Here in the Middle East with the harsher climates, you’ll find loads of 25+ year old Lexus LS430’s on the road driving daily. You will very rarely spot a 25 year old S class or BMW. That says all you need to know about build quality.
Can we petition Mat to do more used car group tests? It's all well and good comparing new cars, but I'm sure the majority of us buy cars that are 3 years and older. Regardless of what he review's it's all great content.
no need to petition; if more people watch this content they'll make more of it. It's how UA-camrs work. Thing is, most people like to watch cars they can't afford go head-to-head so this will always be a niche.
He has done this before when he used to work for Auto Express. But yes, I wouldn't mind seeing Matt reunite with the Lexus LFA. Matt reviewing the LFA back in 2010: ua-cam.com/video/pDYGdmNFxIo/v-deo.html
@@abnfalcon3901 If Mat can get his hand on the Enzo, Nevera, Chirron, etc I reckon can get his hand on the LFA. He could also ask Yianni and Nabil for help. I bet they personally know an LFA owner in the UK.
The biggest difference between the 3 older cars is how much in repair costs were spent over the last 20 years. The Lexus owner used tape on his mirror, this suggest he spent no money on repairs.
I go for LS430. But I must say the 7 still looks stunning. I always thought it looks unique (a bit odd) and I like it. The design is ahead of its time. Can't believe it's 20 years old!
@@blackjack7581 how many German vehicles are coming with Adaptive radar cruise, Oscillating vents, truly luxurious seats, heated/cooled front & rear seats, massaging seats (that work), fridge, an actual responsive & reliable touch screen infotainment, filters for almost every seat, a timeless look, a reliable air suspension system that is also not too expensive to repair/replace, an actually reliable car and not to mention a secret compartment for a small pdw? Some of this (design/look) can be opinion based and subjective, but come on lol let's be very honest here The Lexus got the most features, a decent price, and 10x more reliable than any German luxury sedan from this era. I would hands down take a long trip in the ls430 any day instead of the other vehicles.
@@r35spectgt-r84 nope, 7series is the most modern compared to the other two. The merc looks so outdated, meanwhile Lexus’s design looks like it comes from 90’s
@@r35spectgt-r84 nope, 7series is the most modern compared to the other two. The merc looks so outdated, meanwhile Lexus’s design looks like it comes from 90’s
My father had the s320 cdi, I remember that lovely rattle coming from the engine.. It was the most comfortable car in which I have ever traveled. We pushed it up to a speed of 230 km/h and it was still confy and silent
I owned a Lexus LS400 and that was the most comfortable and most technologically advanced car even 15 years after it’s built date..most new cars at that time didn’t have specs and features it had. Loved it.. and used to leave so many other,sportier cars in dust at traffic lights in power mode..
Same with the BM I had that and miss it still, like Matt says it looks modern and was ahead of its time. Mercs back then we're disgusting still are now 🤣 love the new lexus though wow
The lexus ls430 would be the one for me! One of the most reliable V8 engines in the world. Although i would prefer the lexus ls400, so much cooler looking!
Get a restyling LS430 and you're set for life. Matt was showing the pre-restyle version and Lexus made over a thousand changes in the 2004 version. The V8 is amazing, but as I mentioned in a comment above, extra cooling for the LPG conversion is a must as I had to do a complete overhaul after 60k km on LPG due to cylinder overheating.
This video shows more about the previous owner(s) than the cars itself. But its a real-world scenario, and gives you an idea of what to expect for that price range Great!
I think its important to point out that when you see cars like these in such bad condition, after many years on the road, its not the manufacturer to blame, its the owner(s). Keep up with the maintenance and the car will stay good as new.
Gosh I wish the brakes were better - it feels so bad and I know people put the brakes from Cayenne to get it more responsive. Pad changes help in the first 1k after the change. After that they feel nonexistent. Mine is also getting a tonne of rust over the years, it's easier to find new doors than getting them fixed at this point.
I would definitely go for the Lexus. It basically won everything except for the looks. And Mat saying that it’s unreliable is just wrong. When you’re in a 20y/o car you don’t look at small details, you look at the bigger picture
Agree. The Lexus needs a new radiator but other than it looks pretty good. Engine sounds lovely. The other two are showing warning/error lights, plus the Merc is rusty and BMWs interior has bits falling off and flaking paint. Despite being neglected I would bet the Lexus will be the last one standing down the line.
whatever the merits of being slightly more reliable, they will most certainly be outweighed by the more expensive parts and the far, far worse fuel economy.
@@Nikola_W211 yap those diesel engines are very good even bmw 30d engines are very good my brother owns a e60 530d with 310000km on the clock and it's still going strong
Lexus for me, thanks. I bought the best one I could find two years ago, have done all the major preventative maintenance on it, and am settling into the next decade of budget luxury motoring. Oh, and everything works.
So predictable Jody 🙄 in Australia they drive those land cruisers a lot but that is too big mud master g shock for you you are more of casio oceanus lol 😆
The LS430 was my first car and I absolutely loved it!! It has 280,000 Miles on it when I finally got rid of it. Fantastic vehicle and that 4.3 is bulletproof
I had a 1999 ls400 which cost me £800. Granted it needed that spent again sorting the suspension but it was a brilliant car! Only 160k on it which in LS terms is barely run in and everything worked. Felt as smooth as I'd imagine it would have from the factory. Miss that car 😢
Hard to beat the s class suspension. Also once the facelift hit in 03 and AMG got their hands on it, no large sedan from bmw or lexus from that time could even come close to touching it in terms of performance. Even today a s55 from 03 and up is still an impressive car with the m113k engine.
