Car totaled, need new 1, BMW vs Lexus

visionology · Jul 27, 2007

Originally Posted by LabelKing

I find Japanese cars to be rather shoddy especially in regards to details and interior.

Million mile cars are not anything new for Mercedes-Benz which has several vintage models that have exceeded the million mark.

http://www.mbusa.com/heritage/histor...illion-mile.do

http://www.mbusa.com/heritage/history/news/taxi.do

We're talking about modern cars, not the 1970s, Lexus has only been around since the 90s. You'd be hard pressed to get a modern Mercedes over 1 million miles without burning a very large hole in your pocket.

LSeca · Jul 27, 2007

Originally Posted by Virginia Dandy

I also liked the new CS concept unveiled in Shanghai.

+1 I really hope this is the design theme they will use in th coming years.

Nantucket Red · Jul 27, 2007

I can't imagine why anyone would consider a Lexus. I drove one a few years back that had such horrible understeer it made moderate curves feel like hairpins at speed. My Chevy Suburban handled better.

Artisan Fan · Jul 27, 2007

One thing I have learned as a detailer is that the Benz paint is way over-rated. You can find very bad "orange peel" on current model S Class. A shame at the price they charge.

The new Lexus paint process for the LS460 is widely considered among the best globally. I just detailed a black one and it was flawless. You literally and technically have to move up to the hand lacquer work on a Bentley to beat it.

aportnoy · Jul 27, 2007

Originally Posted by Nantucket Red

I can't imagine why anyone would consider a Lexus. I drove one a few years back that had such horrible understeer it made moderate curves feel like hairpins at speed. My Chevy Suburban handled better.

Jeez. I like my car and really never gave it much more thought than that.

Nantucket Red · Jul 27, 2007

Originally Posted by aportnoy

Jeez. I like my car and really never gave it much more thought than that.

Not much into the driving experience, I take it.

Artisan Fan · Jul 27, 2007

Originally Posted by Nantucket Red

Not much into the driving experience, I take it.

Nantucket Red · Jul 27, 2007

Originally Posted by Artisan Fan

You'd opt for the Lexus over the BMW, then?

Dragon · Jul 27, 2007

I think Lexus makes excellent cars, but I don`t think they are as luxurious as the hype says they are.

Remember they were not luxury cars from the beginning, as they were just rebadged Toyotas, marketed only in the U.S. as luxury cars.

Maybe if we chop it up, we will find a camry inside, but with nice materials added on the outside

imageWIS · Jul 27, 2007

Originally Posted by Dragon

I think Lexus makes excellent cars, but I don`t think they are as luxurious as the hype says they are.

Remember they were not luxury cars from the beginning, as they were just rebadged Toyotas, marketed only in the U.S. as luxury cars.

Maybe if we chop it up, we will find a camry inside, but with nice materials added on the outside

I wonder if its machine stitching or hand stitching? (Most (all?) of Ferrari's interiors are hand-stitched).

Jon.

DNW · Jul 27, 2007

Originally Posted by Dragon

I think Lexus makes excellent cars, but I don`t think they are as luxurious as the hype says they are.

Remember they were not luxury cars from the beginning, as they were just rebadged Toyotas, marketed only in the U.S. as luxury cars.

Maybe if we chop it up, we will find a camry inside, but with nice materials added on the outside

Really? From what I've seen in the LS and SC series, they're certainly comparable, if not better than the German counterparts in terms of fit and finish.

Artisan Fan · Jul 27, 2007

Originally Posted by Nantucket Red

You'd opt for the Lexus over the BMW, then?

It depends on the budget. I would choose an IS over a BMW. There is no truth to your implication that the IS does not have good performance. In fact, it's terrific.

Remember they were not luxury cars from the beginning, as they were just rebadged Toyotas, marketed only in the U.S. as luxury cars.

That's not factually correct Dragon. The LS400 was a clean slate design. Lexus has set the mark for luxury in several areas, more recently with Mark Levinson audio as but one example.

LSeca · Jul 27, 2007

Originally Posted by Artisan Fan

Lexus has set the mark for luxury in several areas, more recently with Mark Levinson audio as but one example.

So untrue. AF, the Mark Levinson is nothing special anymore, it is just some guys name. Harmon Kardon owns that company now and HK provides the sound systems for most european cars, I know they do for BMW. Try out the logic 7 in a new BMW and it is just as good...most likely the same amplifiers and speakers as teh Lexus.

Artisan Fan · Jul 27, 2007

AF, the Mark Levinson is nothing special anymore

Not according to this audiophile. Robert Harley of The Absolute Sound raved about it's sound qualities as did Stereophile and several car mag writers of note. These newer high end systems are also laggards to the other car brands. ML was the first true high end system in a luxury automobile.

The Levinson electronics and speakers are not the same design as the Logic 7. They are fully developed by ML which is a bit unusual in the case of the speakers. The CD transports are made by Pioneer or Panasonic but everything else is true Levinson. The ELS in Acura sounds good but I don't like the Logic systems as much.

Yes, Mark the person left a while back to start Cello and later Red Rose but he's been gone for a while and ML still makes some of the best solid state gear out there. HK and ML are owned by Harman Kardon corporate.

Dragon · Jul 27, 2007

That's not factually correct Dragon. The LS400 was a clean slate design. Lexus has set the mark for luxury in several areas, more recently with Mark Levinson audio as but one example.

You`re right. After further searching, I was wrong.

I thought the Japanese version of the LS (called Celsior) came out first, but it seems that it came out the same time as Lexus in the U.S.

I am right about pretty much all the other models though. Apparently, all the other models besides the LS were based on existing models sold in Japan as Toyotas. For example, the ES is a glorified Camry. The IS is just an Altezza (not considered luxurious at all in Japan.), and the LX is a glorified Land Cruiser.

Car totaled, need new 1, BMW vs Lexus

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