Which looks better? Lexus SC (1st gen) or MB SEC?

In this case I think the nod goes to the Lexus, one of their better styling designs.

— Agent009 (View Profile)

Posted on 3/26/2008 8:53:28 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -5   

SEC all the way.
T

— TauronB2G (View Profile)

Posted on 3/26/2008 8:54:49 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 8   

complete opposites of current mb's

— lexusrox123 (View Profile)

Posted on 3/28/2008 9:05:09 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

"The original SC had a clean and attractive design" - complete opposite of current SC ugliness.

— spruce_rd (View Profile)

Posted on 3/28/2008 9:14:51 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

I would still love to have one of those SCs. Beautiful design.

— Ironman273 (View Profile)

Posted on 3/26/2008 9:09:15 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 6   

hey dictionary boy...it's a Lexus in America, where you are correct?

I've never seen Lexus or Toyota import a Toyota Soarer into America brand new, have you? If you cared to venture, the Soarer's came with different engine options, many different interior options as well. Though they look the same, many things the Lexus has DO differ from their Toyota brethren.

— r15mohd (View Profile)

Posted on 3/26/2008 9:20:28 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 6   

You're obviously trying to "downgrade" the Lexus by saying it's "just" a Toyota. You could just as easily say "That fully loaded BMW 335i? It's just a BMW 318d."

— Ironman273 (View Profile)

Posted on 3/26/2008 9:55:17 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 13   

Obama,

You're just as idiotic as Spellchecker. Cut it out already.

— Willis (View Profile)

Posted on 3/26/2008 2:14:48 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

GoObama you're misinformed person. The Toyota Soarer(SC) was not better than the SEC. Give me a break. There is no comparison. Just like how the Lexus SC now is no comparison to anything in it's class, never was. Now the LF-A i like.

— Agent63 (View Profile)

Posted on 3/26/2008 2:15:40 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

this is the most stupid thread i have ever come across. seriously, this is not news. this is what message boards are for. which is increasingly what autospies is becoming. i voice my displeasure becuase i miss what autospies used to be. i see myself trafficing this site less and less fequently in the time to come if it stays on this nonsense course.

— dbs600old (View Profile)

Posted on 3/26/2008 9:17:50 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 13   

Classy and elegant? If a box is classier and more elegant, than to each his own I guess. I had a silver '95 SC400...LOVED IT!!! It was still purring like a kitten, smooth as ever when I gave it to my brother a couple of years back.

Spellchecker, what is your point? I don't care if it WAS a Soarer, it was still a nice vehicle...much nicer (and more reliable) than a lot of others in that category at that time. I know you have an effection for BMW (as do I and all other great vehicles), but IF a BMW was a rebadged something here in the states, I would still think that it's a nice vehicle. A nice car is a nice car.

— bigmotov (View Profile)

Posted on 3/26/2008 9:28:10 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2   

The original SC was a very sporty design. I believe it has almost stood the test of time, looking better than many Sport Coupes on the road TODAY! The SEC was very classy, but most people today would find the design almost stale.

— adamsaf723 (View Profile)

Posted on 3/26/2008 9:31:17 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

I like the SC, as for a car in that year range it was very modern looking. I've never been a fan of the older Benz's. Even the older S500s to me looked dull.

The latest SC430 though is getting very old and is in such desperate need of an update. I see them on the road here and there and I think they run around 60k, which to me is ridiculous for such an old design.

— Whelan (View Profile)

Posted on 3/26/2008 9:34:35 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

The sc also had a nice engine and a rare manual tranny option. the SEC was pretty cool too.

— Htay7500 (View Profile)

Posted on 3/26/2008 9:59:43 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 7   

The Lexus.

— 07G35J (View Profile)

Posted on 3/26/2008 10:08:30 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -5   

the SEC is a classic coupe that all makes should be inspired by, while the SC was one of lexus' better designs that i can say doesn't suck.

in sportier guises, the SEC is one of the more sinister looking cars ever. adorned with the amg monoblock rims, the benz still has a great visual presence. the cold war vintage benz looks both powerful and classy.

i was never in love with the original SC styling as it reminded me too much of a bar of soap. i liked it, but i much preferred the styling of the GS of those years.

the SC certainly has more sporting intentions , but didn't really back them up by only offering a manual transmission in the 6 cylinder. surely they could've snagged a few supra trannies.

