Lexus Gs or Mercedes E class - Next car???

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Tue 10 Apr 2012 12:05
Lexus Gs or Mercedes E class - Next car??? - geoffken

Usual request for crowd wisdom.

Background

Retired now doing appreox 4000 per year.

Mostly low mileage journeys.

Head says

Give up car and use taxis when needed and/or hire car for any longer journeys

Heart says

Luxo barge at 2/3 year old to last next 5/7 years then will be 75 and driving will be hell by then.

Budget can be p to 20,00

Realise issues with diesel and DPF so wondering if Mercs are good/bad in this respect.

Would not welcome £2000 bill after 2 years low mileage.

Option is GS 300 with petrol

Obviously MPG will be worse but on 4000 per year not really an issue.

Any others to consider Skoda superb perhaps.

Thanks for reading and look forward to advice

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Tue 10 Apr 2012 12:11
Lexus Gs or Mercedes E class - Next car??? - madf

GS is really nice... and more relaible than Merc and cheaper to run/far fewer issues.. I looked at buying one..

Or if you want an estate, IS200/300 estate are rare but nice.

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Tue 10 Apr 2012 13:15
Lexus Gs or Mercedes E class - Next car??? - Oli rag

Lexus for me every time. You hardly hear of anyone having any trouble with one, regardless of the age of the car and the dealers are superb.

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Wed 11 Apr 2012 20:55
Lexus Gs or Mercedes E class - Next car??? - Roly93

Lexus for me every time. You hardly hear of anyone having any trouble with one, regardless of the age of the car and the dealers are superb.

The dealers are superb, but the one and only Lexus I had was the worst car I've ever had. I am at a total loss as to where the myth of their supreme reliabilty comes from. Mine was 18 months old and had all of the alloys relacede due to premature corrosion, it was off the road for 2 weeks for a rebuild of the 6 speed manual gearbox and had a failed water pump after 40K. On top of all this it was like driving a tin of treacle and had a drink habit similar to Rab C Nessbit.

I'm not that keen on Mercs but I know which I would go for.

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Tue 10 Apr 2012 13:23
Lexus Gs or Mercedes E class - Next car??? - barney100
Merc for me, it's fashionable to knock them but all I can say is my 12 year old Clk 320 has been reliable, not too bad on the maintainance with a good indie, no timing belt, knowledgeable owners club with discounts offered on parts.
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Tue 10 Apr 2012 14:16
Lexus Gs or Mercedes E class - Next car??? - gordonbennet

Lexus every time despite my elderly MB ownership (none of which have been painless except the NA Diesel), and if you can manage without a huge boot, seriously consider GS450h, not only does it come in at £250 ish VED, its economical, has almost silent town running and has the performance of a Porshe to ice the cake.

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Tue 10 Apr 2012 18:13
Lexus Gs or Mercedes E class - Next car??? - Collos25

I have a W211 personal and W212 company beautiful cars a colleague has just changed his Lexus for a W212 having driven mine.Absolutely no problems on the W212 and a faulty door lock on the W211 they are both 220 CDI and have averaged 43mpg on the W211and 46mpg on the W212 the nearest thing you will get to perfection in a large saloon. The Lexus was a petrol certainly looked the part but fuel consumption was ridiculous.

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Wed 11 Apr 2012 01:16
Lexus Gs or Mercedes E class - Next car??? - Avant

Enjoy the freedom of your retirement and provided that having a car isn't going to give you financial worries, don't let your conscience push you into the taxi option.

A Lexus is probably the best bet: any used car is somethign of a risk but a Japanese one is less of the risk than most. I'sd imagnine that comfort is a priority, so get a good test drive in one and make sure it suits you.

If not, consider the Volvo S80 - Volvos have some of the best seats in the business. The Skoda Superb is a very good car and likely to be reliable, but doesn't set out to be a luxo-barge.

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Wed 11 Apr 2012 05:59
Lexus Gs or Mercedes E class - Next car??? - 1litregolfeater

Get two cars. A Porsche for fun and a Hyundai for shopping.

Makes sense to me. Big heavy barges aren't much use most of the time, and when they are, you'd be better off with a van.

So a Vauxhall Combo in the garage for when you feel like repairing an engine.

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Wed 11 Apr 2012 08:53
Lexus Gs or Mercedes E class - Next car??? - Collos25

A Lexus is probably the best bet: any used car is somethign of a risk but a Japanese one is less of the risk than most. I'sd imagnine that comfort is a priority, so get a good test drive in one and make sure it suits you

Last three years Lexus has come best fourth in reliability charts in the ADAC survey in Germany whereas the DB has come second.Also the Lexus has zero image thats if you care about one .

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Wed 11 Apr 2012 11:21
Lexus Gs or Mercedes E class - Next car??? - balleballe

I personally thing lexus portrays a classy image - much like Jags, but thats just my opinion

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Wed 11 Apr 2012 11:40
Lexus Gs or Mercedes E class - Next car??? - Bobbin Threadbare

I personally thing lexus portrays a classy image - much like Jags, but thats just my opinion

Me too. They are always lovely and leathery inside and they're nicely understated.

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Wed 11 Apr 2012 14:49
Lexus Gs or Mercedes E class - Next car??? - madf

How many rusty Lexus do you see? None so far.

How many rusty Mercs? Lots.. well there used to be but many are now scrapped..

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Wed 11 Apr 2012 18:22
Lexus Gs or Mercedes E class - Next car??? - geoffken

Many thanks for all replies.

Consensus seems to beLexus.

I have a 1998 C class which i have had for 12 years but it is beginning to cost

£170 for door mirror motor replacement. (did without)

Heater motor gone £250- to replace so just waiting for next expense to tip balance for swap.

Just had 2 new tyres and new battery (under guarantee) so keeping fingers crossed

THANKS AGAIN

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Wed 11 Apr 2012 20:56
Lexus Gs or Mercedes E class - Next car??? - Roly93

I personally thing lexus portrays a classy image - much like Jags, but thats just my opinion

"Cough" !!!!

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Tue 17 Apr 2012 05:12
Lexus Gs or Mercedes E class - Next car??? - 1litregolfeater

Alan Partridge had a Lexus didn't he. Plural of Lexus... Lexae?

Not seen many recently, never seen a rusty one.

Mind you, I can't remember a rusty car at all recently.

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