I like this more than the current one, and this reminds me strongly of the 500/560SEC from the 80′s, a sweet car!

match lexus quality?
shouldn’t be too hard: recalls.
-LEXUS LEXUS 1990 VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
-LEXUS LS400 1990 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
-LEXUS ES300 1992 LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
-LEXUS SC400 1992 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
-LEXUS GS300 1993 SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
-LEXUS ES300 1994 STEERING:WHEEL AND HANDLE BAR
-LEXUS GS300 1994 SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
-LEXUS GS300 1995 SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
-LEXUS ES300 1995 STEERING:WHEEL AND HANDLE BAR
-LEXUS LS400 1995 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
-LEXUS LS400 1995 EXTERIOR LIGHTING
-LEXUS ES300 1996 STEERING:WHEEL AND HANDLE BAR
-LEXUS GS300 1996 SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
-LEXUS LS400 1996 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
-LEXUS LS400 1996 EXTERIOR LIGHTING
-LEXUS SC400 1996 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
-LEXUS GS300 1997 SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
-LEXUS ES300 1997 STEERING:WHEEL AND HANDLE BAR
-LEXUS ES300 1997 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST
-LEXUS LS400 1997 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
-LEXUS LS400 1997 EXTERIOR LIGHTING
-LEXUS SC400 1997 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
-LEXUS ES300 1998 STEERING:WHEEL AND HANDLE BAR
-LEXUS GS400 1998 SUSPENSION:AUTOMATIC STABILITY CONTROL (ASC)
-LEXUS LS400 1998 EXTERIOR LIGHTING
-LEXUS GS300 1998 SUSPENSION:AUTOMATIC STABILITY CONTROL (ASC)
-LEXUS LX470 1998 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
-LEXUS RX300 1999 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DIFFERENTIAL PROPORTIONAL VALVE
-LEXUS RX300 1999 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
-LEXUS RX300 1999 EXTERIOR LIGHTING
-LEXUS LS400 1999 EXTERIOR LIGHTING
-LEXUS LX470 1999 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
-LEXUS RX300 1999 EXTERIOR LIGHTING
-LEXUS RX300 2000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING
-LEXUS LS400 2000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING
-LEXUS LX470 2000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
-LEXUS RX300 2000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING
-LEXUS IS 300 2001 EXTERIOR LIGHTING
-LEXUS LS400 2001 EXTERIOR LIGHTING
-LEXUS RX300 2001 EXTERIOR LIGHTING
-LEXUS LX470 2001 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
-LEXUS RX300 2001 EXTERIOR LIGHTING
-LEXUS ES300 2002 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
-LEXUS RX300 2002 EXTERIOR LIGHTING
-LEXUS LX470 2002 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
-LEXUS ES300 2002 AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
-LEXUS RX300 2002 EXTERIOR LIGHTING
-LEXUS GX470 2003 EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
-LEXUS GX470 2003 SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY
-LEXUS RX300 2003 EXTERIOR LIGHTING
-LEXUS LX470 2003 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
-LEXUS RX300 2003 EXTERIOR LIGHTING
-LEXUS RX330 2004 SEAT BELTS:REAR
-LEXUS LS 2004 AIR BAGS
-LEXUS ES 330 2004 SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
-LEXUS LS 430 2004 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
-LEXUS LX470 2004 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
-LEXUS LS 430 2004 POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
-LEXUS RX330 2004 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
-LEXUS LS 2005 AIR BAGS
-LEXUS ES330 2005 SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
-LEXUS LX470 2005 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
-LEXUS GS 2006 AIR BAGS
-LEXUS IS 2006 AIR BAGS
-LEXUS LS 2006 AIR BAGS
-LEXUS GS 2006 SEAT BELTS:FRONT
-LEXUS IS 2006 SEAT BELTS:FRONT
-LEXUS IS250 2006 VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

should I post which of those on the list were voluntary and which were mandated? hint… the mandatory’s oughtweigh the voluntary, especially with concers of safety (brakes, airbags, etc.)

Recently I’ve been noticing new Cameries, and Avalon’s needing help by the side of high ways, free ways. My Friend’s father has a 2006 Avalon, and he says, “Its the worst car he’s ever had”. Toyota’s aren’t doing as well as they used to. :O

Mike,

As for date range in model years, use the same range you did for Lexus – looks like 1990 to present. If you were trying to make a honest comparison wouldn’t that be obvious?

