Build quality,fit and finish is the best in the world--beats the Germans hands down.Much better service experience compared to MB. Much more reliable.Lexus dealers act like they actually care!!!

I wish the styling was more up to date and I wish I had the newer 290 hp motor.

For an all around luxury car that does everything well, is extremely reliable and reasonably priced-- this car wins hands down. I will be the first to admit the BMW out performs it and out styles it, the MB is more tank like(solid), the Audi can give you 4 wheel drive,etc.--but for day to day driving (work, soccer, etc)--the Lexus 400 wins.

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I have owned 3 Mercedes (300,4000,500E) and driven numerous BMWs.If I had unlimited money I would want one of each--since I don

Quiet, quiet, quiet. The ride is unmatched. Everyone comments on the ride. Lots of V8 power. I can lay rubber and the car is ten years old, 155,000 miles. I am confident it will go well beyond a quarter million. Everything about this car spells QUALITY. The paint is phenomenal, barely any chips after all these years and lots of high spead highway driving. This car feel smooth and comfortable at a regular cruising speed of 80mph.

Some of the parts have broken - door handles, knobs, and such. Also, the front wheel rods (or whatever they are called) fail regularly. At $600 to replace on each side, its a bit of a drag.

I'm concerned that I may not ever be happy with any other car.

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BMW 5 series, Acura 3.8TL, others. These cars just don't even compare to the Lexus.

Silent, strong and smooth. Navigation system is next generation wide screen DVD, up front where it should be. Features (aka toys) abound. Very comfortable seats. Supple leather. Plenty of room and pretty good gas MPG considering weight and power of this car. The fit and finish are stupendous.

Exterior styling is not as clean as the car's only competition, the Mercedes Benz S-Class. If you lease, Lexus residual isn't as good as it should be.

If you can afford it, there is no better luxury sedan in the world. If you're spoiled by good service from your Mercedes or BMW dealer, you'll be blown away by your Lexus dealer.

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Mercedes S-Class. The LS is faster, quieter, must less costly and has more features than the S-Class. The german philosophy is a little road noise and feel is good for you. This is true on the autoban and those that want "sport". But for the smoothest and quietest ride, you'll want the Lexus. If you want a sportier ride, Lexus now offers a "euro tuned" suspension. Check it out before buying the S-Class or BMW 7-Series.

Quality every where you look.

Copycat features aren't complementary. e.g. The drink cooler is a joke. You can't grab a soda from the front seat and you can't cool a hot one.

I am in the process of buying the new Lexus, LS430 UltraLuxury model. This will by my third Lexus. I love the car. It's quietness is the most outstanding feature. When going through the "check-out" procedure, I was disappointed, and detected a new attitude, appeal to the government rather than the customer. e.g. The seat belt warning light will not go out. Trying to protect the consumer from air bags, no switch to turn off the headlights during daytime driving. The feeling is that their are other items than will "protect" Lexus that enfringes on my ownership rights.

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Other BMW's and Lexus products. We have had a little experience with Mercedes (about like General Motors).

Reliability, Ergonomics inside the car are exeptional, controls are simple and clear.

boring, steering is to soft, oversteer, slow transmition.

I would recomend the Lexus, it's very realiable. It is a good all around car, but the Mercedes has an unexplainable quality that just makes it a much more enjoyable car. I used to have two Lexuss before i bought the 99' a 92 lexus LS 400 (the best one ever) and a 95 LS 400 both were great and this was why i got the 99' however i will not go back to Lexus after enjoying the new S Class.

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I also own a 2000 Mercedes Benz S430, the Mercedes is just a great car, i cannot really compare to the Lexus, I find great qualities in both cars, but clearly the Mercedes has something more about itself. I would be willing to pay the premium for the Mercedes anytime.

