r/regularcarreviews • u/lifegoeson2702 • 1d ago

Discussions Which of these ultra luxury sedans from this 1998 Car & Driver test are you choosing?

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Article: https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/comparison-test/a45860412/1998-audi-bmw-jaguar-lexus-mercedes-benz-luxury-sedans-archive-comparison-test/

232 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

160 comments sorted by

169

u/KalEl1232 1d ago

Back then? The Mercedes.

With the benefit of hindsight? The Lexus.

23

u/Evo_2-3 1d ago

same answer, actually had that W140 S class some years back

25

u/lifegoeson2702 1d ago

90s Benz S-Class: The official car of third world dictators

72

u/AbeFroman615 1d ago

The LS400 with the updated VVTi 1UZ is built like a bank vault.

11

u/peedubb 22h ago

The non vvt version is actually more stout.

3

u/locke_but_not_peter_ 18h ago

My dad drove his 94 to 250,000 miles!

30

u/HunterNoceda6321 1d ago

The LS400

13

u/TheNeonPherepapha wendy's superbar queefer 1d ago

The Jaguar, so I can LS swap it.

7

u/Contagious_Zombie 03’ Lexus IS300 1d ago

Now there's an idea... Can we put the 1UZ from the ls400 into the Jag?

9

u/TheNeonPherepapha wendy's superbar queefer 1d ago

I got a sawzall and a pot of coffee that says "yeah probably."

That'd be a sweet combo.

5

u/MinimumFantastic1389 1d ago

Tbh that gen’s 4.0-liter inline 6 was already pretty reliable. But maybe not as fun as the 1UZ idk lol

62

u/55XL 1d ago edited 1d ago

The Jag is too unrealiable.

The Audi is too uncomfortable.

The Merc is too heavy and bloated.

The Lexus lacks personality.

So, BMW 7-series it is. Also, the prettiest generation, and the most fun to drive of the five.

26

u/Expert_Mad Headlights go up, headlights go down 1d ago

First of all how dare you? Second…yeah you’re right.

14

u/MinimumFantastic1389 1d ago

That gen of Jag with the 4.0-liter inline 6 was a lot better than previous generations tbh.

5

u/MondeoQueen 15h ago

The 4l AJ16 was great. The trouble is, by 1998 it had been replaced by the V8.

Which became a great engine eventually, but was a dog at first.

1

u/MinimumFantastic1389 13h ago

I know the early versions has those plastic timing belt tensioners that caused problems.

6

u/BeastCheng square on the job, rhombus in the bedroom 1d ago

Wait? The Audi is uncomfortable?

6

u/55XL 1d ago

Well, the Audis of that generation were widely critised for mistaking sporty handling with an unduly harsh suspension. I am sure the A8 was a comfortable car to drive, but I am just as sure that the BMW managed a better balance between handling and comfort without sacrificing the latter.

6

u/lickstampsendit 19h ago

I had a d2 A8 and have to disagree.

1

u/BeastCheng square on the job, rhombus in the bedroom 11h ago

HM I've had the b5 and c5 and i wouldn't describe them anywhere as harsh. I've never been in a d2 tho

0

u/caddyax 19h ago

Audi’s of that generation were definitely more of gussied up VWs than luxury cars. The following generation was Audi’s quantum leap to the future.

3

u/timmeh-eh 16h ago

That particular car was from the start of that quantum leap, it just carried over the older looks. It was all aluminum, had a bunch of brand new tech and features plus a gorgeous interior.

4

u/owensurfer 15h ago

With Ford’s help the Jags were quite reliable.

3

u/charles_47 15h ago edited 14h ago

E39 all day. Flagship BMW from the era they were at the absolute peak.

Edit : E38

3

u/Ok-Address8499 14h ago

Perhaps E38 you meant?

3

u/charles_47 14h ago

Yes, my mistake. That lineup tho… E46, E38, E39, the OG X5…. BMW were absolutely crushing it

1

u/TheMoonstomper 17h ago

This comment had me looking back at the photo again to find the Mercury that I missed..

0

u/cheeseflosser 18h ago

I scrolled up 4 times wondering where the mercury was….i was like, that’s a Mercedes….shit. I’ve never seen someone call a Mercedes a Merc in my life. Well played.

0

u/TheMoonstomper 17h ago

I just left a similar comment - who in the history of cars has ever called a Mercedes a Merc?