@@torbenanschau6641 I dont think the s8 would pose any challenge, 2003 had 360hp…. 2003 760 li is certainly closer at 438, but also 500 lbs heavier. The s55 is at 493hp and 516 torque down LOW at 2100. S55 has crazy long gears too.
If anybody watching this is seriously considering one of these 3 cars go for the Lexus LS430 but get the updated model from 2004 onwards. It'll cost you £5k for one in good condition that's been cared for but it'll last you another 20 years if need be. The 2004 update focused on fixing every known problem and complaint of the 2001-2003 models, plus it included a whole bunch of new tech upgrades that came out after 2001, the 300hp engine stays the same but they changed the transmission to a 6 speed which is silky smooth and with just that an new engine mapping it went from doing 6.4s 0-100 to 5.9s 0-100.
I had a similar age e class with that engine. The thing I quite liked about it was the lag. The similarity with the e class probably makes the merc the best option of the three really as at least you stand some chance of getting parts
That Mercedes straight six diesel is economical (for its class) and a potential powerhouse for tuning. Upgrade the turbo, fuelling, software and such and you are looking at over 300 hp with far better fuel economy than the petrol versions.
@danturbo316 Power is a function of torque and rpms, so what you are referring as a lot of torque is better phrased as having more power in the lower rpms. But it is indeed correct that usually turbo diesel engines have more torque than the petrol ones.
you realize the amount of money you would spend bringing the car up to the power level of the competition is times more than what you would spend on fuel on the V8s
Of all these I'd have the Lexus. We had the previous gen 7 series, which was beautiful, we had that generation LS, and the Latter generation S class growing up. The Lexus wasn't as quick or fun, but it was shockingly quiet and reliable. As a teenager I took many naps in the back seat on roadtrips of a LS430. Side note my daily is a G11 BMW 750 m sport.
I love my 2004 LS430. Great V8 fast for 300hp. Unfortunately, I crashed into a median while doing a sorta fast turn and the bumper and front left wheel axle got screwed up. Thank god it did not get totaled however. And because this car, like the others you showed are old and outdated despite not being too old, it was soooo hard for the mechanic to find a pearl white bumper for the car but we got it.
I was once you! Now I daily my poster car - a W215 CL 500 Mercedes I bought for 3 grand. Only will these cars u see cheap now be gone by then and either collectibles or long salvaged but u can probably afford a 2016 S Class then 😂
I have a 14 years old Lexus GS460 and it has no reliability problem at all. This 4.6 L V8 is cheaper to maintain than any existing German V8, and I live in Germany. The only thing changed in the engine is the water pump. The rest of maintenance is only yearly oil change, break pads, and soon to be done 2 front dampers. The car runs and runs and runs. The condition of my car is obviously way better than these 3, but it’s actual value is way over 1.000 £, it is more around 15.000 €. Even for these 3 cars, I doubt you could find it so cheap in Germany. It would be maybe more around 3, 4 or 5.000 €.
Definitely the correct choice Matt. Have run a 2005 S320 CDI for nearly 11 years. The facelift ones were a big improvement in many of the areas that you noted, such as infotainment, no rust etc. As a bonus the facelifted diesel got more power and a more responsive auto gearbox. Get a long wheelbase with all the options. Treat it well and it will take care of you. A great car for an experienced DIY mechanic. Easy to work on and will save yourself thousands by doing so.
Correct.w220 if more elegant and comfy compared to other two. If you can do DIYs then its a very good choice easy to work on it. CDI is very economical but very fragile also. Low grade diesel ruins this engine very quickly. M112 v6 is good option. Its simple SOHC engine. Not so economical but bulletproof engine.
@@luqmanhaider14 CDI engines - early OM613 and later OM648 are both bullet proof engines when used with the fuel we have in the UK. I've seen one go to 700,000 miles without being opened up, just regular oil changes.
@@fasterbiggerstronger5911 nah, that's rubbish. Been dealing in these for years here in the UK. Had 30 or more W220 that we've owned. 2004 and 2005 cars do not rust here in the UK, unless they've been badly crash repaired.
The S class is not as unreliable as people think. I have it for over 7 years now and it runs like a charm. Easy and cheap to self repair. Extremely comfortable and not thirsty at all! I’ve also had the LS430 before. I liked a lot but it is no where near the comfort of the S-class, especially when the S class has adaptive cruise control!
The LS430 is the best and most reliable. Still hold its value the best to. See plenty of S class with failed air suspension and in the US we don’t get diesel S-classes. I’ve seen many 7 series with blue smoke coming out of the exhaust. I’ve never seen a LS430 in bad of shape as the one in this video. Even the ones You find online with 200k miles still are in way better shape than the one in the video
I’ve owned all three of these The Lexus is the most reliable by far and everything works inside. The other two look better and probably drive slightly better, but if you’re buying a car if this age and want years and miles of very few issues, get the Lexus
Curious how easy it would be to fix the Lexus and get it running reliably vs the others. I own a 2000 LS400 and have put 20k miles on it over the 2 years Ive had it and never had a single issue with the drivetrain. Had a few issues with wheel bearings, brakes, exhaust and some electronics but the car always ran no problem. And even when I had a bad bearing it still ran just fine. Even when I had warped rotors it braked just fine. Some of the bushings went and I had to change them; they were the cause of some vibrations especially when braking.
Lexus is cheap to fix and reliable to run, especially drivetrain. Also used toyota/lexus cars depreciate less, so that means that the £1000 LS wasn't taken care of (especially looking at the tape on the mirrors), that means you have to find LS for £2000-£3000 or fix all the issues for the same price and car will run another 5-10 years without problems. If the radiator is leaking after 15 years and 150k miles, it means that if you change it, the new one will run another 15 years.
