Mercedes CLS 550

[B25Nut]

Parked next to me this morning was a Mercedes CLS 550. It had the Mercedes equivalent of the White Platinum paint. When the CLS first appeared years ago, I loved it. If I had won the lottery, it probably would have been one of my first purchases. If I had one now, would I be a happier person? The answer is definitely NO!

I paid less than $34K for my FFH. The CLS parked next to me is over $80K. The CLS seats four, the FFH seats five with more headroom, and can haul more stuff. Looks wise, we'll have to call it a draw. The CLS will do 0-60 mph in 5.1 seconds, but I would probably only use that power if I was trying to impress someone. Every morning I get on the freeway on a S-shaped on-ramp. My FFH has the handling and power to get me to 70 mph by the time I merge into traffic. Why would I need more power? The CLS gets 21 mpg, my FFH over 43 mpg. The choice between the two is a no-brainer in my mind, unless snob value is of primary importance.

[acdii]

Looks tiny compared to the Fusion. You nailed it though, Snob value. Thats how I see Lexus, BMW and Mercedes owners. I really don't see what the hoopla is over an expensive car that costs a small fortune to buy and another one to maintain. Then again Lexus and Infinity are just redressed Toyota and Nissan(so is Lincoln).

 

Now a Rolls Royce, That's a car to be proud of, Hand built perfection.

[machoman1337]

Looks tiny compared to the Fusion. You nailed it though, Snob value. Thats how I see Lexus, BMW and Mercedes owners. I really don't see what the hoopla is over an expensive car that costs a small fortune to buy and another one to maintain. Then again Lexus and Infinity are just redressed Toyota and Nissan(so is Lincoln).

 

Now a Rolls Royce, That's a car to be proud of, Hand built perfection.

 

I would say that only the lower to mid range Lexuses are just redressed Toyotas. The higher end models, particularly the RWD sedans like the GS and LS, are in a whole league of their own. My dad drives the LS460 and I honestly wouldn't insult it by comparing it to, say, a Toyota Avalon. But comparing the Lexus RX to the Toyota Highlander? Fair enough.

 

Acura however is 100% redressed Honda across the board. Dad used to have an Acura MDX. Reliable car, but didn't feel like a luxury car, and it was ugly on the inside. The ride quality was hard and bumpy - my FFH is FAR superior for half the price. Even a rented Dodge Journey in the base trim had a smoother ride. Swapped that for the LS460 and never looked back.

 

No opinion on Infiniti.

 

I do agree that the vast majority of luxury cars are just there for snob appeal, except the truly stately flagship sedans like the LS, 7er, A8, etc. Those cars feel damn good to sit in, are damn silent (even nonhybrid models), and have great power. If I had the $$$ I'd seriously consider an LS600h. But a Ford Fusion vs a BMW 3-series or Lexus IS? Give me the Fusion any day of the week - far better value for the money and the leather is just as luxurious, plus it's a bigger car. Want a luxury car of similar physical size, like the 5-series or Audi A6? You could load up the HyTi with every option and still pay less than the BASE price of those sedans. Why pay $50k for a barebones 5er with leatherette and almost no tech, when you could have almost all the tech in the FFH for $45k?

Edited August 7, 2014 by machoman1337

[hybridbear]

I do agree that the vast majority of luxury cars are just there for snob appeal, except the truly stately flagship sedans like the LS, 7er, A8, etc. Those cars feel damn good to sit in, are damn silent (even nonhybrid models), and have great power. If I had the $$$ I'd seriously consider an LS600h. But a Ford Fusion vs a BMW 3-series or Lexus IS? Give me the Fusion any day of the week - far better value for the money and the leather is just as luxurious, plus it's a bigger car. Want a luxury car of similar physical size, like the 5-series or Audi A6? You could load up the HyTi with every option and still pay less than the BASE price of those sedans. Why pay $50k for a barebones 5er with leatherette and almost no tech, when you could have almost all the tech in the FFH for $45k?

I agree! Our account manager for our P-card program at work bought a new BMW 3-series around the same time we got our FFH. She paid many thousands of dollars more for her car, spends thousands more on gas each year and doesn't have real leather, adaptive cruise, lane-keep assist, auto-high beams, rain-sensing wipers, active park assist, back-up sensors, etc.

[acdii]

 

I would say that only the lower to mid range Lexuses are just redressed Toyotas. The higher end models, particularly the RWD sedans like the GS and LS, are in a whole league of their own. My dad drives the LS460 and I honestly wouldn't insult it by comparing it to, say, a Toyota Avalon. But comparing the Lexus RX to the Toyota Highlander? Fair enough.

 

Acura however is 100% redressed Honda across the board. Dad used to have an Acura MDX. Reliable car, but didn't feel like a luxury car, and it was ugly on the inside. The ride quality was hard and bumpy - my FFH is FAR superior for half the price. Even a rented Dodge Journey in the base trim had a smoother ride. Swapped that for the LS460 and never looked back.

 

No opinion on Infiniti.

 

I do agree that the vast majority of luxury cars are just there for snob appeal, except the truly stately flagship sedans like the LS, 7er, A8, etc. Those cars feel damn good to sit in, are damn silent (even nonhybrid models), and have great power. If I had the $$$ I'd seriously consider an LS600h. But a Ford Fusion vs a BMW 3-series or Lexus IS? Give me the Fusion any day of the week - far better value for the money and the leather is just as luxurious, plus it's a bigger car. Want a luxury car of similar physical size, like the 5-series or Audi A6? You could load up the HyTi with every option and still pay less than the BASE price of those sedans. Why pay $50k for a barebones 5er with leatherette and almost no tech, when you could have almost all the tech in the FFH for $45k?

Agreed, those were the ones I was referring to, the redressed ones. I pulled up next to one of those redressed Camry's when I had a same model year Camry, looked over and yelled, Nice Camry! At a glance, can't tell them apart. Infiniti is all redressed Nissan too. Whatever rubs them right I guess.

 

Lincoln is the same too, the MKS, redressed Taurus. The MKX, redressed Edge. The MKZ though, unless you looked really hard at it, you wouldn't know its the Fusion. The MKT, looks nothing like the Flex on the outside, only similarities are on the inside, and only in the third row. Navigator, 100% Expedition with fancy trim. Out of all those, the T and Z are the only ones I would want to drive(I do drive the T).

 

My take on the supposed Luxury of the Lincoln, its quieter than the Ford, the materials are a bit better, but that's about it. I actually preferred the Flex over the MKT due to its having more room overall. They drive the same(except when in sport mode), the ride is the same(except in comfort mode), the main difference is the looks are pure class. I have been nagging my wife on a used 2009 Flex that is at my dealer, priced at $11,900. Really good price for it too. I even have the kids going gaga over it as its the same color as my first one and they were mad at me for getting rid of it. LOL