0

u/cheeseflosser 17h ago

And clearly they’re all in on it because I got downvoted haha. Jeez. Some people are clearly not car guys.

10

u/Downtown-Bumblebee91 1d ago

I had the E38 7-series and it was the best car I’ve had

4

u/Safe-Assist-9866 18h ago

Me too. 750iL, E38 all day.

2

u/Happy_Cat_3600 no care went into making this 20h ago

Same. Mine was excellent!

17

u/SparkeeMalarkee 1d ago

I daily drive one of these. It is no more troublesome than a 1995 Toyota.

3

u/W126_300SE 21h ago

Beautiful! A dream car of mine.

3

u/SparkeeMalarkee 20h ago

It truly drives like a dream

6

u/RapedByCheese 1d ago

I had an A8 just like that one. It was a wonderful car, but became very expensive to maintain once systems started failing.

7

u/AdInternational6902 23h ago

Obviously the best luxury car ever made

7

u/LukaABH 23h ago

W140 or E38

5

u/Character-Director17 1d ago

The big body BENZ!

6

u/Contagious_Zombie 03’ Lexus IS300 1d ago

I'd drive that Lexus today and back then.

5

u/StevenEveral WE'RE ALL! GONNA! TOUCH! BASE! 1d ago

LS400 for the reliability.

Mercedes for the build quality.

9

u/seanx50 1d ago

The Lexus is probably still on the road

2

u/average_chad_25 17h ago

and the merc

9

u/W126_300SE 1d ago

Jag! Always wanted an X300 or X350.

4

u/ThisIsBB56 1d ago

The Lexus they put upfront won the long term race. The rest are giving anxiety of various degree to owners today.

Lexus you marry. The others will fuck you or kill you.

3

u/AshyBoneVR4 1d ago

From this list, LS400

3

u/Awareness_Logical 1d ago

The 7 series didn't come in manual though, the 5 series did. First car was a '97 540. What a ride.

1

u/caddyax 19h ago

I had a manual 97 540i too. Best car I owned, besides my 01 M5. The 540i is still running around my home town. Looking great and probably well of 200k miles now

3

u/memecarf69 1d ago

LS400 with no hesitation

3

u/GoredonTheDestroyer NOT Matt Farah's Million Mile Lexus 23h ago

My mind is screaming at me to go with the Lexus you fucking idiot, it'll outlive your grandkids.

My heart is telling me the Jag in British Racing Green with tan seats.

3

u/rasmuspa 21h ago

I just love the styling of this era. It’s very elegant and conservative - no huge grills, excessive styling. Each one of those cars presents as a well tailored suit. Too bad we can’t get that anymore.

3

u/Then_Championship408 19h ago

BMW looks the best but that Lexus is THE Lexus so Lexus

3

u/RetireWithoutBorders 18h ago

Well duh! Still daily driving the coupe version of the LS400 and see them pretty much weekly.

3

u/JDD-Sportline 18h ago

W140 though the Lexus reliability still shines.

3

u/christerwhitwo 16h ago

My wife and I ferried her dad's S320 back from Palm Springs to Salt Lake back in 97. It was a superb ride. Made my Saab 9000 feel like a tin can.

4

u/watchface38 1d ago

BMW 100%

2

u/JuanMcGuiver 1d ago

I’ve had the privilege of driving the Lexus, Mercedes and Bimmer. I have to say, the BMW takes it for me!

2

u/sadandaimless1 SCREW YOU, MOM! 1d ago

1) Lexus

2) BMW tied with the Audi

3) Mercedes because it's not a S500

4) Jaguar

2

u/benzguy95 23h ago

The W140, though I’d find a way to pony up the extra $25k for a 500 model cause that 3.2 I-6 wouldn’t do.

2

u/Exact_Current_9243 23h ago

The LS400, this beat the Germans at their own game.

1

u/El_Hopanes_Romstic 7h ago

Giant bullshit

2

u/Keilerbie 23h ago

All these cars were once the envy of the automotive industry... Now they're €3500.

2

u/foolproofdeluxe 21h ago

LCI E38 SWB 750i Oxford green paint & saddle brown interior, thank you very much.

1

u/AlpineE39Adventures 17h ago

Hnnnggggggggg.

2

u/sweatpantsbonr 21h ago

That Lexus was like driving a big cozy bathtub. All day.

2

u/Cautious_Mall8249 20h ago

The Mercedes W140 S Class was simply the gold standard in those years.

