Lexus GS or BMW 5 Series?

[TheApple]

The BMW seems more stylish and more current, imo

 

[JayJay]

Originally Posted by TheApple

The BMW seems more stylish and more current, imo
I agree. Lexus designs seem to become dated very quickly, IMO.

 

[SirWilliam]

For whatever reason Lexus designs are always dated from the get go...BMW makes cars that are really ugly in the beginning and become slightly less ugly as you get used to them...they used to be really conservative style wise...the new 3 series is the only car in the current lineup that does not look like a complete explosion.

 

[audiophilia]

Get the BMW.

There is no contest.

 

[Christofuh]

Buy Lexus unless you're a car guy.
Dynamically it turned out yet another fart in the wind from the premium division of Toyota all these years struggling to out-BMW BMW.
Nissan has done a much more credible job with their GT-R while going after 911 Turbo, for instance.
Nuclear blast-proof reliability and Patek build quality tend to make up for shortcomings of Lexus. Sorta...

 

[The Deacon]

Originally Posted by Christofuh

Buy Lexus unless you're a car guy.
Dynamically it turned out yet another fart in the wind from the premium division of Toyota all these years struggling to out-BMW BMW.
Nissan has done a much more credible job with their GT-R while going after 911 Turbo, for instance.
Nuclear blast-proof reliability and Patek build quality tend to make up for shortcomings of Lexus. Sorta...

truer words...

 

[suited]

Originally Posted by username79

I was trying to point out the hideous plastic covered wood "grain" and the wide couch seats sans bolstering.
It's not a race car, it isn't suppose to have racing seats. The interior in the BMW is slightly better, but I'm still pondering why anyone would pay 63 grand for a car that looks like a 3-series with 3 more inches of leg room in the backseat. For the price of a fully loaded 5 series you could buy a year old Maserati Quat. I really don't think the interior in the Lexus is nearly as bad as you're making it out to be.

 

[JayJay]

The interior of the Lexus 600 is nice with all the leather and wood, otherwise Lexus interiors don't inspire me.

 

[gnatty8]

^ while the Lexus is nice, I still think its a stretch to say it compares favorably with this:

 

[username79]

Originally Posted by suited

You're not seeing it, are you? That interior is positively geriatric. Nice for what it is, but definitely not in BMW territory.

 

[suited]

Your opinion may be right, but factor in reliability, service and exterior appearance and price, and I still think the GS is a better buy. The 5-series is over 60 grand and it's basically a glorified 3-series. It's a nice car, but I would surely spend my 60 grand somewhere else.

 

[gnatty8]

Originally Posted by suited

Your opinion may be right, but factor in reliability, service and exterior appearance and price, and I still think the GS is a better buy. The 5-series is over 60 grand and it's basically a glorified 3-series. It's a nice car, but I would surely spend my 60 grand somewhere else.

I have never had problems with BMW reliability, and the service I have experienced has been excellent, although its been limited to the once a year annual maintenance and I think I once needed the A/C serviced on a 330 I owned back in 2002-2004. Also, in terms of exterior appearance, this is very subjective. I personally think the Lexus looks very Buick like (as someone else said above) and uninspired, and very, pedestrian. It really does look like nothing more than a rebadged Toyota with some shiny metal strategically placed.

 

[JayJay]

Originally Posted by gnatty8

I have never had problems with BMW reliability, and the service I have experienced has been excellent, although its been limited to the once a year annual maintenance and I think I once needed the A/C serviced on a 330 I owned back in 2002-2004. Also, in terms of exterior appearance, this is very subjective. I personally think the Lexus looks very Buick like (as someone else said above) and uninspired, and very, pedestrian. It really does look like nothing more than a rebadged Toyota with some shiny metal strategically placed.
I never had problems with BMW reliability when I used to purchase them. I had a few service issues with my local dealer, but it did improve before I switched brands. My understanding is that they have improved significantly since then.

 

[BrettChaotix]

My only issues with my BMW have been electric. Lots of small things that I can fix myself in most cases. It's pushing 90,000 miles and has never had an engine/trans problem and that's after a significant accident that caused a lot of damage (about $800 shy of totaling the car)

I'm actually considering taking advantage up the .9% rates and trading up to a 5 series, so this thread has been very informative!

 

[JayJay]

Originally Posted by BrettChaotix

My only issues with my BMW have been electric. Lots of small things that I can fix myself in most cases. It's pushing 90,000 miles and has never had an engine/trans problem and that's after a significant accident that caused a lot of damage (about $800 shy of totaling the car)

I'm actually considering taking advantage up the .9% rates and trading up to a 5 series, so this thread has been very informative!
I also had a few electrical glitches, but nothing very serious. I recall my power windows didn't always want to go up and down.