Vs Car and Driver: A8 vs 750i, vs S550 vs LS460 vs XJ8 Super V8

[PHYBENZ]

I am not sure what is better, MB getting first, or Lexus getting last. As far as build quality I wouldn't jump to the conclusion that Lexus' is hands down the best. Audi has I would say the best build quality of all and the S550 is very very close behind. Also the article says that the MB had the best fit and finish of all cars.

Here is a little something I noticed from an edmunds picture. That glove box gap doesn't look like the best build quality if you ask me, especially the lower you look in the pic and around the key hole.



If you are talking reliability, then you could be right there.

 

[Yperion]

Thanks for the pic PHYBENZ, the dashboard of the LS in that pic looks very cheap. Lexus has a lot to learn when it comes in how to make an interior look and feel luxurious.

 

[Bruce]

I am not sure what is better, MB getting first, or Lexus getting last. As far as build quality I wouldn't jump to the conclusion that Lexus' is hands down the best. Audi has I would say the best build quality of all and the S550 is very very close behind. Also the article says that the MB had the best fit and finish of all cars.

Here is a little something I noticed from an edmunds picture. That glove box gap doesn't look like the best build quality if you ask me, especially the lower you look in the pic and around the key hole.

If you are talking reliability, then you could be right there.

Well no car is perfect, not even Lexus

Either way i am of the opinion that the Audi, Lexus, BMW and Mercedes all have equal build qualites, each with their own interior idenity. The XJ8 is the vehicle which in this comparsion in my opinion does not fit, sure it may be an executive saloon but some of the shared interior parts are a little..

No offense to any Jaguar fans of course

 

[PHYBENZ]

Thanks for the pic PHYBENZ, the dashboard of the LS in that pic looks very cheap. Lexus has a lot to learn when it comes in how to make an interior look and feel luxurious.

Yanni, I think it was in a British magazine, where they said the Lexus dash looks like an upscale Avensis that won't appeal to the Euopeans, but will appeal to Americans. Americans don't know the Avensis so they don't see the similarities.

As far as Jag 7.3, you're 100% correct it is just not in the same league as the rest of the cars. It is a classic, but the interior looks cheap.

 

[Yperion]

No offence Bruce but this interior looks much better than the Lexus one.

 

[Centurion]

I have seen the dash of the LS in real life and I have to say I feel very sorry for Lexus. The interior looks far from exclusive. Even cars like the 5er, E-class and Volvo S80 have interiors with more character.

 

[Bruce]

No offence Bruce but this interior looks much better than the Lexus one.

That's subjective

Either way i can not stand the plastic buttons on the XJ8, the overuse of wood surroundings and that damn J-Shift

Again, the Lexus is not perfect either, i really dislike that plastic grey wood they applied to that one PHYBENZ posted, looks cheap.

 

[Sayyaaf]

Its like the BMW & Audi (excluding the jaguar) are the only unique vehicles in that comparison others are just like combination of both. Some design elements from here and there and we got a new car. seriously guys I love the new S but come-on. I don't think it looks better than the A8 in those pics or even the 7er. I hate to say it but the S class is no more a design leader. It clearly shows that Brono Sacco has retired and almost no one can replace him.

Its either u go with the evolutionary way of design (A8) or controversal way (7er). others are just an enhanced copy of those. IMO of course

 

[Deleted member 182]

Also the article says that the MB had the best fit and finish of all cars.

Word.

 

[Deleted member 182]

The single biggest thing that makes it look cheap is that electronic clock. It could be straight out of 1983 Camry. On the other hand the whole package looks very much like Japanese and that's a positive thing. First people complain that Lexus/Toyota copies everything but now they look like they should, Japanese.

 

[PHYBENZ]

Its like the BMW & Audi (excluding the jaguar) are the only unique vehicles in that comparison others are just like combination of both. Some design elements from here and there and we got a new car. seriously guys I love the new S but come-on. I don't think it looks better than the A8 in those pics or even the 7er. I hate to say it but the S class is no more a design leader. It clearly shows that Brono Sacco has retired and almost no one can replace him.

Its either u go with the evolutionary way of design (A8) or controversal way (7er). others are just an enhanced copy of those. IMO of course

If you ask me the 7 series looks old and dated, especially on the inside where the article even says that it's not a luxurious interior. The interior looks like a complete mess when compared to the clean lines of the S, or A8.

 

[audi_rudy]

i love the a8 interior number one to me. But i feel the only real difference between the 7er and s class is that the sclass copied the 7er and just took away all the buttons. Thats just what i think and thats why i dont like the s class interior at all. It deffiently is not revolutionary or class leading imo.

 

[CarGuy]

i love the a8 interior number one to me. But i feel the only real difference between the 7er and s class is that the sclass copied the 7er and just took away all the buttons. Thats just what i think and thats why i dont like the s class interior at all. It deffiently is not revolutionary or class leading imo.

