[janos_z]

i guess you're right about the heritage, though that doesn't really explain why other old ...

i guess you're right about the heritage, though that doesn't really explain why other old brands (ford, cadillac, opel, etc.) have failed to gain the same degree of respect as mercedes, or why more (relatively) recent brands (porsche, ferrari, lamborghini) have. i guess it's a matter of having a good pedigree AND knowing how to make good use of it. in any case, i still think toyota/lexus deserves respect for what it has been able to achieve in the past 50 years, though i agree that they'll never have mercedes' legacy, or be able to claim the very first car ever as their ancestor. which is why i liked my camrys, but love my benz []

btw, FDM, your enthusiasm about your car and mercedes in general is very infectious -- you're a true enthusiast! [8D]

 

[keide600sel]

RE: why lexus sucks -They are like a fake rolex

Lexus sucks because they are a toyota with a lot of snobby glitter on them. I agree that they run well and have few problems but why not just buy a toyota. I feel that a lexus is like a fake rolex. People only buy them because they want the cheapest way to look rich. Also if you look at a early 90's lexus you will find the leather seats cracking and the paint fading. I once sold furniture and was often asked "Will this fit in my lexus" and the customer would say it in a very snobby way. Every time a Mercedes driver would ask me if somthing would fit in their car they would say "would this fit in a average size 4 door".
Also Lexus tries to copy Mercedes and BMW. why cant they design their own cars? And if you compare the performance of a lexus to a mercedes there is nothing to compare. The average Mercedes out there is 2 seconds faster 0-60 MPH than the average lexus. If you were to give me a 2003 top of the line lexus or a toyota I would take the toyota. Japanese cars are good for getting from point A to point B as cheap as possible. -Get a toyota if you cant get a Mercedes.
-Kristian[][][]
do you ever see any 92 lexus cars that look like this?

[]

 

[Four Door Monster]

Re: i guess you're right about the heritage, though that doesn't really explain why other old

Thanks for the comment, janos. I'm just a young guy that really respects these cars. I grew up with these cars and they make me happy when I see them, they have this nostolgic feel to them. I'm not a snob, I'm not trying to show off, I just really love these cars for what they are! I'm glad you share my enthusiasm!

btw, FDM, your enthusiasm about your car and mercedes in general is very infectious -- you're a true enthusiast! [8D]

[/quote]

[][]

 

[S600classV12]

alot of hard work. worked my but of at age 19 I bought my own BMW 325is manual blk/blk an ...

alot of hard work. worked my but of at age 19 I bought my own BMW 325is manual blk/blk an love it. I really wanted a convertible but it would have cost me another 6k plus. Three years into my loan ( I had one left ) I was waiting at a red light behind another car. When an 80 year old lady hit me in the rear at about 50mph luckily no one was hurt. I was on a hwy that’s why she was going so fast (hwy 111/ Palm Canyon at Palm Springs CA. for those how know P.S. ). Well I was crushed between both cars. My car was total lost. Good for me because I wouldn’t want the car fix. My car absorbed all the impact. Like I said I had one year left so my insurance paid me the value of the car. So I turned around and put it down on a S600. I put AMG Monoblock 19� and tinted the windows. At age 22 I was rolling in one of the most wanted cars. Its awesome when you drive a Sclass. I got so much respect, compliments and looks. It’s a good feeling I guess some times almost embarrassing. I would actually have people come up to me and compliment me. When I would go to LA and stay at the Westin in Century City or Westin at South Coast Plaza the Valet would ask me how I liked the V12 and they would keep it on top by the entry. If I hadn’t been in the accident I would had sold my BMW and bought an Sclass any ways, but the accident speeded up the process.

 

[Snowman]

Re: re: dont say the word lexus

4. The W140 is hand made

Please show me some evidence that all W140's were hand made. The only Benzes that I can think of being close to hand made are the engines for AMG and maybe the 500E.

Edit: I am a Mercedes enthuasiast. I may come off as not being one. However I think that many of you need to recognize that Lexus (Toyota) does a good job withe luxury car. Yes their styling is bland. But they build a faster, cheaper, and more reliable car.