The lexus is defiantly an easy and cheap car to work on!! I rallycross a ls400 and gs300 haha. They hold up so damn well. Got a couple vids on my channel if you're curious! Haha have a great day
This could be a fun regular series. Nice video. From when i was younger to now I still like the design of the 7 Series the most. Keep up the good work.
@@zhila5958 Panels rust often due to blocked drains and sound deadening but there is nowhere near the level of chassis rot, German cars are very well rustproofed where it matters.
From these three specifically yeah, the merc's the clear choice since it's the least broken and most economical. If I were to pick between the other two it'd the Lexus, even though I don't mind the BMW's styling too much. I don't mind the Lexus' either and it's a nice colour. Should be ok with the coolant leak and sunroof seen to.
Lexus get mileage issue after they launched 2nd Gen of LS400 which is miles better than 430 did and the build quality is slight worse than LS400 have back when they become the inspiration of affordable high-tech performance sedan with Mercedes S-class and BMW 7 series struggling to keep up with LS400. But, after LS460 was released, BMW and Mercedes already keep up with Lexus and Lexus was beaten in term of comfort and riding quality despite they have better performance on engine and run faster, but in term of interior, they almost equal except the bootspace on Mercedes S-class was way worse because they took too much space, thus making luggage become even more cumbersome. I dont know about latest on 3 of them, but I found all of them have their own uniqueness in 90s and 2000s, but all of them are rather similar in present.
I drive a 94 ls400 with 1,100,000 miles on it and drives like it’s brand new every switch still works and drives just as good as my wife’s brand new 9g tronic merc if not better, cost £250 road tax and £250 classic car insurance can’t go wrong
The problem is that you won't really see a Lexus LS for £1000. This one is a £1000 because it's been absolutely hammered. You'll see plenty of s-class and 7-series for this price thanks to poor reliability though.
Yah, for a car to run another 10 years without major repairs, I think most used car buyers would consider the Lexus the only long term ownership option of the 3.
The headrest in the rear of the BMW 7 series went up "on its own" because it sensed the seat is occupied. It will recess back once the seat becomes vacant. BMWs have always had advanced tech compared to the others. Albeit a pain to maintain, something ALWAYS breaks
That must be the worst Lexus LS I’ve seen. The radiator leak is a killer if not urgently resolved. Also the screens in the back AFAIK are aftermarket or dealer option, I have an ex-demo car that had the whole option catalog thrown at it.
Lexus is cheap to fix and reliable to run, especially drivetrain. Also used toyota/lexus cars depreciate less, so that means that the £1000 LS wasn't taken care of (especially looking at the tape on the mirrors), that means you have to find LS for £2000-£3000 or fix all the issues for the same price and car will run another 5-10 years without problems. If the radiator is leaking after 15 years and 150k miles, it means that if you change it, the new one will run another 15 years.
I'd be really interested in a similar test where you control the tyres, since I feel like different tyres make a huge impact. Might be why the BMW sucked at braking/launching? Not necessarily changing the alloys, but at least a newer tyre
The headrest is supposed to go up its own in the BMW. When it detects someone sitting in the seat, the headrest will rise. When the person gets out, the headrest will lower to optimize rear visibility
They're old and have been badly maintained over the years. A good tune-up would restore 'em to their former glory, but even so they'd still be considered slow for a V8 especially for 2022 standards.
A well-maintained LS430 does 100km/h in about 7 seconds in my tests. Also keep in mind Matt was doing the tests on a slippery road which definitely affected the acceleration. Even two-decades old Lexus has VSC which is electronically breaking to avoid losing control. Another amazing feature is that the car lowers itself once it hits 60 km/h while cruising. And if you stop on never surface it levels itself while parked. Just an amazing piece of tech.
W220 Sclass is head and shoulders the best. Wish it was the 5L V8 facelift model that was tested, as it wouldn’t have the rust, interior and infotainment is way better, and I obviously would be faster. But still. Great video 👌🏼
The car you see the most is the car to go for. I see 10 Lexus 430’s for every W220 S class, and most Mercedes’ I see are on the side of the road. As for the E65, I only see once in a blue moon. Most of them are probably already junked.
I would keep the Lexus! Bmw and Mercedes are nice but I would be afraid of them in terms of reliability! I had 2 mercs in the past and reliability was an issue for me and to be honest there was always something that needed to be fixed and always a new problem occurred
@@Nikola_W211 in my 2004 clk cabrio the auto trans left me and in my C200 AMG I also got towed because of the clutch! In the clk check engine light was always on! Thank God I didn't have issues with the compressor which is very common
Mat hitting the bonnets with a baseball bat. Then physically bashing the interiors made me cringe. I know you love cars, Mat. Treat them with a bit more respect.
So, which of these old limos would you go for? VOTE below!
VOTE: Mercedes S320
VOTE: Lexus LS430
VOTE: BMW 735i
First?
LEXUS 100% BULLETPROOF ENGINE!!
I hope this become a regular series. Reminds me a lot of the old Top Gear cheap car challenges!
Agree
Agree
Ikrrrr
yeees
I agree
Mat just needs to find 2 more people like him and start the sequel Top Gear deserves. The first couple of minutes were very nostalgic to top gear
Watch car throttle
He’s a natural
Beats that TWAT Hammond
Well, I'm available....