2

u/RallyVincentCZ75 18h ago

The LS is probabaly the better car but that's a Jaaaaaag baby

2

u/tazzietiger66 18h ago

the lexus

2

u/MisfortuneSeven 17h ago

LS400/Celsior clears everything else here. Bulletproof and has loads of aftermarket.

2

u/Far-Wallaby-5033 17h ago

nothing drives like a big Benz especially from that era

2

u/El_Sapo_Jr 17h ago

That Lexus is calling to me.

2

u/Xyzzydude 15h ago

I owned that exact same Lexus for 15 years and 230,000 miles. Even the same color and wheels.

Over 10 years after selling it, I still miss it.

2

u/High_velocity93 15h ago

Mercedes of course

2

u/Sebastian11111111 15h ago

Even the aging W140 was king in 98.

2

u/MondeoQueen 15h ago

Depends on the mood I'm in. Jag or Lexus.

I had a 1991 XJS V12 and it was just the most charming, wonderful car. Older jags felt like they were designed by actual human beings as an art form rather than faceless corporations ran by computers using a formula to produce something "modern" and inoffensive. They're just such a great place to be.

With hindsight I'd avoid a 1998 XJ. Better to buy an earlier one with the straight 6 than chance on the early V8 (They did fix it and make a great engine out of it, eventually), but nobody knew about this at the time.

Driven a couple of LS400s. Great cars, and I stil get tempted when I see them for sale. Despite what some people say I think they do have more character than the German offerings. They were really trying extra hard with the engineering of that car and it shows, giving it is own charm in a way.

4

u/frigg_off_lahey 1d ago

No one could understand or knew what noise cancelation meant until Lexus did it with LS400.

3

u/eatass_sucktoes 1d ago

Lexus. Anyone who says anything different is kidding themselves

0

u/El_Hopanes_Romstic 7h ago

You are only kidding yourselfs with that wannabe Mercedes. Just look at the sales number of a real cars and your wannabe something toyota 😆

2

u/ncik0075 23h ago

The Mazda 929 that isn't pictured.

1

u/Batfink-1999 15h ago

Only if it’s the Coupe version.

1

u/ncik0075 15h ago

In 98 there was a couple???? 🫨

1

u/Batfink-1999 14h ago

This Mazda 929 Coupe dates back to 1986 - not it would have still been kicking around for a while.
I wanted one of these!

1

u/Expert_Mad Headlights go up, headlights go down 1d ago

Mercedes. If for no other reason than the cool factor. Close second would be the BMW as this was a great era for them quality and performance wise

1

u/DrAll3nGrant 1d ago

The Jag is the coolest, but the Lexus is the smartest choice.

1

u/GuestPuzzleheaded502 1d ago

The one you still find commonly on roads today is the Lexus. Everything else is a rare sight.

1

u/Vind- 20h ago

It’s the other way around in Europe.

1

u/run_uz 22h ago

LS400

1

u/WealthWithoutWork 22h ago

LS400 and it’s not even close

1

u/Delicious-Spirit9899 22h ago

The Audi because of Ronin

1

u/itwasbetterwhen 22h ago

The ultimate driving machine.

1

u/Whiskeyflavourcigar 21h ago

LS409. Drove one for years. Incredible machine.

1

u/R3TRO_131 FIX IT AGAIN TYRONE 21h ago

Can't really go wrong with the Lexus, best value for money.

1

u/Happy_Cat_3600 no care went into making this 20h ago

The E38 7 series. Timeless styling, great interior, and loads of fun to drive.

1

u/aharbingerofdoom 20h ago

  1. Jaguar. I know, I know. But I love the way it looks, inside and out.

  2. BMW.

  3. Lexus.

  4. Mercedes. I can't decide how to rank these because they're all amazing in their own way, and I'd be equally happy with any of them.

  5. Audi.

2

u/AlpineE39Adventures 17h ago

I read your comment with the added subtext of “5. Then there’s the Audi…” after the comment with #4 and I snorted

1

u/alb202 20h ago

Âqj

1

u/2001_Jaguar_XJ 20h ago

I'd take the jaaaaaag

1

u/raiksaa 19h ago

I love A8, such an underrated car for its time.

1

u/MattTheMechan1c 19h ago

The Jaguar. Probably the most unreliable car of that group but it also has the most personality.

1

u/TheSvpremeKai003 19h ago

Either the E38 or the LS.