Mercedes still does an excellent job of building luxury cars. In the past, I would say nobody could touch them. But why do you think the W220 exists as it is now? Because of Lexus and all the competition they put on Mercedes.

 

[///S320]

Re: Re: re: dont say the word lexus

4. The W140 is hand made

Its not hand made. Only AMG engines are.

 

[Four Door Monster]

All S-Class cars have been made on the assembly line since day one....

All S-Class cars have been made on the assembly line since day one, but to a quality standard that no one can match.

 

[digital_b]

think what you want

lexus does not compare to mb. period. did you know that until later this year lexus IS NOT EVEN SOLD IN JAPAN? how many lexus cars does the benz imitate? and the reverse......

gx470..... ml
sc430..... slk/sl right down to the folding roof
gsXXX..... obviously the e
ls430..... previous generation s class

do not try the sad argument that they are more reliable. they are also not nearly as safely or solidly built. lexus had a good idea to lower the cost of entry for true luxury vehicles. so now they are the replacement for cadillac. they ARE NOT in the benz class. not yet anyway. sorry wannabes.

 

[sahtt]

It is difficult to quantify presence, history, prestige, class, or even which car 'looks' better than another. It is easier to sort costs of reliability, resale, maint., 0-60 times, etc. Toyota as Lexus, focuses on the later, and is successful because of it. The whole idea is to build a luxery car to rival the Germans with the reliability and resale of a camry. In that fact they have at least partially succeeded in the public's eye. I have owned a 430 and plan to purchase a s600 as my next sedan, but have also owned a 98 GS4 and 91 LS4. In all reality, I was given roughly the same amount of respect and envy when I had the LS4 as well as the MB430, though I enjoyed the 430 much moreso because it was 8 years newer. I do not however believe that lexus automobiles are not build 'solid' or that they are not as safe as any other car on the road for all practical purposes. There is no denying that in the business world, you either have a MB or you don't, that alone meant a great deal to me.

As per the original poster's intent, I am 23 years old and have no radical explanation for my ownership of these vehicles. Perhaps I simply allocate a larger % of my wealth towards cars than many because I have greater experience working with the used car market than most.

 

[jhodg5ck]

Well, I think Lexus has done a very commendable job in making a quality car that appeals to a Large number of people And that also lasts w/o countless annoying/costly issues.

I don't drive the 600 for a number of reasons, mainly they like to break followed by working on the thing is a nightmare.

We just bought a new car, an 03 SC430. My g/f loves it; I don't have to worry about it as the warrantee is good for another 80K. It's fast and I rather like the styling of this car..very organic.

Mercedes used to the end all on All fronts, luxury, technology, reliability etc.. Ever since the reliability went out the window I don't care much for their cars.

Just to stay on topic I'm 28 and nearly all my $$ goes into my cars..I love two things my g/f and my (older) Mercedes...what more does one need in life

Jonathan

 

[NZ Benz]

sahtt - 12/24/2005 9:26 PM

It is difficult to quantify presence, history, prestige, class, or even which car 'looks' better than another. It is easier to sort costs of reliability, resale, maint., 0-60 times, etc. Toyota as Lexus, focuses on the later, and is successful because of it. The whole idea is to build a luxery car to rival the Germans with the reliability and resale of a camry. In that fact they have at least partially succeeded in the public's eye. I have owned a 430 and plan to purchase a s600 as my next sedan, but have also owned a 98 GS4 and 91 LS4. In all reality, I was given roughly the same amount of respect and envy when I had the LS4 as well as the MB430, though I enjoyed the 430 much moreso because it was 8 years newer. I do not however believe that lexus automobiles are not build 'solid' or that they are not as safe as any other car on the road for all practical purposes. There is no denying that in the business world, you either have a MB or you don't, that alone meant a great deal to me.

As per the original poster's intent, I am 23 years old and have no radical explanation for my ownership of these vehicles. Perhaps I simply allocate a larger % of my wealth towards cars than many because I have greater experience working with the used car market than most.