How about throttle house gear heads
Here in the Middle East with the harsher climates, you’ll find loads of 25+ year old Lexus LS430’s on the road driving daily. You will very rarely spot a 25 year old S class or BMW. That says all you need to know about build quality.
Can we petition Mat to do more used car group tests?
It's all well and good comparing new cars, but I'm sure the majority of us buy cars that are 3 years and older.
Regardless of what he review's it's all great content.
no need to petition; if more people watch this content they'll make more of it. It's how UA-camrs work. Thing is, most people like to watch cars they can't afford go head-to-head so this will always be a niche.
Bro, in my country we buy 8 year old from Japan as new cars
@@simoneamadi9865 reliability
20 years ago I bought my house for around 50000 pounds. It is now worth quite a lot more than 1000 pounds.
@@nickcartwright2490 but land value never diminishes so it would be around more than 100000 pounds
I want to see mat do a review of the Lexus LFA.... Carwow please make it happen 🙏
Yeah but the thing is they are super rare, only 500 of them were ever made and worth millions of dollars in these days.
He has done this before when he used to work for Auto Express.
But yes, I wouldn't mind seeing Matt reunite with the Lexus LFA.
Matt reviewing the LFA back in 2010: ua-cam.com/video/pDYGdmNFxIo/v-deo.html
Yes, thats a must !!
@@abnfalcon3901 If Mat can get his hand on the Enzo, Nevera, Chirron, etc I reckon can get his hand on the LFA. He could also ask Yianni and Nabil for help. I bet they personally know an LFA owner in the UK.
@@aabidamn LFA owners are not snobby showy people so probably have to go to the gentleman's club for that
I currently own an LS430. Hands down best car ever made. Incredibly smooth, very reliable even parts are easy and cheap to replace. It's a gem.
I want a proper nice car I have 1100 pound cash it must be lexux or Mercedes plz
Merc? Don't.
Five years w two ls430s. Not a single penny. Still have still love
The Lexus is incredibly easy to work on. I was so amazed how simple it was I even did the timing belt myself, which was also surprisingly easy!
The biggest difference between the 3 older cars is how much in repair costs were spent over the last 20 years. The Lexus owner used tape on his mirror, this suggest he spent no money on repairs.
I go for LS430. But I must say the 7 still looks stunning. I always thought it looks unique (a bit odd) and I like it. The design is ahead of its time. Can't believe it's 20 years old!
Now we truly see Chris Bangle's genius:))
Love the bangle era, it’s aged so well and looks miles better than the china pleasing shit of today…
That and the 2004 Acura TL
these will be modern classics, the ones that live. we'll just be old :) i always loved the bagle design myself.
Not being funny though that 7 series was definitely owned by a drug dealer the state of it.
After owning the Merc S320 and the LS430, I have realised how good the Lexus is. Everything just works.
Technology can't break when its not there in the first place lmao
@@blackjack7581 true lol but its a good thing
@@blackjack7581 how many German vehicles are coming with Adaptive radar cruise, Oscillating vents, truly luxurious seats, heated/cooled front & rear seats, massaging seats (that work), fridge, an actual responsive & reliable touch screen infotainment, filters for almost every seat, a timeless look, a reliable air suspension system that is also not too expensive to repair/replace, an actually reliable car and not to mention a secret compartment for a small pdw?
Some of this (design/look) can be opinion based and subjective, but come on lol let's be very honest here
The Lexus got the most features, a decent price, and 10x more reliable than any German luxury sedan from this era. I would hands down take a long trip in the ls430 any day instead of the other vehicles.
@@trdturbois3005 Wish the lexus was better to look at but I dont look that great either so its a perfect match for me 😂
I saw a 2000s Lexus LS430 in my neighbourhood, and it is really clean, exterior and interior wise, and it works very well.
More used car videos like this please! Maybe one with an old Volvo S80? New cars are so expensive these days I'm leaning towards used
Not sure what market you're in, but new cars are generally the same as used, as used are available right now where new cars you're waiting 1-2 years
I would wanna see Audi, BMW, Merc 2008 model years battle eachother.
@@stopsallmelb u wot M8?
Used cars are just as expensive then new car my guy
@@shanginadildo you dont understand the current car market
So crazy how modern the 7 still looks on the inside and outside compared to the other two.
Chris Bangle is a genius, we see it now:))
Looks worse than the other two
@@r35spectgt-r84 no. Much modern
@@r35spectgt-r84 nope, 7series is the most modern compared to the other two. The merc looks so outdated, meanwhile Lexus’s design looks like it comes from 90’s
@@r35spectgt-r84 nope, 7series is the most modern compared to the other two. The merc looks so outdated, meanwhile Lexus’s design looks like it comes from 90’s
My father had the s320 cdi, I remember that lovely rattle coming from the engine.. It was the most comfortable car in which I have ever traveled. We pushed it up to a speed of 230 km/h and it was still confy and silent
I owned a Lexus LS400 and that was the most comfortable and most technologically advanced car even 15 years after it’s built date..most new cars at that time didn’t have specs and features it had. Loved it.. and used to leave so many other,sportier cars in dust at traffic lights in power mode..
I had 3 ls400s stanced out on coilovers and it handled better than my new infiniti
Same with the BM I had that and miss it still, like Matt says it looks modern and was ahead of its time. Mercs back then we're disgusting still are now 🤣 love the new lexus though wow
@@TriGgaPenG You love the look of new Lexus? Do you not see the car on their grilles?
The engine in the Lexus sounds lovely - as Mat admitted. Just needs a new rad. and good for more years I am sure.
