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

oh daimlerchrysler.

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…

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.

christ just buy the real thing for that kind of cash ex. audi, bmw, merc,jag(kinda) why pay that much money for the same engine you could get for half the cost? ”

Seem you forgot that Mercedes and BMW are the only two companies that make their own parts. Jaguar parts are made and shared with Ford while all Audi’s are made by Volkwagen.

Quite VW CEO Bernd Piechesrider when he said that ALL Audi’s are VW’s in drag.

while Lexus has NO vehicle that competes with this one, so I am not sure why the earlier poster stated that.

feel free to call me ‘resident anti-Toyota crusader’ and ‘domestic fanboy’ if it makes you feel better. I will state again, if a vehicle is good, I’ll support it. If a vehicle is bad, I’ll bash it. I have no blind brand loyalty (loyalty towards dcx, yes; blind loyalty, no.) You are slightly more transparent than me.

1990 to present
Mercedes: 7,331,195 units affected
Lexus: 5,162,899 units affected

These numbers are NOT shown as a reflection of total production. as soon as I get the production numbers, I can make a more accurate percentage based comparison.

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.

How Lexus is even relevant here I do not know. Give me a date range (in model years) you want me to compare MB to Lexus in total vehicles affected recalls, and I will post each manufacturers respective numbers.

Why not link your source or post the same range of data for MB Mike? Would that weaken your point rather than strengthen it?

Nobody (reasonable) assumes Toyota/Lexus or any other manfactuer makes flawless vehicles. All that list proves is that Lexus has recalled products.