You are quite right if we were talking 10, 20 years ago then there would be no denying that a japanese car would be taking your life in your own hands. The sad truth is that however many modern japanese car are as safe as europeans.

Overall its down to driving. If I hit a somthing at 200k I would expect no matter what car im driving to be spread along with me all over the highway.

Origional topic. I'm 18 and managed to hit my Dad up for the cash. To buy a 93 300sel which in retrospect is underpowered for its size. I am also expacted to pay for insurance and other running cost which im sure will become punitive as age catches up with all cars. So even if you don't pay for your car you mostlikely will in running costs in the future.

 

[1999_S600]

NZ Benz - 12/31/2005 12:12 PM

The sad truth is that however many modern japanese car are as safe as europeans.

this may be true, but the safety and Strength of european and japanese cars are not as good as they used to be. They are not as solid as they once were. (IN MY OPINION).

 

[Tbilisi79]

I am 26, Got my 93 500SEL when I was 26, with no help from anyone. Well, all the cars I had before were bought by me with my money.
W140 was a dream I had for a long time, I was able to get an exact model that I wanted this August, and S500 (500SEL same thing).
So at 26 I have a 500SEL that was $95000 when new. Love the car.

Some kids chase Mustangs(had one), Hondas, Nissans or whatever.
I always wanted a car that is confident at high speeds...I found it in my 500 SEL.

 

[NZ Benz]

this may be true, but the safety and Strength of european and japanese cars are not as good as they used to be. They are not as solid as they once were. (IN MY OPINION).[/QUOTE]

What as in everything is now made of plastic and lighter metals. thats why modern cars seem to have more of a rust problem perhaps there is less of carbon content in the metal

 

[bayhas]

needless to talk about the quality difference between the MB and Lex, but who said the Merc would not stand out in reliability contest as well?
look at my avatar, you see a W140? this baby has 263 THOUSAND MILES, and still running like new...

 

[bayhas]

needless to talk about the quality difference between the MB and Lex, but who said the Merc would not stand out in reliability contest as well?
look at my avatar, you see a W140? this baby has 263 THOUSAND MILES, and still running like new...

 

[Mercedes>Bmw]

This is an amazing thread, more people should see it.

 

[AMG Fanatic]

Being a young guy and saving up through blood, sweat, and tears for two older MBs- [a 1976 280 S and a 1983 380 SEL] I would just like to know how you young dudes were able to get into w140s?! What did you have to go through before getting one? Did your parents buy them or not, etc.?- Don't worry, I'm not going to insult anyone. I'm just curious on how they were obtained. I've been wanting a w140 for a long time and would like to hear experiences in the field from lucky and I do mean 'lucky' young 140 owners.

I am 21, I own two Mercedes currently, and have owned another 8 cars in my life. Aside from my first car, which was bought by my parents, I have purchased all the cars I own myself. There is plenty of money to be made (legally!) in this great country of ours. I honestly don't see how anyone with intelligence and a good work ethic cannot be successful in our nation.

Though I would say, I have not and will not ever work a minimum wage job. It simply is not worth it. What, $8 an hour?? I would easily spend much more in gas and money on lunch than whatever I get paid. I started off working on internships, for nothing, and when people see you are willing to work and do anything, it impresses them and the door opens for some great jobs. I'm still in college, but have built a solid network for my career path once I graduate.

Another thing is I don't really spend that much money. You can call me cheap if you want, but other than food I don't spend more than $100 a month on non essential items such as books/videogames/movies, etc. I don't drive that much at all, and probably fill up my cars up every 2-3 months. "A penny saved is a penny earned" as the great Benjamin Franklin would say.

 

[AMG Fanatic]

This is an amazing thread, more people should see it.

Holy crap, reviving a thread that started over 11 years ago! I read the first post and thought it was from today, lol. I guess that would be a lot different to see a young person driving a W140 over a decade ago, the cars were definitely worth a lot more, especially as people saw all the issues that the W220 had and the demand for the W140 went up, kind of like what happened with the BMW E38 after the E65 was released

 

[ch.1953]

Am I 87 years old, so very young (?) and enjoying opposite locking my 007 coupe every evening.

Woof.