LS400s are the best
The lexus ls430 would be the one for me! One of the most reliable V8 engines in the world. Although i would prefer the lexus ls400, so much cooler looking!
i'd spend a bit more and get the ls600! with a bit modern and better lookin design
Get a restyling LS430 and you're set for life. Matt was showing the pre-restyle version and Lexus made over a thousand changes in the 2004 version. The V8 is amazing, but as I mentioned in a comment above, extra cooling for the LPG conversion is a must as I had to do a complete overhaul after 60k km on LPG due to cylinder overheating.
@@stickshift13 There was an LS600?
@@tropicalstorm339 yes it was a hybrid i think the first lexus hybrid
@@stickshift13 Ok. That was the LS600h with a 5 liter V8 and electric motor. The RX400h was the first Lexus hybrid (2004 model year).
This video shows more about the previous owner(s) than the cars itself.
But its a real-world scenario, and gives you an idea of what to expect for that price range
Great!
They trashed it, spent 2k and I could get a mint condition merc
Matt in second hand cars, I love it! More please CarWow.
Yes please 🙏
More like 8th hand
Another version of this with the E Class, 5 Series and GS would be interesting too
GS is king
E60 5series vs w211 e
Everyone would like to see
e class is to good, the other 2 wouldn't stand a chance
Yes . The GS/5/E are much more drivers' cars than the 7/LS/S
gs450H is a great car for sure
I think its important to point out that when you see cars like these in such bad condition, after many years on the road, its not the manufacturer to blame, its the owner(s). Keep up with the maintenance and the car will stay good as new.
I love my ls430. Definitely isn’t a sports car and handling isn’t its goal. Drives so nice on the highway
Gosh I wish the brakes were better - it feels so bad and I know people put the brakes from Cayenne to get it more responsive. Pad changes help in the first 1k after the change. After that they feel nonexistent. Mine is also getting a tonne of rust over the years, it's easier to find new doors than getting them fixed at this point.
I would definitely go for the Lexus. It basically won everything except for the looks. And Mat saying that it’s unreliable is just wrong. When you’re in a 20y/o car you don’t look at small details, you look at the bigger picture
Agree. The Lexus needs a new radiator but other than it looks pretty good. Engine sounds lovely. The other two are showing warning/error lights, plus the Merc is rusty and BMWs interior has bits falling off and flaking paint. Despite being neglected I would bet the Lexus will be the last one standing down the line.
whatever the merits of being slightly more reliable, they will most certainly be outweighed by the more expensive parts and the far, far worse fuel economy.
@@bubberlad worse fuel economy comes with better performance.
Just buy a clapped out diesel golf then. Good fuel economy, cheap part and boring AF
@@jdmguy44 the mercedes has an bulletproof diesel engine so i disagree.
@@Nikola_W211 yap those diesel engines are very good even bmw 30d engines are very good my brother owns a e60 530d with 310000km on the clock and it's still going strong
Lexus for me, thanks. I bought the best one I could find two years ago, have done all the major preventative maintenance on it, and am settling into the next decade of budget luxury motoring. Oh, and everything works.
Hellooooo Jody!
But you seem gayish in an overpriced camry.. sad!
So predictable Jody 🙄 in Australia they drive those land cruisers a lot but that is too big mud master g shock for you you are more of casio oceanus lol 😆
Just one more car!
The LS430 was my first car and I absolutely loved it!! It has 280,000 Miles on it when I finally got rid of it. Fantastic vehicle and that 4.3 is bulletproof
I had a 1999 ls400 which cost me £800. Granted it needed that spent again sorting the suspension but it was a brilliant car! Only 160k on it which in LS terms is barely run in and everything worked. Felt as smooth as I'd imagine it would have from the factory. Miss that car 😢
Love this type of content - really cool seeing reviews for these older used cars!
Hard to beat the s class suspension. Also once the facelift hit in 03 and AMG got their hands on it, no large sedan from bmw or lexus from that time could even come close to touching it in terms of performance. Even today a s55 from 03 and up is still an impressive car with the m113k engine.
The 760 and the S8 could.
@@torbenanschau6641 I dont think the s8 would pose any challenge, 2003 had 360hp…. 2003 760 li is certainly closer at 438, but also 500 lbs heavier. The s55 is at 493hp and 516 torque down LOW at 2100. S55 has crazy long gears too.
screw these top of the line versions, 320 cdi is just fine for today's roads, both performance and economy wise
maybe compare S55 to B7 from Alpina
As much as I love the German brands, I'm going with the Lexus. A comfy, smooth, and reliable car for the money.
Looks like a carbon copy of the S-Class
Asian cars are utter garbage
The lexus is the copy/paste of the s-class of the 90's...
@@lilpold9192 what? They are considered to be the most reliable cars
@@lilpold9192 that's just not true at all
If anybody watching this is seriously considering one of these 3 cars go for the Lexus LS430 but get the updated model from 2004 onwards. It'll cost you £5k for one in good condition that's been cared for but it'll last you another 20 years if need be. The 2004 update focused on fixing every known problem and complaint of the 2001-2003 models, plus it included a whole bunch of new tech upgrades that came out after 2001, the 300hp engine stays the same but they changed the transmission to a 6 speed which is silky smooth and with just that an new engine mapping it went from doing 6.4s 0-100 to 5.9s 0-100.
Had a Ls430 last year. Excellent vehicle for the weekly golf club run. Bought it 4k and sold it for 5600k a year later. Highly recommended
ain’t no way you sold the car for $5600000
@@icedareaper he probably meant 5600 and because buying overpriced cars because of this current economy is the e new norm
Maybe I'm just a cheapskate but $5.6 million for a LS430 seems steep. Nice residuals though
The Ls430 needs about $350 of mechanical work but will be reliable for the next 10 years afterwards. I would choose it.
