Looking To Buy A New Vehicle, The Comparisons, rather than continue hijacking SW03ES' thread. lol Options

[blake918]

I loved the MB deisel. That's the first vehicle I've ever driven that if someone didn't tell you it was a deisel, you would have never known it was. It's that quiet inside and out. And if it were up to me, I would have gotten it. The MB deisels are known for billions of miles on them. lol! But this was an 09 left over and they really wanted to get it moved. So for the price I paid, I was fine with the 3.5 liter V6.

Thanks, good to know! I rarely hear anything bad about modern diesels! I only wish there were as many diesel options as there are hybrids. It's a shame we'll probably never see a Accord diesel.

And the swing rear gate was a huge negative for us as well on the GX. Not to mention that we both like the looks of the ML over the GX, but the GX wasn't terrible either. Speaking of which, why does the LX look so stupid? Even Land Rovers look cool now, and they are the ones that started the whole stupid looking SUV thing. LOL!!

Another thing I have found on the MB that I am beginning to like is the MB's version of "On Star". Pushing that button and hearing a voice come on and say "How can I help you?" is really cool! there is another button just over the rear view mirror with this James Bond style toggle swtich cover that you press and it drops down to reveal another button that says SOS on it. If your ever in trouble and you push that button, the police and emergency help is automatically dispatched to your GPS location. There is another button in the center console with a wrench on it that does the same thing, but it only sends your road side service to you. Of course if your in an accident, and the air bags are deployed, you don't hve to press or do anything. It automatically dispatches emergency services. My wife really thinks those features are cool. Of course I pointed out that I hope we never have to use them.

I agree the ML does look so much better than the GX! The GX is too tall and disproportionately thin. I'm not a fan of any of the new Lexus SUVs. I think the new RX looks much, much worse than the LX. The front of the new RX is the worst. I had to sit next to one in traffic the other day. At least it was black, so it kind of hid some of the ugly lines! lol I think they are trying to do the family resemblance thing that the Germans do, but they just can't get it right, while the Germans get this perfectly right. I think the best Lexus styles came in the late '90's and early '00's when each model was unique.

That SOS thing sounds great if you ever get in a crash. I like that some of the new Fords can call the police via Sync if you ever get in a wreck, so there's no monthly fee like with OnStar.

I wouldn't have considered the GX right now since it is so old, and I absolutely hate that stupid swinging rear door!

I hate that door! I know several people with GXs and Rav4s and all of them hate that door...

I'd love to know why they chose that type of door. Not quite as bad was that 60-40 split type door (part hatch, part tail gate) they did on the previous gen Land Cruiser (maybe the LX470 too?). Why not make it easy and go with a hatch??

[SW03ES]

Well that's because you drive the super deluxo ES and I have the touch screen indash nav. menu stripped bare bones shell of a Lexus version. On the Is, that "dual" button you refer to is a button that appears on the touch screen.In order to make that button appear, you have to press the climate button that is located in the upper right hand side of the control panel next to the touch screen. Once that button is pushed, the touch screen changes to show the climate controls, at which point you can now push the "dual" mode button that will now change the controls back to the master control side

Thats right...your IS is SH!T!

Thats really weird that button would be buried in the nav menus. Its funny what they choose to put in the menus for some models and not for others. Very few functions are in my nav menus...which I like.

[smooth1]

Well that's because you drive the super deluxo ES and I have the touch screen indash nav. menu stripped bare bones shell of a Lexus version. On the Is, that "dual" button you refer to is a button that appears on the touch screen.In order to make that button appear, you have to press the climate button that is located in the upper right hand side of the control panel next to the touch screen. Once that button is pushed, the touch screen changes to show the climate controls, at which point you can now push the "dual" mode button that will now change the controls back to the master control side

Thats right...your IS is SH!T!

Thats really weird that button would be buried in the nav menus. Its funny what they choose to put in the menus for some models and not for others. Very few functions are in my nav menus...which I like.

Yeah, there are times when I wish I was in the design room when they were making some of these decisions to smack em upside the head. It's almost like they spend to much time driving other mfgrs cars and not enouph time driving thier own. For example, memory seats. My 03 Ford Explorer came with them, and I think they are almost standard on the ES. (Standard meaning the most popular package they sell off the lots without having to special order it.) And the ES has electronic tilt and telescopic steering with auto fold away feature. On the IS, that option is two packages up the ladder, and I don't think it does the fold away anyway. I think that came from the Mercedes Benz idealogy because I noticed the same package levels split those up also. I'd give up the stupid non helping AFS light things for the electro steering stuff, or the memory seats any day. And yet, Lexus does the keyless entry/start on everything! While Mercedes Benz still uses 4 button rotory dial phone system for entry and ignition. The keyless go system comes on the PO2 packages now. But I have to say that the remote start feature on the MB is frickin cool and works great. So you give a little to get a little I guess.