— 1995e34 (View Profile)

Posted on 3/26/2008 10:22:35 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 14   

benz

— JCH335i (View Profile)

Posted on 3/26/2008 10:47:21 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 6   

Although the SEC was always one of my favorate MB desigs, but I must give it to the SC, its has far beyond nicer look inside and out.

— Designer1 (View Profile)

Posted on 3/26/2008 10:47:23 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -5   

The first gen SC blows that SEC away.

Unfortunately though, that first gen SC also blows away the current SC.

— answer (View Profile)

Posted on 3/26/2008 10:58:30 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -5   

It's reasonable to ask which car people prefer - both were top range coupes, similar purposes, etc (despite a big price difference). I personally loved the SEC - it was and still is one of my favorite Benz designs of all time. It was rare, handsome, clean, elegant, and luxurious. And so was the Lexus - I also liked this car a lot went it came out.

But your point that the Lexus looked so much more modern than the Benz really ignores an important fact - the SEC came out in 1982 (maybe 1981 in Europe) and was very modern at the time, and was, in fact, designed in the 70's. The Lexus was introduced in the US when, in 1991 or so? A full decade later. The SEC was replaced by a new model in 1993 in the US (perhaps 1992 in Europe). So if you're really trying to compare temporary cars, you need to use the 1993-2001 SEC/CL. Now the new SEC was no beauty, but it was very modern.

— Hachee2001 (View Profile)

Posted on 3/26/2008 11:24:10 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 6   

This is a good comparison thread, as both cars were beauties of their time. The Merc SEC was introduced ~1981-2, that is why the styling looks '70s vs '90s.

My vote: Mercedes SEC.
In the movie Roadhouse, they featured one.
Near the end they wrecked it. That was a beautiful car. If it were still for sale new today, you could call it stale, but IMO, it is now a classic.

As far as Lexus goes, I love the original SC series, it is a great car, but IMO, it is not a classic... yet.

— Shredmo (View Profile)

Posted on 3/26/2008 11:40:20 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 7   

"Most SEC owners are pimps and evil people anyway"

— 1995e34 (View Profile)

Posted on 3/26/2008 11:59:52 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

Hey retard there is no fake wood in an SEC. The sc was somewhat elegant but also bland. the SEC had a presence and a look that stood out and screamed power. the SC had more of the look of a silent coupe. It's okay to love lexus they make a fine car, but dam, get real and stop making stupid $hit up just because you think lexus beats everything in the world.

— 85bmw745i (View Profile)

Posted on 3/28/2008 10:12:05 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

Umm, some ppl put Toyota Badges on their Lex, ppl are dumb and ignorant.

— StickShiftCamry (View Profile)

Posted on 3/26/2008 11:49:48 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -6   

Prefer the Benz, back then the MB brought style and class in a elegant way. The Lexus brought in a new set of sporty style though, it's one Lexus that I actually like. However, I'd take the Benz over that any day. The Benz had the best seats too!

— IVANURI97 (View Profile)

Posted on 3/26/2008 11:50:48 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 6   

Benz -

— no1listensanyway (View Profile)

Posted on 3/26/2008 11:55:42 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 7   

Wasn't this SEC replaced in like 1991 by the S class coupe?
I like the SEC though - but I do love 80's Mercs.

The SC looks nice, but it was never sold in Britain - a few people had grey imports from Japan but they were all badged Toyota Soarer. Good car though, from what I've heard.

— Rupert (View Profile)

Posted on 3/26/2008 11:58:23 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 10   

^^^^^^^my previous post, where I said:

So if you're really trying to compare temporary cars, you need to use the 1993-2001 SEC/CL. Now the new SEC was no beauty, but it was very modern.

that should have been "CONtemporary" cars!!

