Repair costs on lexus vs. mercedes

I worked in MERCEDES SERVICE, Helmut Holder and Star Motors of Houston, And have had 4 new Lexus since 1999, the previous post, regarding JD Powers says it all in the customer satisfaction dept Period. Regarding the ES, normally taken better care of than a Camry (because of the owner) and will be in better condition with the correct service records, Cost Wise, if you buy a good lexus shop around for service, one dealer can cost twice as much as the other E.G. Lexus of manhattan and Lexus of Kendall FL. Lexus of Kendall FL is twice as much for and oil change! as for reliability & cost, it seems, since your saving money buying an older model, definately go with the lexus over the E, you will save, and the E is not what it's cracked up to be, it is more advanced technology than the ES, but with that comes a whole new spectrum of Problems and costs, A poorly maintained E is a nightmare in the service dept. if you have a Good ES youn going to spend less than driving the E class with a little less prestige. I know about the E, and i won't start talking about it here as i may really upset some of you, i had 5 MBZ until 97, it's been all lexus since. Read JD Powers they are the final authority on automobiles in my book. Finally i will say this about MBZ, they are built better to withstand higher speeds, if you like driving 120 MPH all day by all means go with the MBZ. if you don't then get the lexus and save money. :)

I think you'll be disappointed jumping (diving?) from an e class to a Lexus
ES. Two totally different classes of cars. Basically, a dressed up camry.
Nice car, and very reliable, but if you're used to the ride and feel of the
300e, the ES will feel like the small car that it isThink of how solid
your e-class still is after 16 or so years, and compare that to what a 1987
Camry would feel like now

of course, in my opinion

Chris (1986 300e, 1992 saab 900)

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To address all previous post, here's my 2 cents worth.
I've owned both a 2000 ES 300(which I still have) and an 2002 MB E430 and I can say that the Benz has the nod by far in handling, but the Lexus by far has been the MUCH better and more reliable vehicle. First of all ANY car that cost as much as either needs to be reliable and as much as I love my Benz it's a POS with a three pointed star on the hood. It constantly stays in the shop for one thing or another. On the other hand the Lexus only goes in for regular service and has never needed anything more. As for ride the Lexus is smoother on bumps, but the Benz is

routine maintenance is comparable (neither is cheap). MB reliability is
nothing to crow about. Under most circumstance you will do much better with
the Lexus

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Kelly Blue Book value for that car with typical equipment and in good
condition, at a private-party sale, is $7100.

-- Pete

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True for the years that the writer is consideringbut not of the '02 &
'03 ES. That car, which I own, is in the same size category as the "E" Class
Benz and in some dimensions actually bigger.

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Have you driven the Lexus for any length of time? On paper you could take
this pretty much anyway. Behind the wheel however, there is no comparison
with an E-Class what-so-ever. Yes Mercedes maintanance is expensive but
that is mostly at dealer. A good independent MB specialist can maintain the
eClass at a resonable price.

Scott D

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You are right that the ES is Camry based. And that happens to be a GOOD
thing. The old and no ES were not small cars, neither was the '87 E-class a
large car. I think you will find that they are comparable in terms of
passenger space.

Now as to ride quality for the ES, I happen to have a friend who owns a '92
Camry. It has 160,000 miles on it and is an upscale trim version. A couple a
days ago he gave me a ride in it and I was very impressed with how very well
it still road and with the lack of rattles and groans. The interior looked
very good. No cracks in the leather. I strongly doubt that a M-B of the same
vintage would have been any better. This was a Camry. I'd bet you that the
ES would be even better. Nobody builds cars that hold up better than Toyota.
That absolutely includes M-B, Audi, and BMW.

--

- GRL

"It's good to want things."

Steve Barr (philosopher, poet, humorist, chemist,
Visual Basic programmer)
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There's really no way to respond to this post. Comapring Camrys and Camry
based ES's to E-classes is like comparingI don't know, I can't even come
up with an analogy for it. Toyotas are the most reliable cars out there, no
doubt. If you can't tell the difference between the ride of a Camry or ES
and an E-class, a 5-series or an A6, your decision should be pretty simple.
If you can, as most car people can, than you will be dissapointed with the
ride...that's all I'm sayin'... hope it helps...

Go on Ebay and look at a 1986 e-class, then look at a 1986 camryStill
think they are comparable??? (Rhetorical question)

In reply to:

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My comments were meant to address reliability/maintenance costs... as for
styling... MB is tops (in my book anyway!).

Chris: I owned a '90 SPG up until last year. Still dear to me ;-)

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I'd buy a Lexus any day over a MB. Look at the JD Power ratings - Lexus
constantly near the top for all their models, MB sinking every year farther
and farther down the ratings. Get a Lexus and you'll have a lot less hassle.