If you don’t know how Lexus is relevant here why did you post that list? You’re the resident anti-Toyota crusader here would be my answer.

Provided you might actually take the time to do a FAIR comparison let me restate my position:

I don’t pretend to know that MB (or any other manufactuer) had more or less recalls than Lexus did with respect to the list you provided. I don’t care who has more recalls. I won’t take it personally or care if Lexus or MB should come up the loser (unlike you with your domestic fanboyism). My point is that without comparions data, your list says nothing more than at least 1 Lexus model has been recalled in the last 15 out of 16 years. You want better data to support your anti-Toyota crusade don’t you?

I didn’t bow out of the Tundra thread, and my opinion there remains. I’m hardly put off by some anonymous internet poseters who think they have isssued me an “ass pounding”. Check it again.

*considered

i step out for 2 hours and meyhem starts what the heck — ill be happy to explain why i mentioned lexus in this thread. im not going to be juvenile and post long lists of recalls defects and affected units because every manufactuer has a list just as long as the next but the quality issue comes from not only the types of defects but the manufactuers dedication towards dealing with these issues and passing that same dedication towards dealing with the customers. the reason i brought up any japanese company was a reflection of the styling of THIS car. it doesnt matter that there is no competing equivalent from any manufactuer but the fact that it mimics alot of the styling cues from a culture that was know for borrowing from the germans to begin with. my original comment simply stated that the car looks like an acura rl with scion tc headlamps — if they can take styling cues they should also adopt quality and customer service attributes as well…… feel free to bash me i know you will- i dont really care

nothing to do with bashing really, just disagreeing.

1) I fail to see how an obvious 2 door looks like a 4 door. Maybe that is just me, but I fail to see ANY resemblance.
2)’dedication towards dealing with those issues’ should read ‘PERCIEVED dedication towards dealing with those issues’ We covered in the tundra thread how Lexus’s parent company chooses the lowest cost fix, rather than doing the ‘right’ thing.
3) Already covered in this thread, Lexus like any other manufacturer has a far greater number of mandated recalls than voluntary recalls.

I still fail to see how Lexus has any relevance to this vehicle.

Lexus is boring. Enough said. Beautifully made, rock-solid, powerful, quiet, refined, the perfect car – some might say. But sodding dull.

The Mercedes is not, however. It is horribly overrated by virtue of it’s shocking perceived quality indices (historically or otherwise) and it’s apparent pleasure behind the wheel is nullified by too many compromises for comfort, which is itself compromised by other factors. It’s a great car, but a mediocre driving experience, still, the styling is finally getting there and it’s certainly got presence – so not boring. On the face of it…

The S-class is an engineering epiphany, the CL is simply a two door version of it with a dress on, it’s neither a sporty drive, nor an agile handler – same problem as the 6-series.

Herein lies the problem with German grand tourers. Compromise all over the place. For the same money as an AMG CL, you could have an Aston. Or a spanking marvellous XKR (roll on September) PLUS change. As far as I’m concerned, it’s still just not special enough.

Selling me a Mercedes badge is a waste of time, it means nothing.

No amount of little ballbag-warming, arse-massaging, neck-scarf-toasting fiddly bits will ever be as special as the split-second precision of Jaguar’s semi-automatic. No quietly thunderous torque or creamy smooth delivery through 7 ratios could ever match the visceral and virile savagery of an Aston’s mill through an active resonator.

But more importantly, Merc’s are alphanumeric – Astons are artistic.

In German tanks, everything is about the numbers, the power race, the gentlemen’s agreements, percentages, how many toys etc, but Lord be praised – the Brits concentrate more on the basics, refining the experience of DRIVING the car, as opposed to simply OWNING the car.

Bollocks to maths, pass us the crayons.

I could go on for days, really, but no one seems to understand…

Looks like a Camry Solara, only uglier… Way to rip off a crappy Toyota design!!!

great front end styling given the new european ped regs, side profile isn’t bad, but the rear view is so wrong! note MB isn’t exactly dying to give us head-on/near head-on rear shots. from the get go (w/non AMG pics), it made my skin crawl. couldn’t figure out where, but felt like i had seen that puckered rounded rear-end look before, and then i saw it on the streets:

http://www.autobase.com/photos/large/02283259e.jpg

oh daimlerchrysler.