— Hachee2001 (View Profile)

Posted on 3/26/2008 12:01:23 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5   

The Lexus SC to me always looked like a big giant almond on wheels :-|

The Mercedes would be the car for me :-)

— EL34 (View Profile)

Posted on 3/26/2008 12:14:34 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 7   

The Merc, no contest.

— Heyhuub (View Profile)

Posted on 3/26/2008 12:54:04 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 9   

I can't believe that they've been compared.

MB, without a shadow of a doubt.

— Czelinski (View Profile)

Posted on 3/26/2008 1:31:12 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 8   

I love the SC 400 so I'm going to go with that. Mercedes' in the 90s didn't look so good.

— lexusis350 (View Profile)

Posted on 3/26/2008 1:55:33 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -8   

Both are classics IMO.
I wanted them both when they first came out, and I still do today.
Can't say that about the new SC though (a styling disaster)

— audirevolution (View Profile)

Posted on 3/26/2008 5:10:49 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

the benz was to boxy

the sc was more modern

— eric452 (View Profile)

Posted on 3/26/2008 7:19:38 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2   

Is this really a valid comparison? The SC300 was released a staggering thirteen years after the Benz. To add, the SEC had already been off the market for a year by the time the SC appeared.

— S4cabriofoxone (View Profile)

Posted on 3/26/2008 9:00:16 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5   

Interesting. Probably Lexus' best design ever against a MB classic. I'll take the Benz, though it was designed, developed and sold best in an era long before the Lexus. The sad thing is that Lexus has absolutely nothing in their current lineup that will be considered classic. Arguably the first generation GS300, SC, and LS400 could all be considered Lexus classics, too bad nothing in their current lineup is even close.

Every single one of Mercedes' cars from that era, R129 SL, W124 E-Class, W126 S-Class sedan and coupe (SEC) are from an era in which Mercedes-Benz design was the best going. All of those MBs scream classic.

Lexus went downhill especially with blandest mess you've ever seen in the 1995 LS400 to what you see today. Mercedes-Benz meanwhile still has some real lookers in their lineup, SL, CL, S AMG, E and CLS.

— Mercedes (View Profile)

Posted on 3/27/2008 2:51:56 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

"Mercedes-Benz meanwhile still has some real lookers in their lineup, SL, CL, S AMG, E and CLS."

New refreshed SL is terrible(last was very good no doubt) and S class's styling is also questionable ugly bangle butt, giant wheel arches, ordinary and quite common headlights...ect

btw LX470 is a classic.

JUGNU

— JUGNU (View Profile)

Posted on 3/27/2008 6:44:15 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -9   

As much as I couldnt stand the sc because it looked like a discman cd player in the front, I will admit theres one thing I liked about it; both the 3 and 400 had an awesome sounding exhaust note. They did a great job on that, at least.

— tattedtwice (View Profile)

Posted on 3/27/2008 3:31:00 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

sorry!!! different car, can't compare. both look great.

— S2000VS911 (View Profile)

Posted on 3/28/2008 1:28:52 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

sec looks decades older than the lexus... are they really both the same model year? if they are, what is wrong with the mb design team???

— lexusrox123 (View Profile)

Posted on 3/28/2008 9:00:55 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

if i didnt see the sc's model year, i wouldve thought it was a 96 or 97 model. definitely not a 93.

— lexusrox123 (View Profile)

Posted on 3/28/2008 9:12:09 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

They both have their strong and weak points. It's really just a matter of personal preference.

— MattB (View Profile)

Posted on 3/29/2008 3:48:15 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

ls600h is the car for me.

downgrade me if u like, i really couldnt care less.

(i gaurantee the mb fanboys are gonna boost me down on this one,,,*sigh*
i wish autospies.com could change itself from the usual german vs. japan fanboy battleground. i'm not the only one sick of it, i'm sure of it...)

— lexusrox123 (View Profile)

Posted on 3/29/2008 5:51:52 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

The Toyota Soarer looks better. By a lot! And it still looks good today, which is unusual for an Asian car to look good years after production has ceased! They can't duplicate the "magic" they had with the Toyota Soarer.

— 1BadMan (View Profile)

Posted on 3/29/2008 10:09:15 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1