[SW03ES]

Yeah and the ES and the IS are pretty similarly priced.

Or how the GX and LX have no HID lights...even as an option...but the ES does and the IS. When I bought my ES new you couldn't get HIDs on the GS300 at all...even though you could on the GS430 and the ES...

Weird.

[cduluk]

Yeah and the ES and the IS are pretty similarly priced.

Or how the GX and LX have no HID lights...even as an option...but the ES does and the IS. When I bought my ES new you couldn't get HIDs on the GS300 at all...even though you could on the GS430 and the ES...

Weird.

Lexus didn't list HID's as an option on the GX or LX because they felt the headlights were too high, and that HID's might be too blinding to cars even if angled downwards...

Ever have an Escalade with HID's coming at you? I'm in an SUV myself and they're blinding lol.

[SW03ES]

Lexus didn't list HID's as an option on the GX or LX because they felt the headlights were too high, and that HID's might be too blinding to cars even if angled downwards...

That may be what some dealer says...but I don't buy it. Plenty of SUVs on the road with HID lights.

[smooth1]

Alright, why the heck does Lexus not have a "Tele Aid" service? Holy #@%&*** is that a super awsome feature!

MB gives you the basic service for free for the first year. You can upgrade to the Premier service which includes concierge services, and unlimited directions and a bunch of other features. There is a charge for this service, but it's only like 250 bucks a year. I don't think that's crazy. So, now I just click the i button, and a real person comes on the speaker and says" How can I help you?" Let me give you a snap shot of our conversation with a little background info. I was in Lakeland Florida. I'm not very familiar with that area. So I hit the i button:(Remember also, this is all happening while I'm driving. No having to pull over for this.)

Tele Aid: Welcome to Mercedes Benz Tele Aid, How can I help you?"
Me: Hi, I'm currently looking for a descent resturaunt to eat at, and I don't want MC'd or Burger King or anything like that, can you see if there is anything around me?
Tele Aid: Sure, is this "Smooth 1" I'm talking with?
Me: Yes
Tele Aid: Ok, I see your currently on Lemon street. Is there any particular cuisine or region of food you would like?
Me: Yeah, I think I would like a steak house grill, or something like that.
Tele Aid: I see theres a Road House resturant, a Lakeland Ale House, Gators Dockside grill, and a Sonny's Bar-B-Que grill all within 5 miles of you.
Me: Hmm, Gators Dockside sounds like it might be nice.
Tele Aid: I see there is an accident reported on Highland Road with a 30 minute delay, I could route you around that if you would like to go there.
Me: No, forget it, I think I'd like to go to Lakeland Ale House instead.
Tele Aid: Ok, would you like me to call ahead and make reservations for you?
Me: uuuhhh, sure, ok, do I need to?
Tele Aid: Please hold while I find out for you. In the mean time I will download the destination into your navigation unit for you.

then the nav screen starts scrolling thru and I can see all the info being put in and the nav unit reads " calculating destination."

Tele Aid: Ok, for lunch you do not need reservations, the average lunch prices are $10-15 dollars, and there is currently no wait. The special for the day is a Prime Rib sandwich with Au ju.
Me: ( after scraping my jaw off the floor boards " uuuhh, ok, cool.)
Tele Aid: Is there anything else I can do for you?
Me: No, Thank you, that was alot more than I expected already.
Tele Aid: Your Welcome, I'll end this session for you, and remember Mercedes Benz Tele Aid is never more than one push of a button away."
The session ended and the sat radio came back on, the nav unit directed me to the resturant. I parked the ML, and went inside and ate the special.

WHY DOESN'T LEXUS HAVE THIS???????

[blake918]

That is reallllllly awesome!

[dcfish]

Alright, why the heck does Lexus not have a "Tele Aid" service? Holy #@%&*** is that a super awsome feature!

MB gives you the basic service for free for the first year. You can upgrade to the Premier service which includes concierge services, and unlimited directions and a bunch of other features. There is a charge for this service, but it's only like 250 bucks a year. I don't think that's crazy. So, now I just click the i button, and a real person comes on the speaker and says" How can I help you?" Let me give you a snap shot of our conversation with a little background info. I was in Lakeland Florida. I'm not very familiar with that area. So I hit the i button:(Remember also, this is all happening while I'm driving. No having to pull over for this.)