Because its the cheapest?
no it is the best simply@@tobiasmccallum9697
I had a similar age e class with that engine. The thing I quite liked about it was the lag. The similarity with the e class probably makes the merc the best option of the three really as at least you stand some chance of getting parts
That Mercedes straight six diesel is economical (for its class) and a potential powerhouse for tuning. Upgrade the turbo, fuelling, software and such and you are looking at over 300 hp with far better fuel economy than the petrol versions.
Better buy the 400cdi, V8 Biturbo 250cv and 500nm
@danturbo316 Power is a function of torque and rpms, so what you are referring as a lot of torque is better phrased as having more power in the lower rpms. But it is indeed correct that usually turbo diesel engines have more torque than the petrol ones.
"Upgrade the turbo, fuelling, software and such" or you could use the money to buy a far better new car!
you realize the amount of money you would spend bringing the car up to the power level of the competition is times more than what you would spend on fuel on the V8s
Latest 730D is great for economy
To be fair, the s430 or s500 would've been a more fair comparison, as those have more options that the base s320s
I agree, I also would’ve preferred the E300td. They inadvertently glorified the Lexus In using an Ultra luxury model for this presentation
The BMW kept its design modern for 20 years, still looks good
I disagree mate
It looks like a depressed obese fish
Cannot disagree there.
Yep 🔥
Only everything breaks off in the interior :-D
Of all these I'd have the Lexus. We had the previous gen 7 series, which was beautiful, we had that generation LS, and the Latter generation S class growing up. The Lexus wasn't as quick or fun, but it was shockingly quiet and reliable. As a teenager I took many naps in the back seat on roadtrips of a LS430. Side note my daily is a G11 BMW 750 m sport.
yeah the Lexus murders the other cars long term aka has solid value.
I love my 2004 LS430. Great V8 fast for 300hp. Unfortunately, I crashed into a median while doing a sorta fast turn and the bumper and front left wheel axle got screwed up. Thank god it did not get totaled however. And because this car, like the others you showed are old and outdated despite not being too old, it was soooo hard for the mechanic to find a pearl white bumper for the car but we got it.
This is going to be me in 20 years buying cars that I can't afford during my adulthood
I was once you! Now I daily my poster car - a W215 CL 500 Mercedes I bought for 3 grand. Only will these cars u see cheap now be gone by then and either collectibles or long salvaged but u can probably afford a 2016 S Class then 😂
@@lethalhype1931 faxx 🤣🤣🤣🤣
That 4.3 in the lexus is so smooth and SCREAMS at high rpm
I have a 14 years old Lexus GS460 and it has no reliability problem at all. This 4.6 L V8 is cheaper to maintain than any existing German V8, and I live in Germany.
The only thing changed in the engine is the water pump. The rest of maintenance is only yearly oil change, break pads, and soon to be done 2 front dampers. The car runs and runs and runs.
The condition of my car is obviously way better than these 3, but it’s actual value is way over 1.000 £, it is more around 15.000 €.
Even for these 3 cars, I doubt you could find it so cheap in Germany. It would be maybe more around 3, 4 or 5.000 €.
m113 can go forever
finally a real life cars that we all can relate to. Do more of these!
😂😭
Definitely the correct choice Matt. Have run a 2005 S320 CDI for nearly 11 years.
The facelift ones were a big improvement in many of the areas that you noted, such as infotainment, no rust etc. As a bonus the facelifted diesel got more power and a more responsive auto gearbox.
Get a long wheelbase with all the options. Treat it well and it will take care of you. A great car for an experienced DIY mechanic. Easy to work on and will save yourself thousands by doing so.
Correct.w220 if more elegant and comfy compared to other two. If you can do DIYs then its a very good choice easy to work on it.
CDI is very economical but very fragile also. Low grade diesel ruins this engine very quickly. M112 v6 is good option. Its simple SOHC engine. Not so economical but bulletproof engine.
@@luqmanhaider14 CDI engines - early OM613 and later OM648 are both bullet proof engines when used with the fuel we have in the UK.
I've seen one go to 700,000 miles without being opened up, just regular oil changes.
I bought s320 from 2005 and rust was everywhere so they didn't sort rust problem. Only front mask is aluminium rest is Chinese piece of rusty shit
@@fasterbiggerstronger5911 nah, that's rubbish. Been dealing in these for years here in the UK. Had 30 or more W220 that we've owned.
2004 and 2005 cars do not rust here in the UK, unless they've been badly crash repaired.
The S class is not as unreliable as people think. I have it for over 7 years now and it runs like a charm. Easy and cheap to self repair. Extremely comfortable and not thirsty at all!
I’ve also had the LS430 before. I liked a lot but it is no where near the comfort of the S-class, especially when the S class has adaptive cruise control!
Thanks
I’ve always wanted to see a video like this! Thanks so much! Love the channel
ua-cam.com/video/rDdkqzJzxww/v-deo.html
The LS430 is the best and most reliable. Still hold its value the best to. See plenty of S class with failed air suspension and in the US we don’t get diesel S-classes. I’ve seen many 7 series with blue smoke coming out of the exhaust. I’ve never seen a LS430 in bad of shape as the one in this video. Even the ones You find online with 200k miles still are in way better shape than the one in the video
😆
I’ve owned all three of these
The Lexus is the most reliable by far and everything works inside. The other two look better and probably drive slightly better, but if you’re buying a car if this age and want years and miles of very few issues, get the Lexus
3:58 The BMW sold it’s Kidney itself to maintain itself 🤣🤣
1:30 Well Mat, compared to modern BMWs with that horrendous grill, this 7 series is kinda cute 😅😅
clearly someone who drove the lexus, didnt maintain it at all
Curious how easy it would be to fix the Lexus and get it running reliably vs the others. I own a 2000 LS400 and have put 20k miles on it over the 2 years Ive had it and never had a single issue with the drivetrain. Had a few issues with wheel bearings, brakes, exhaust and some electronics but the car always ran no problem. And even when I had a bad bearing it still ran just fine. Even when I had warped rotors it braked just fine. Some of the bushings went and I had to change them; they were the cause of some vibrations especially when braking.
