years and have just about re-built her. If it wasn't for me having a personal mechanic when I first got the Benz, I would have gotten rid of it. The mechanic saved me soooo much money on replacing parts that it was justified to keep her. Plus, I was able to purchase OEM parts since the labor was cheaper thru him.

I'm currently in the market for a 2005 - 2006 LS430 to add to my stable. I also have a 2003 Acura RL that I got for my wife which is sweet too! When I get the LS, I will still keep the Benzo because I have too much invested. I'll bring the Benzo out on various weekends for some highway runs just to keep her running strong.

Before I even considered getting me another car, I was going to go with a 2006 Mercedes S430 but I kept hearing horror stories about the air-matic suspension going out and costing moocho moocho dollars to repair. And I thought about all the maintenance I had done on the Benzo and I just said..."I'm not doing that all over again!

Here are some pictures of the Benzo if you like to see her. Later!

TSA1

That is a beautiful car, Prochamber.

Prochamber

Thanks much!