Tele Aid: Welcome to Mercedes Benz Tele Aid, How can I help you?"
Me: Hi, I'm currently looking for a descent resturaunt to eat at, and I don't want MC'd or Burger King or anything like that, can you see if there is anything around me?
Tele Aid: Sure, is this "Smooth 1" I'm talking with?
Me: Yes
Tele Aid: Ok, I see your currently on Lemon street. Is there any particular cuisine or region of food you would like?
Me: Yeah, I think I would like a steak house grill, or something like that.
Tele Aid: I see theres a Road House resturant, a Lakeland Ale House, Gators Dockside grill, and a Sonny's Bar-B-Que grill all within 5 miles of you.
Me: Hmm, Gators Dockside sounds like it might be nice.
Tele Aid: I see there is an accident reported on Highland Road with a 30 minute delay, I could route you around that if you would like to go there.
Me: No, forget it, I think I'd like to go to Lakeland Ale House instead.
Tele Aid: Ok, would you like me to call ahead and make reservations for you?
Me: uuuhhh, sure, ok, do I need to?
Tele Aid: Please hold while I find out for you. In the mean time I will download the destination into your navigation unit for you.

then the nav screen starts scrolling thru and I can see all the info being put in and the nav unit reads " calculating destination."

Tele Aid: Ok, for lunch you do not need reservations, the average lunch prices are $10-15 dollars, and there is currently no wait. The special for the day is a Prime Rib sandwich with Au ju.
Me: ( after scraping my jaw off the floor boards " uuuhh, ok, cool.)
Tele Aid: Is there anything else I can do for you?
Me: No, Thank you, that was alot more than I expected already.
Tele Aid: Your Welcome, I'll end this session for you, and remember Mercedes Benz Tele Aid is never more than one push of a button away."
The session ended and the sat radio came back on, the nav unit directed me to the resturant. I parked the ML, and went inside and ate the special.

WHY DOESN'T LEXUS HAVE THIS???????

The official voice chauffeur/concierge , How sweet Soon the voice/information will drive your vehicle to your choice of destinations while your in the back seat enjoying the entertainment

[SW03ES]

Lexus does have a similar system now...just coming out on the '09s.

OnStar is the same way...

[nc211]

Can you imagine if we had this technology 15 years ago? O.J. would be TOAST!! Glove don't fit, don't me sh%t, when the gps says you'd done it!

I can only imagine some of the calls these operators take! "Hi, um, I need a.....(insert joke)"

[smooth1]

Can you imagine if we had this technology 15 years ago? O.J. would be TOAST!! Glove don't fit, don't me sh%t, when the gps says you'd done it!

I can only imagine some of the calls these operators take! "Hi, um, I need a.....(insert joke)"

I actually think we did, just the military wouldn't let us use it.

The wife and I have already joked about what some of the calls to the Tele Aid must sound like sometimes....LOL!!

" Hello, yeah........Uuuuhhhmmmmmm, I took these pills and ........... well, do you know what they were and if I can get some more???.........."

Or
" Yes, would you know what time the 3 o clock parade starts?.....

[nc211]

Or prom night.... "Yes, hello....ummmm, she can't get pregnant if the seat heater is on, right?"

[smooth1]

Alright, so far the ML has been good. We went on a road trip with it and the added space made the trip easier. We got pretty descent fuel mileage also. The biggest perk for me was the stress relief of leaving it parked somewhere out in the open in Miami. The IS is, well, eye attracting, and my rims are of course calling to every car thief in the area. I think the ML is much more "urban camouflaged" so to speak. It seems to just blends in more even though it's an MB. Maybe it's just me, but when I leave the ML parked on the street I don't even give it a second thought when I walk away, but the IS I'm almost a nervous wreck sometimes and I have to go and check on it to make sure it's still ok.

And so far, I don't think Merceds Benz dealerships are any better or worse then BMW, Lexus, Infinity or the likes. I don't think as a brand, any of them stand out or above any of the others. All the salespeople answer everything with " If I could would you buy a car from me today?" But I do think that Lexus Of Orlando has the nicest service facility of all the dealerships I've been to. Seriously. It's almost night and day. Hands down by far the nicest place. They have the only lounge area that I feel the most relaxed and comfortable in, along with these nice "little" things they do. Like they have this lady that comes out once in awhile with freash baked cookies and offers them to people who are waiting in the lounge area. The big screen TV's are far enouph away from each other that they aren't competeing for the volume levels. And the lighting is very subdued without being dark. It really is a much better expereince and imho, adds a tremendous amount of value to the car owning expereince. It's nice when the wife doesn't mind "getting away" for a few hours by taking the Lexus in for service! (A happy wife is a happy life. )

The Mercedes Benz dealerships could really learn alot from Lexus with respect to this issue. I've gone to 3 different MB dealerships and both are layed out about the same way. The service department reminds me more of a cow milking station set up more than anything else. Really. Their waiting areas are nice, but not thought out very well. Like tiled floors, and hard surfaces everywhere that just echo everything and make the whole time there seem more chaotic and busied. They also seem to like their MB logo appearal and luggage alot. I see it everywhere! Keychains, belts, purses, golf bags, on and on. In fact, at Mercedes Benz of Orlando, I think the waiting room IS the merchandise showroom! LOL!!! I could be wrong though. I wasn't really sure where I was at the time. Maybe I was just waiting there by accident.......It was the only quiet and carpeted room in the building.