Lexus is cheap to fix and reliable to run, especially drivetrain. Also used toyota/lexus cars depreciate less, so that means that the £1000 LS wasn't taken care of (especially looking at the tape on the mirrors), that means you have to find LS for £2000-£3000 or fix all the issues for the same price and car will run another 5-10 years without problems. If the radiator is leaking after 15 years and 150k miles, it means that if you change it, the new one will run another 15 years.
@@rpgPalette too bad it looks like a depressed frog/fish
The lexus is defiantly an easy and cheap car to work on!! I rallycross a ls400 and gs300 haha. They hold up so damn well. Got a couple vids on my channel if you're curious! Haha have a great day
Lexus is overrated junk. Just deal with it.
@@betterbeavailable lol yeah ok buddy...
The Lexus LS takes the cake here
This could be a fun regular series. Nice video. From when i was younger to now I still like the design of the 7 Series the most. Keep up the good work.
The LS is such adorable and valued car in the Emirates, Even people with Range Rover drives LS as Daily Driver
Ugly ass car imo
Yeah actually
@@lilpold9192 check out the facelift models 04-06
@@lilpold9192 the facelifted version is far from ugly
My favorite car brands full side sedans love all three however I'd put my money on the LS430 with less worries.
So this is where that re-upload is from
Matt's sense of humour shines in this type of video. More please!
I'll take the Lexus any day,reliability and comfort for me..
Ls 430 is the best there in this video elegant reliable and better performance parts for both the others are really expensive
Clearly the Lexus is the best. Maybe when it came out it didn't have the cool tech, but that's a good thing if you're looking to buy a used car.
Lexus rot more than the Germans
@@pequod1 not really no. Definitely not more than the Mercedes-Benz.
@@pequod1 nothing rots as much as german cars. we’ve got european and American cars in our workshops 24/7 LMFAO
@@zhila5958 Panels rust often due to blocked drains and sound deadening but there is nowhere near the level of chassis rot, German cars are very well rustproofed where it matters.
@@pequod1 that’s why i ser way more rusted out benz/bimmers than Lexus? you don’t make any sense
Do more videos like this, it's very entertaining and it reminds me of the old top gear episodes. Keep it up! 😁
I’ve had a Lexus LS430 and a BMW. The Lexus IS the most reliable. Never had any problems. BMW was in the shop every 2 weeks
If this was Old Top Gear:
Clarkson: 7-Series
Hammond: S-Class
May: *Definitely* the Lexus
There was a Top Gear car buying guide mag around 2005, and Hammond's pick was the 7.
From these three specifically yeah, the merc's the clear choice since it's the least broken and most economical. If I were to pick between the other two it'd the Lexus, even though I don't mind the BMW's styling too much. I don't mind the Lexus' either and it's a nice colour. Should be ok with the coolant leak and sunroof seen to.
Most rusty though
Lexus get mileage issue after they launched 2nd Gen of LS400 which is miles better than 430 did and the build quality is slight worse than LS400 have back when they become the inspiration of affordable high-tech performance sedan with Mercedes S-class and BMW 7 series struggling to keep up with LS400. But, after LS460 was released, BMW and Mercedes already keep up with Lexus and Lexus was beaten in term of comfort and riding quality despite they have better performance on engine and run faster, but in term of interior, they almost equal except the bootspace on Mercedes S-class was way worse because they took too much space, thus making luggage become even more cumbersome.
I dont know about latest on 3 of them, but I found all of them have their own uniqueness in 90s and 2000s, but all of them are rather similar in present.
@@TheFlyingClutchman yeah but the bmw is all filler so theres no knowing what's behind the filler lol
@@dietznutz1 good point tbh
@@TheFlyingClutchman Rust? What rust? It's not there if you pretend it isn't~
I drive a 94 ls400 with 1,100,000 miles on it and drives like it’s brand new every switch still works and drives just as good as my wife’s brand new 9g tronic merc if not better, cost £250 road tax and £250 classic car insurance can’t go wrong
Lexus LS430 is a legend...best LS ever
The problem is that you won't really see a Lexus LS for £1000. This one is a £1000 because it's been absolutely hammered. You'll see plenty of s-class and 7-series for this price thanks to poor reliability though.
that 's exactly what i though, the car must have been beaten to death for it to cost that little for a used V8 lexus
Yah, for a car to run another 10 years without major repairs, I think most used car buyers would consider the Lexus the only long term ownership option of the 3.
Mine was over 3.
Half broken, leaking Lexus still beats german rivals 20 years later. Impressive.
The s class line up in that genre is my favorite, but I'm a BMW guy... But I'd own an Ls before both for it's relianility
What reliability :)))) ?
