I'm trying to make my mind up between these two cars. I drive 25K a year and I'm 6'5". I would like to be able to drive either car for at lest 10 years.
I'm also 6'5" and am also considering the E320 CDI. I recently rented an E200 CDI for a 1,200 mile/5 day trip through Europe. Legroom is always an issue for me, but was not in the W211 (it would, however, be for the poor soul behind me).
I haven't sat in or driven the new Lexus, but they are both fine vehicles. The Lexus' styling is a bit generic, IMHO.
Given how much you drive, $1,70/gallon for diesel vs. $2.30/gallon (in my area) for premium unleaded is a consideration, esp. over 10 years.
After 10 years, resale value on either vehicle won't matter.
I would go with the Lexus. After four and a half years of Mercedes ownership I would give Lexus a try if I were to spend that much money again. If I ever buy another new car/truck again it won't be a Mercedes-Benz. Been there done that. The Mercedes Experience, Unlke Any Other. Just my 2 cents. [;)]
I'd go with the Lexus for the fact that they're number one in reliability and secondly because they don't makes Mercedes-Benz vehicles like they used to.
The E-class may be more desirable in 10 years because with the Lexus, there is no shortage of large V8 cars, and if fuel prices keep going the way that they are going, people will want to grab the diesel. I have a 300SD turbo diesel and they are VERY desirable...people that would usually humm and haa over a Gas engine with 225,000 kms will not hesitate to buy a diesel with over 300,000 kms on it for twice the money hehe. And with the $65,000 I saved on my beautiful W126 S-class diesel, as opposed to buying a E-class CDI, it's like free diesel for life hehe.
Tory
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1972 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 4.5
1978 Mercedes-Benz 450SEL
1981 Mercedes-Benz 300SD turbo
1984 Audi 4000S quattro
1990 Audi V8 quattro
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