samsemtex (January 1, 1970 at 12:59 am)

i agree that BMWs are certainly unable to reach the same level of luxury as Mercedes and probably lexus but you talking down Mercedes just because they are a badge is the exact same thing as people talking them up because they are. Just goes to show Lexus doesnt have the badge cred they so desperatley want. Oh yeah and what does Lexus produce that can compete with an S65? Or even a S63? Btw Mercedes hybrid will be the first with lithium ion battery technology. Isnt that lexus speciality?

samsemtex (January 1, 1970 at 12:59 am)

And yes the LS is historically an incredibly reliable vehicle but after all it has only been around for 19years compared to the S-class which is around since the 1950s. And old s-classes up until the w220 were engineered to a standard that no car manufacturer has ever achieved since. Mercedes were renowned for their over engineering of cars. Mercedes have decided to go back to this policy and recent reliability surveys show this.

samsemtex (January 1, 1970 at 12:59 am)

You have no idea of the history of cars do you. No point to the S class?! Its the best selling luxury car of all time by a huge margin. Almost everything thats in ordinary cars now was in the S-class first about 20 years ago. Its the same today with mercedes pioneering vast amounts of safety equipment. Lexus copied mercedes with their dynamic cruise control which merc had years ago and its collision warning system is years behind mercedes.Without the s-class there would be no LS

HondaJapanPride (January 1, 1970 at 12:59 am)

I have tried so hard to find out what's so new about this new BMW 7 series, and yet, all I saw was the same ol' stuff you can see in Lexus, Cadillac and Mercedes. I seriously think BMW is falling down as just a pure badge car for the people who still think that BMW is the best. and Mercedes, this year's consumer reports said Mercedes S class' reliability is still below average, and no Merc car could ever reach average. I don't know about you, but I really don't see the point of Merc S.

HondaJapanPride (January 1, 1970 at 12:59 am)

Oh ya, they drive whatever they want, and yet, do they publically say this is the best? Especially when you are the CEO of the DIFFERENT company? Ford CEO clearly could say BMW 7 series or Merc S class is the best, but did he say that? Hell no. He even said he will drive Lexus until Ford can come close to its quality. Why not Mercedes quality or BMW? Because he also knows the notorious reliability that BMW and Merc have. Anyone with a car brain knows BMW or Merc are just badge cars.

samsemtex (January 1, 1970 at 12:59 am)

Ive only ever read one american car magazine and that said in the short reviews section about the S-class "still the class leader". Pretty much every CEO in the world drives an s-class and they can afford whatever they want too. What does that say?You're trying to make it out like i dont like Lexus. I would take the IS over the 3 series every day and i would take the LS over the 7 because its much better looking. Both are still behind the S-class in my opinion.

HondaJapanPride (January 1, 1970 at 12:59 am)

Oh ya, ENGLISH magazine. Actually I don't know a single English magazine that has crowned Lexus LS as the best sedan. Wonder why? When the American magazines give so much credits(Even today) to Lexus LS still? Ford CEO drives Lexus LS, and he calls it the finest car in the entire world. I mean, he obviously has money to buy Merc S class or BMW 7 series, but he ended up buying LS and says it is the best.I guess that's because that's the truth? Hybrid is a joke? Stop wishing.

samsemtex (January 1, 1970 at 12:59 am)

Bluetec accounts for 20% of the sales of E-classes in the states. Far higher than any other diesel car and meeting targets. Diesel sales in the US are expected to triple by 2015. How exactly is a highly efficient diesel engine in anyway an attempt to match a hybrid car? Its clean diesel. Lexus' hybrids have shown themselves to be a complete joke and returns terrible mpg on the larger cars.Read any English magazine and the S-class is always ahead of the LS.

HondaJapanPride (January 1, 1970 at 12:59 am)

Bluetec DID fail. Or tell me, is Bluetec even as popular as Lexus hybrid? Simply, Mercedes' pathetic attempt to introduce a DIESEL in North America is pointless. Many of the Mercedes drivers in North America drive UNLEADED Mercedes, so what's the point of Bluetec? Land Cruiser and LX still look entirely different and at least, LX still has more luxurious interior than Land Cruiser. And Land Cruiser is still more reliable than any Mercedes car can ever dream of. And Toyota, IS luxury.

HondaJapanPride (January 1, 1970 at 12:59 am)

Let's see, I would like to read those magazines that you have read. The new Merc S class still gets the rating of "Worse than average" on reliability, and the last time I checked, Lexus LS still was on the top on many categories. BMW 7 series? Are you joking? BMW 7 series NEVER has come between Lexus LS and Mercedes S class. Do you honestly think that notorious iDrive alone would even make BMW 7 series come between LS and S class?