Powerful yet quiet engine. Extremely good gas mileage. Very reliable. SMOOTHNESS IS UNBELIEVABLE. Superb Nakamichi sound system...phase characteristics and presence are excellent with powerful, tight, punchy bass. Extremely clean sound. Dramatic gauges. Awesome dealer service/support to the point where it's almost unbelievable (Longo Lexus in El Monte, California). Free loaner cars which I enjoy (I'm now buying an RX for the wife because she got sold on one of the RX loaners).

Styling is sedate. OK styled wheels. I have crappy tires (not the OEM) which sends road noise up in the cabin. Too wide and flat seats slide you when cornering. Also, seats are not exactly cushy or do not give you the feeling that it's supporting you. Cupholder in the back, though a great design, has jammed in. Premium fuel. Sometimes grinding brake noise. Also, brake pads clunk when applied after changing car directions( forwrd to reverse and vice-versa).

Gas mileage is phenomenal. L.A. to Las Vegas, a 250-mile freeway trek with lots of 15% uphill grades, car obtained a round trip average gas mileage of 24.6 MPG. For 60% of the time, the car was set to 80MPH (climbing or downhill driving), while the 40% was for performance (some 100MPH climbing the grades and a tiny bit of 120MPH on straights - where it's clear). BTW, this was with the A/C on , 97 degrees outside temp, with 4 adults.

Car has 53,000 miles and uses Mobil 1 5W-30.

No rattles at this point yet.

Maintenance: Original battery has been replaced a year ago. A heater hose was also replaced due to a pinhole leak. The lower suspension arm was also replaced along with the ball joints for making an almost undetectable suspension noise. All replaced a few hundred miles short of 50,000 miles bumper-to-bumper warranty. I have been replacing the tranny fluid myself but the cost of the fluid is obscene...$25 per gallon. It's a special Toyota fluid you can't get anywhere else but from Lexus. But it makes a big difference as far as getting back the very smooth shift and power/torque application characteristics.

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Smooth quiet ride.

Lexus factory unwilling to stand behind consumer. Constant A/C problems.

Buy new and do not keep past any warranty, Don't trust the dealership. Lexus will always back them, right or wrong! Aside from the lack of factory support to the consumer, they build a nice luxury car. The performance is sluggish and weak and better left to the Europeans.

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Acura Legend, Jaguar XJ6
Lacks performance!

Reliable, Quiet, Comfortable

Not as sporty as a BMW or a Mercedes

This car does not handle or accelerate as well as a BMW or a Mercedes, but it's close. On the other hand the Lexus is unbelievably quiet, soft riding, and reliable. The main reason why I picked it over a BMW and a Mercedes is that I live in the US, and with the awful roads and the 65 mph speed limit, there is no point in buying a car designed to go 150 MPH on the autobahn in Germany. You're basically sacrificing ride quality for nothing. And of course the Lexus is less expensive as well.

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Stereo system

Engine, look too much like Mercedes,

Lexus is a "nice" car, but not a "great" car.
I have both Mercedes and Lexus, to be honest with you,
I like Mercedes better than Lexus.
Lexus's engine is weak compare with Mercedes (hope the
new LS430 will solve this problem). Also, I don't
understand why such great car company wants to follow the
foot steps of Mercedes. Lexus always want their cars look
like Mercedes, I don't think this is necessary.
If you see the picture of the new LS430, you will find out that
it looks very similar to the old S-Class.
Paying $56,000, I think we desire a car that has its own
"unique" style. Also, hope the car can have a high resale value
like Mercedes E-Class.

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Mercedes E320

Reliability, ride

Weak engine, sloppy handling

I've had my '91 LS (no air suspension) for almost 10 years with almost 170,000 miles on the clock. It has been stone reliable and feels as if it can go another 200,000 without a problem. From the factory, the understressed engine lacks grunt and the slow shifting transmission hampers matters more. The handling was also quite sloppy at quickened pace. None of this is really the car's fault considering the targeted consumer. Fortunately, there are a host of modifications available for those willing to seek them out (and pay the costs). In my opinion, the first generation are still the cleanest looking of the LS line.

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