Car Choice: Mercedes E-Class or Lexus?

Nick Hableson is after a comfortable automatic car and has around £3,000 to spend – he was considering a diesel model, but now isn’t so sure

(Lexus)

A car for the head

We have seen a lot of evidence that buying older, previously expensive diesel cars is not a smart thing to do. The cost of replacing pumps and injectors, which can wear out on higher mileage examples, can be more than the vehicle is worth. Better to get a reliable and comfortable petrol car. That would be a Lexus. There is a lot to like about the GS300 SE, not least the largest specification of any comparable model. The average miles per gallon is a reasonable 28.8mpg and we found a 2006 example at £2,990.

(Mercedes-Benz (Mercedes-Benz)

A car for the heart

I know Nick was considering a Mercedes, but as his mileage is below 10,000 miles, he should not worry too much about diesel at all as there are petrol alternatives if you are prepared to look hard enough at the classified advertisements. We found several smart 2002 S-Class limousines with 320 petrol engines for £2,990. Average fuel consumption is just under 25mpg, but for such a large and well-equipped car it doesn’t matter too much. Alternatively there is the smaller E-Class, so a 2004 E320 with 92,000 miles at £2,800, say, would suit him well.

If you would like James Ruppert to help with your car choice, email james@freecarmag.com. For more motoring views visit freecarmag.com