I agree with that. Having said that the BMW, Jag and Lexus are only 7 points apart which is almost nothing at all if you think about it so the LS geting last is no real concern at all. The fit and finish in the Lexus is up to date and the interior is very modern and can be compared to the germans but the fun to drive factor is where it lacks and do we have to complain about the only "real" weakness a 1980 digital clock Lmao.

 

[CAR-NNOSSEUR]

Its like the BMW & Audi (excluding the jaguar) are the only unique vehicles in that comparison others are just like combination of both. Some design elements from here and there and we got a new car. seriously guys I love the new S but come-on. I don't think it looks better than the A8 in those pics or even the 7er. I hate to say it but the S class is no more a design leader. It clearly shows that Brono Sacco has retired and almost no one can replace him.

Its either u go with the evolutionary way of design (A8) or controversal way (7er). others are just an enhanced copy of those. IMO of course

This is the most truth that I've heard in a long time!
It bothers me 2 how the S-class gets pray's for copying
the 7ers without any original interior designs. They add 1 or 2 new tech options an act like they re-invented the
wheel! I'm happy to see everyone's not fooled!

 

[cawimmer430]

None of these other company's can match Lexus
build quality.

That's a difficult claim.

In this class of car, every single car is well-built. The S-Class, which I had the pleasure of driving, feels like a tank. The interior feels incredibly well made. I didn't really get that feeling in the last W220 S-Class I drove.

Lexus build quality is also overrated. People assume that just because they're reliable, they're "well built" as well. There's a big difference between reliability and build quality. Lexus are well-built cars, no doubt, but the competition builds good cars as well.

Our ex-Nissan Cefiro V6 was a very reliable car, but the build quality was a joke. After only 20,000 km, the interior was full of rattles and parts started falling off the rear doors. We sold the car with almost 60,000 km on the odometer. Reliable car, poor build quality.

 

[Bruce]

People assume that just because they're reliable, they're "well built" as well. There's a big difference between reliability and build quality. Lexus are well-built cars, no doubt, but the competition builds good cars as well.

Good point and i'm not pointing a finger at anyone, but as you said there is a big difference bwteen reliability and quality. I would imagine the LS460 is more reliable than any of the other vehicles here but i wouldn't say it was the best built

As i said before, the three Germans and the Japanese vehicle in my opinion are all equally well built, while it is my opinion Jaguar is behind in this section.

 

[cawimmer430]

I am not sure what is better, MB getting first, or Lexus getting last. As far as build quality I wouldn't jump to the conclusion that Lexus' is hands down the best. Audi has I would say the best build quality of all and the S550 is very very close behind. Also the article says that the MB had the best fit and finish of all cars.

Here is a little something I noticed from an edmunds picture. That glove box gap doesn't look like the best build quality if you ask me, especially the lower you look in the pic and around the key hole.



If you are talking reliability, then you could be right there.

Lexus makes great interiors, but they're also tremendously overrated in some cases (no offense Bruce ).

IMO, the best Lexus interior is the GS, even better than the LS (from what I can make out in the photos). When I sat in a GS at a Lexus show, I was very impressed with the interior. It and the Audi A6 are tied for first place in this class when it comes to interiors.

The cheapest Lexus interiors from what I have seen are the IS and RX.

 

[cawimmer430]

Good point and i'm not pointing a finger at anyone, but as you said there is a big difference bwteen reliability and quality. I would imagine the LS460 is more reliable than any of the other vehicles here but i wouldn't say it was the best built

As i said before, the three Germans and the Japanese vehicle in my opinion are all equally well built, while it is my opinion Jaguar is behind in this section.

Agree with you.

Jaguar is ahead of all cars here in one department: STYLE. As much as I love the S-Class, A8 and LS, the Jaguar owns them all when it comes to elegance. Among these cars, it looks the classiest and most old-school.

 

[cawimmer430]

Yanni, I think it was in a British magazine, where they said the Lexus dash looks like an upscale Avensis that won't appeal to the Euopeans, but will appeal to Americans. Americans don't know the Avensis so they don't see the similarities.

The Toyota Avensis does have a pretty good interior though. Together with the VW Passat, the best in class.

The Toyota Avensis is actually the only Euro-Toyota I really like. The rest of the Toyota's sold here are boring as hell.

Why can't Toyota export some of the nicer cars it reserves for their home market? I always thought some of the JDM (Japanese-Domesic-Market) models from Toyota looked really hot and stylish. It's the stuff they export I just can't stand.

 

[Bruce]

Lexus makes great interiors, but they're also tremendously overrated in some cases (no offense Bruce )

The cheapest Lexus interiors from what I have seen are the IS and RX.

You know me, no offense taken Christian. I agree the RX interior is highly over-rated and the IS could be better. I really like the LS' and GS' interior though

Jaguar is ahead of all cars here in one department: STYLE. As much as I love the S-Class, A8 and LS, the Jaguar owns them all when it comes to elegance. Among these cars, it looks the classiest and most old-school.

The Jaguar's not a bad looking car ...i'll agree with that