The headrest in the rear of the BMW 7 series went up "on its own" because it sensed the seat is occupied. It will recess back once the seat becomes vacant. BMWs have always had advanced tech compared to the others. Albeit a pain to maintain, something ALWAYS breaks
The w220 s-class does the same
Lol ....Lancia do the same10 years earlier
That must be the worst Lexus LS I’ve seen. The radiator leak is a killer if not urgently resolved. Also the screens in the back AFAIK are aftermarket or dealer option, I have an ex-demo car that had the whole option catalog thrown at it.
was a pleasure to watch ♡ very well done :D
please do more used cars comparisons 🙏
Lexus will still drive till the end of days!
Lexus is cheap to fix and reliable to run, especially drivetrain. Also used toyota/lexus cars depreciate less, so that means that the £1000 LS wasn't taken care of (especially looking at the tape on the mirrors), that means you have to find LS for £2000-£3000 or fix all the issues for the same price and car will run another 5-10 years without problems. If the radiator is leaking after 15 years and 150k miles, it means that if you change it, the new one will run another 15 years.
I don't know why people started to like the 7 series of this era. It's still plenty hidious to this very day.
Lexus for reliability
Did you listen to the list of faults ?
@@callumcurtis15 What list of faults?
Had my '04 LS430 for 8 years, - never missed a beat, drives like an absolute dream. Pure luxury for peanut money, - best car I've ever had.
More of these type of videos please, it's good to see comparisons of the older cars for a change.
Great video Matt. The Lexus would run and run and still be comfortable and reliable and cheap to maintain 👌1st place = Lexus
1998-2002 were bad years for Mercs, they had rust issues. They are sorted after these years luckily
The lci version of that bmw 7 series looks pretty good, much modern
I need the Lexus in my life
It seems quite pleasurable😌
I have one, have had it for 5 years, paid the equivalent of 1500 pound for it, its a great daily
I'd be really interested in a similar test where you control the tyres, since I feel like different tyres make a huge impact. Might be why the BMW sucked at braking/launching? Not necessarily changing the alloys, but at least a newer tyre
100%, only fair test is new tires (preferably the same tire for each vehicle) and new brakes.
The headrest is supposed to go up its own in the BMW. When it detects someone sitting in the seat, the headrest will rise. When the person gets out, the headrest will lower to optimize rear visibility
S class is the best car hands down
Can't believe the V8s need 9sec to hit 60mph, esp the LS430 which has 290hp
They're old and have been badly maintained over the years. A good tune-up would restore 'em to their former glory, but even so they'd still be considered slow for a V8 especially for 2022 standards.
Lol it’s 6.3 sec in the Lexus look it up lol haha mr. Misinformation
The Lexus IS the best one obviously it’s a Toyota the Mercedes is rusting to pieces and everything is broke on it lol haha haha
A well-maintained LS430 does 100km/h in about 7 seconds in my tests. Also keep in mind Matt was doing the tests on a slippery road which definitely affected the acceleration. Even two-decades old Lexus has VSC which is electronically breaking to avoid losing control. Another amazing feature is that the car lowers itself once it hits 60 km/h while cruising. And if you stop on never surface it levels itself while parked. Just an amazing piece of tech.
Really liked this episode you did here
You should do more like these more often 🤠
Lexus ls is the best it is a very reliable car.
That Bmw really is original and recognisable even after 20 years and even beautiful.
W220 Sclass is head and shoulders the best. Wish it was the 5L V8 facelift model that was tested, as it wouldn’t have the rust, interior and infotainment is way better, and I obviously would be faster. But still. Great video 👌🏼
LS430 all day
Hahaha I love these videos. So comical. Out of everyone who does cars reviews, no one does it better than Matt!!!
I wouldn't doubt a second, the LS430, is by far the most reliable of them I love it!
Ls430 is one of the most reliable lexus ever made, i had one 400k non issues.
I have a 2006 LS 430 with 79k on it and I don’t think I’ll ever need another car
I would choose Lexus as it will probably be the most reliable of the three
The engine in the s class 3.2 straight 6 diesel would outlast the lexus v8
Unless someone is trying annihilate their bank account with repair costs - the only answer here is the Lexus.
I am so glad he picked the bmw for styling. Bmw's from 1990's - 2000's look so much more modern than the rivals from the same era
The car you see the most is the car to go for.
I see 10 Lexus 430’s for every W220 S class, and most Mercedes’ I see are on the side of the road. As for the E65, I only see once in a blue moon. Most of them are probably already junked.
You surely have no clue about what you are saying.
@@patrickamponsah679 You surely have no clue about what I am saying.
I would keep the Lexus! Bmw and Mercedes are nice but I would be afraid of them in terms of reliability! I had 2 mercs in the past and reliability was an issue for me and to be honest there was always something that needed to be fixed and always a new problem occurred
That engine in that s class is very reliabe 3.2 straight 6 diesel they can run thousands of km.
@@Nikola_W211 in my 2004 clk cabrio the auto trans left me and in my C200 AMG I also got towed because of the clutch! In the clk check engine light was always on! Thank God I didn't have issues with the compressor which is very common
@@panos323 most of my mercedes are diesels i have an 2007 e class 320cdi im very happy with the car no issues with it.
@@Nikola_W211 I am happy for you!
I've had a few old mercs and they are very reliable if you get the v6, s class has too many electronics and the 4 cylinder ones were less refined.
My dad had the 745 2005 model, brilliant car in its day🔥
Great review guys! Bring more of this please.
My pick is the Lexus LS.
More like this please! New cars are nice, but now and then a throwback to older cars is also nice to see.
Mat hitting the bonnets with a baseball bat. Then physically bashing the interiors made me cringe. I know you love cars, Mat. Treat them with a bit more respect.
Agreed! He's like an obnoxious teen who snuck away from the class on a field trip to an auto museum... with that shrill giggle...