sorry this maybe a little off topic but i am giving my TSX to my sister, and I am buying a new car. i want a nice luxury convertable so i pulled it down to two cars. the Mercedes CLK500 and the Lexus SC430. Tough choice. Give me some opinions. THanks!!
clk 500 or SC430
1 - 20 of 48 Posts
Joined
·
8,663 Posts
How long do you plan on keeping the car? Do you prefer a hard top or a soft top?
Joined
·
8,663 Posts
I personally don't like the looks of the SC430... But the CLK500 looks sweet!!
Joined
·
10,087 Posts
In case some of y'all might not know.....these cars are way above the "price point" that we usually talk about.
Even besides price, those aren't the kind of car that I look at anyway.
I mean, I sure as hell LOOK at them -- but they're not cars that meet my needs. :isuck:
If I "had to" take one of them (poor me) it would be the SC430, for the reason that Sazabi said. The CLK500, like the entire MB line, has shown poor reliability in recent years. And Saz put it really well -- "headache." People often say that if you have the $$ to get a car like that, you don't have to worry about reliability because you can afford whatever it takes. But in my book, that misses the point, because it's not just the cost -- it's the headaches, the inconvenience, the uncertainty, and maybe the missed opportunities because your car won't get you where you need to go. (I know, I know, if you have that kind of $$ you can call a car service too.)
FWIW neither of these cars is rated that great by Consumer Reports or Consumer Guide. Obviously they have a big "wow" factor, but if you get objective about them, they don't do so well. The TSX probably handles as well as either one. Is it as much fun? I guess not. But you get other perks with the TSX, including a better ride (by most people's standards). And that's even without talking about the $$ you'll save.
Anyway.....congrats, theo, for being in a position to consider these cars!
Even besides price, those aren't the kind of car that I look at anyway.
I mean, I sure as hell LOOK at them -- but they're not cars that meet my needs. :isuck:
If I "had to" take one of them (poor me)
it would be the SC430, for the reason that Sazabi said. The CLK500, like the entire MB line, has shown poor reliability in recent years. And Saz put it really well -- "headache." People often say that if you have the $$ to get a car like that, you don't have to worry about reliability because you can afford whatever it takes. But in my book, that misses the point, because it's not just the cost -- it's the headaches, the inconvenience, the uncertainty, and maybe the missed opportunities because your car won't get you where you need to go. (I know, I know, if you have that kind of $$ you can call a car service too.) FWIW neither of these cars is rated that great by Consumer Reports or Consumer Guide. Obviously they have a big "wow" factor, but if you get objective about them, they don't do so well. The TSX probably handles as well as either one. Is it as much fun? I guess not. But you get other perks with the TSX, including a better ride (by most people's standards). And that's even without talking about the $$ you'll save.
Anyway.....congrats, theo, for being in a position to consider these cars!
Joined
·
5,757 Posts
I'd take the Benz CLK500. Its newer than the cramped SC430. It may have reliablity issues, but hey, my TSX had many problems last summer. Those problems can be fixed.:thumbsup:
Joined
·
8,663 Posts
That's what the waranty is forlarchmont said:
Joined
·
10,087 Posts
So.....you mean that as long as it's free, you don't mind having to keep taking your car back in, and having problems crop up whenever they feel like it, and never knowing if the car will really get you where you're going?TSX 'R' US said:That's what the waranty is for
:donno:
Joined
·
8,663 Posts
There's always a chance of getting a bad car...luck of the draw... There has been a few TSXs that were lemons...and look at Joker's TL... Just a luck of the draw sometimes...however, choosing a certain type of car will decrease your chances.. Now if a certain part is bad all over the board for a manufacturer, then I suggest not going to them...larchmont said:
I don't dissagree with you Larch, but taking a detour and looking at it from a different perspective as well...
yeah i heard the lexus is more reliable, but one thing is i live in Vancouver, lots of rain, i would prefer the hard top, but the things i take in account are performance and overall style and look. I have test drove them both and the V8 sounds sweet. The Clk has sportshift, and the lexus is just automatic. I would love some more input.
Joined
·
8,663 Posts
I've never test driven any of those cars, but I personally would probably go for the CLK500... I checked out the specs and it does look more appealing than the Lexus (Engine/performance/roominess).. Did I mention it looks better?
Joined
·
1,481 Posts
(Larch lives in New York, and if he can afford to do THAT, he can afford to buy a brand new Maybach as a RR station "beater"!)larchmont said:
:devil:
But I digress. If I were looking for a new convertable in the $50k-$100k range, I'd first look at the new Porsche 997. Appearing in your dealer's showroom in August.
1blue1.gif
Joined
·
1,481 Posts
Did I go someplace? (Besides my occasional trips away from the computer to go outside to fill up the bird feeders and tie up the tomato plants, I mean.)larchmont said:
I suppose if "the sky's the limit" the new Maserati Quattroporte would make an even better "station beater". (I'll stick with a Volvo station wagon already equipped with numerous optional door-dings! While I'm sure Metro North commuters all show respect fine, hand-crafted automobiles, out here on the North Jersey Coast line, they won't!)
Joined
·
5,757 Posts
now you see.:bowdown1:TSX 'R' US said:I've never test driven any of those cars, but I personally would probably go for the CLK500... I checked out the specs and it does look more appealing than the Lexus (Engine/performance/roominess).. Did I mention it looks better?
Joined
·
10,087 Posts
I see you can have one of these for only about 90K.bob shiftright said:.....I suppose if "the sky's the limit" the new Maserati Quattroporte would make an even better "station beater". (I'll stick with a Volvo station wagon already equipped with numerous optional door-dings! While I'm sure Metro North commuters all show respect fine, hand-crafted automobiles, out here on the North Jersey Coast line, they won't!)
![]()
But I'm sure that's stripped.
And the 997 would be a bargain -- only like 70?
(Stripped.)
Joined
·
1,242 Posts
Lexus SC 430
small back seat, usable for storage only
world class interior
impecable fit and finish and reliability
hard top convertible - best of both worlds (i would purchase on this feature alone)
few extra features (electrochromatic side mirrors), also dual power down mirrors with reverse engaged (MB only single)
no shiftable automatic
18' rims
MB CLK500
slightly useable backseat
soft top - not good for seasonal climates (loud highway ride with closed top)
7 speed shiftable automatic
no standard CD player!
17' rims
power rear seat entry
bottom line I think the lexus is the better car especially with the hard top, but it doesn't provide much passenger or cargo capacity with the top down. although the back seat can be used for cargo, while the MB doesn't use the trunk to store the convertible top, and can carry 2 passengers slightly better. If you don't really carry more than 1 passenger, I would definitely go with the lexus for the hard top convertible.
small back seat, usable for storage only
world class interior
impecable fit and finish and reliability
hard top convertible - best of both worlds (i would purchase on this feature alone)
few extra features (electrochromatic side mirrors), also dual power down mirrors with reverse engaged (MB only single)
no shiftable automatic
18' rims
MB CLK500
slightly useable backseat
soft top - not good for seasonal climates (loud highway ride with closed top)
7 speed shiftable automatic
no standard CD player!
17' rims
power rear seat entry
bottom line I think the lexus is the better car especially with the hard top, but it doesn't provide much passenger or cargo capacity with the top down. although the back seat can be used for cargo, while the MB doesn't use the trunk to store the convertible top, and can carry 2 passengers slightly better. If you don't really carry more than 1 passenger, I would definitely go with the lexus for the hard top convertible.
1 - 20 of 48 Posts
