I would never buy a car from a company that makes the Dodge.

I see you're in Australia, so you probably don't see the American
magazine, Consumer Reports. It just came out with it's ratings of
reliability of various cars, as gathered from subscriber's surveys.

Most folks in the US (but not all) view these ratings of reliability
as the best available.

In response to your post, I just looked through the new ratings, and
the results are striking. Lexus is clearly on top in every relevant
category, as is Toyota. Honda is just about as good-- the differences
are likely not to be statistically significant.

Below is an article, cut a pasted from the Pittsburgh PA Post-Gazette
in Pennsylvania, reporting on the results:

For the first time since it introduced the annual listing in 1997,
all of Consumer Reports' Top Ten vehicles are Japanese-made.

The top picks are models that scored at or near the top in the
magazine's testing program, have average or better predicted
reliability , and performed adequately in overall crash protection as
tested by the government or insurance industry.

Here are the top picks in each of the 10 categories: sedan, less than
$20,000: Honda Civic 2; sedan, $20,000-$30,000: Honda Accord 3; sedan,
$30,000-$40,000: Acura TL 4; luxury sedan: Infiniti M35 5; SUV, less
than $30,000: Subaru Forester 6; SUV, more than $30,000: Toyota
Highlander Hybrid 7; minivan: Honda Odyssey 8; pickup truck: Honda
Ridgeline 9; green car: Toyota Prius 10; fun to drive: Subaru Impreza
WRX / STi.

In a survey of Consumer Reports subscribers for predicted reliability,
Chrysler and Mercury improved their showings. Mercury was the only
American brand to crack the Top Ten, checking in at No. 8, while
Chrysler moved up five places, to No. 15, out of 36 brands.

Lexus was named most reliable, followed by Honda, Toyota, Mitsubishi,
Subaru, Acura, Scion, Mercury, Mazda and Suzuki.

In the meantime, Chevrolet, Ford, Dodge and other American brands
languished in the lower rungs of the predicted reliability survey.

Predicted reliability rates for American brands have been about the
same for the last two years: 17 problems per 100 vehicles in 2004 and
18 per 100 in 2005.

But the most unreliable brands in the survey were European, with an
overall 21 problems per 100 vehicles.

The 10 lowest-rated brands were Audi, Infiniti, Saturn, Lincoln,
Jaguar, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, Land Rover, Hummer and Porsche.

It's just the Ford/Chevy argument at higher prices.

Rednecks will be rednecks.  A closed mind is a closed mind, no matter
what his paycheck says.

as an owner of both, I like my benz better, the lexus is a fine car if
you just want to get from here to there but for people who really
enjoy driving the benz is far superior

When you start talking about cars in the league of BMW, Lexus and
Mercedes-Benz, they are all extremely nice. Even though I personally own a
Lexus brand product, I have a lot of respect for BMW and Mercedes-Benz both.
I would be proud to drive a vehicle manufactured by any of these three. BMW
and Mercedes-Benz traditionally have had better exterior styling and superb
driving dynamics, while Lexus tends to concentrate intensely on initial
build quality and downstream reliability. Good electronics are a high point
for Lexus. I realize that a car's looks are subjective, but in my opinion,
BMW and Mercedes-Benz both make some great-looking vehicles.

So, you're probably correct to some degree with your comments to your
brother. And again, the interior and exterior styling is subjective. One
man's treasure is another man's junk.  ;-)

Ron M.

I work with a number of Attorneys, most of whom drive 'Benz's. All of them
are on really good terms with the service department at the local 'Benz
dealership. I was at one of their houses Saturday doing some computer work.
He commented on my 01 GS-430, asked how I liked it and told me his tale of
woe:  In 2003 he bought his wife a new S430 Benz. He paid $81,000.00 for it
and since:
1) It has spent an average of 31 days in the shop per year. Since this is
less than  45 days per year, Mercedes says it doesn't qualify as a lemon and
will do nothing about it.
2) It has his wife stranded a number of times.
3) After much negation, the only thing Mercedes would do was to extend his
warranty to 5 years, 100,000 miles.
The car now has 23,000 miles on it, Since it's left his wife stranded so
many times, she refuses to drive it. I suggested making a flower planter out
of it.
I told him I paid a little more than 1/3 of the cost of  his 'Benz for my
Lexus, have had "0" problems with it. He didn't offer to trade me straight
across, but he was thinking about it.
Personally, I will stay with Lexus.

I own an SLK320. Prior to the SLK, I owned a TT FWD. Never had any problems
with either the TT Audi (also, my wife has had a problem-free A4 since 2001)
or the Mercedes Benz. Both were great cars. Drove a few sc430s the past
couple of weeks because I need to (sadly) get rid of my MB because it is a 6
speed and I've been having problems with my knee (on and off for the past 2
years....to the point of one round of physical therapy). Was very impressed
with both the look and the quality of the sc430......very plush and a very
smooth ride. However what I don't like about the sc430 is that while it
looks sporty, it is far from it. I found the ride very smooth but very
boring....what one would expect from a sedan vs. a sports car. Nothing wrong
with the feel of the car....for what it is, Lexus has done an exceptional
job...great quality and build, maybe as good as it gets for that type of car
(beating the SL500). However, I think the car a beautiful snooze.....if you
like to drive and like a performance vehicle, the Lexus sc430 is not for
you. Myself? Went with the TT V6 with the new DSG tranny...incredibly
sporty, great Bose stereo (better punch to it than the ML system IMHO)  and
has AWD. Loved the feel of the Boxster....but then it gets down to what car
you can trust.....Lexus is at the top of the list IMHO....Audi is
exceptional (though the electricl system can be tempermental....or so I've
been told) and the MB less reliable than the Audi.

So.....I agree....the Lexus is more reliable and comfortable. HOWEVER, to
say the Mercedes is "overpriced unreleaible overengineered machines" is
bullshit IMHO. I think them pretty reliable and see where friends who own
them feel the same way. Most important, if you like to drive....the Lexus is
boring.

OL.....if anything, my dad while incredibly generous screwed up the
whole
fam damly.....both of my brothers and I can't seem to keep a car more
than a
couple of year before we get bored and want something new. Oh and re
the
sarcasm, forget that my pop had a very successful company. The key for
him
was buying wholesale (off lease) and then selling for a profit (or no
cost
for the year used). He just loved the wheeling and dealing of car
sales...and it helped that he worked out of the house. Don't hate the
plater, hate the game...LOL.                                          
Damn, I had not
realised  i betrayed my sentiment! It didnt dawn on me till you pointed
it out , that my  comments about your wealthy family were tinged with
sarcasm.   Let me try it again..er, lessee, Just buy a mercedes and
resell it every two years  even though poor slobs like me hate you for
doing it even though we'd do the same thing, or probably worse if we
had the intellect to have judiousciosly done what  you all  did while
istead  we were pigging out wasting our existence and therefore deserve
to be driving a '89 pickups instead of an audi TT_6's. ITs no use,
however sincere i try to be , im afraid theres still some
resentment.Purely envious spite I assure you; no way around it im
afraid-you know, class conflict and stuff.