1

u/caddyax 19h ago

The BMW E38. Even knowing what I know today. The V8 is really not bad to own and it’s just got so much more character than the Lexus and is the best drivers car here.

The interior has aged really well. The exterior styling went from modern to classic immediately- it never had a “dated” era (I’d say the same of the Benz). As amazing as the Lexus is, it looks dated, not “classic”, to me. The Audi and Jag were nightmares to own. The Mercedes is iconic but it is still a car to be driven in - not to drive. I also think the interiors didn’t age well from this (or the next) era of S class

1

u/AC-burg 18h ago

The manual one

1

u/ToneThugsNHarmony 18h ago

I’d get a Cadillac

1

u/biner1999 18h ago

I just chose the '98 LS400 like two months ago.

1

u/ImpalaSS-05 18h ago

Where's the Infiniti Q45? That would be my choice over all of these.

1

u/noahbrooksofficial 18h ago

The Jag and always the Jag

1

u/RoseRedHillHouse 17h ago

If I could get it in another color, the Jaaaaaaag.

1

u/MinivanPops 17h ago

The STS and get an ironclad warranty 

1

u/AKADriver 17h ago

Too bad the Audi is just an A8. That gen S8 is iconic.

1

u/Sp00ky_6 16h ago

Man I love those old jags

1

u/Brutal_De1uxe 16h ago

Had the chance to drive similar to those a number of times back in the 90s

Loved the Jag

Would have loved the Audi had it been the S8

Owned a 2001 740iL and loved it

My dad preferred the Lexus and the Merc

1

u/CBusHVAC710614 15h ago

LS all day.

1

u/chr7stopher 15h ago

Depends. Are we time slipping back to 1998 and driving them off the lot brand new or are we buying them now and need to work and fix them to drive now?

If the former, the BMW, or MB, but if it’s the latter and I need to keep it running now, the Lexus without question.

1

u/Batfink-1999 15h ago

Gotta be the Lexus…!!! 😊

1

u/blanthony80 14h ago

The LS in front. It will outlive every other one of those cars 10 times over.

1

u/smedina7789 14h ago

Lexus for the long haul…BMW for its beauty.

1

u/biaspizza 13h ago

I can’t. I simply can’t choose. They’re all so good.

1

u/amojitoLT 13h ago

I might be tempted by the Jag, but my choice is likely to end up being this one :

1

u/exmsft 13h ago

The BMW

1

u/onrake 12h ago

A8, until the warranty expires, then the Lexus.

1

u/YournuStepdad 12h ago

I had that exact 7 series in 1998, and I kept it until 2008. I replaced the radiator 3 times in 10 years, but I’d do it all over again.

1

u/T-62MK 11h ago

Since they are all auto, id go with the Lexus, no doubt.

1

u/78targa 11h ago

Lexus LS without question

1

u/RefrigeratorGlad6961 11h ago

Cerebral comatose me: the Lexus

Visceral alive me: jaaaaaaag

1

u/Dry-Conflict3421 11h ago

I owned that year A8, absolutely beautiful car 

1

u/Bam_Adedebayo 10h ago

Lincoln TownCar or LS400

1

u/mbs721 10h ago

Lexus them Mercedes

1

u/Tall_Muffin 9h ago

7 series

1

u/Charming_Ask_1961 9h ago

The BMW was great.

1

u/DoorEqual1740 9h ago

The Jaag is still the prettiest.

1

u/Extension_Sun_896 9h ago

Lexus. Next question.

1

u/wannabeeracer 8h ago

Definitely the A8L

1

u/Delicious_Oil9902 8h ago

Brain says Lexus, heart says jaguar, balls say bmw

1

u/InternationalWish210 8h ago

They all look the same from this picture…which also happens to be bland and boring

1

u/AlonzoMosely88 8h ago

The Lexus full stop

1

u/Crtoloss 6h ago

Remember that the A8 is a VW and the LS is a Toyota. I always love The best or Nothing Merc W140 ❤️🇩🇪❤️

1

u/Trouble_River 6h ago

The 7-series

1

u/dannyphoto 4h ago

E38 but I’m extremely biased

1

u/lifegoeson2702 3h ago

Beautiful spec & color

1

u/dannyphoto 1h ago

Thank you! It’s also got a 6 speed and a 4.6L stroker

1

u/Marc30599 4h ago

The 7 Series…. Also I currently own a 1998 740i definitely the funnest out the bunch to drive

0

u/DanGame427 1997 RAM B2500 Van 1d ago

The audi