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Lexus RX 350 OR Benz GLC 300

1756 Views 5 Replies 6 Participants Last post by  judi3020
I have been driving a Lexus RX for the past 22 years and I am due for another one. Since they changed the engine from a six-cylinder to a 4 cylinder Turbo on their redesigned 2023 RX 350, I cannot get to used to the unbearable roaring engine noise. I am about to retire and I need to replace my 15-year-old RX 350 but concerned about the reliability of the GLC. I love everything about GLC, it is quieter than RX and really fast even with a 4-cylinder turbo engine without a turbo lag. I test-drove it and I truly love the GLC but I am worried about repair and maintenance costs. Does MB honor their extended warranty and normal warranty bumper to bumper without any hassle? Can you help me to figure out the maintenance cost and potential issues for the first five years? Do you think I will regret if go with an MB after enjoying good reliability with Lexus for the past 22 years? What I am reading online about MB ownership is scary and exciting same time. I am stuck with consumer reports removing GLC from their recommended list. Please help me make my decision. Thank you all.
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Firstly I recently purchased a GLC300 registered in 2021 with 2300 miles showing.

I love it, it is very quiet comfortable and quick, I don’t believe they are particularly troublesome.

Mercedes after care will not match that of Lexus which is the best I have come across But that said Mercedes have been pretty fair to me.

If you are buying new there will be a wait as they don’t even have any cars in U.K. showrooms.

Buying used in the U.K. is pretty difficult to source cars if you want a specific colour combination, I wanted a car with saddle brown leather interior but not overly bothered by paint colour, I eventually sourced one with Hyacinth red paint and premium plus kit 5 1/2 hour drive from me.

Good luck with your decision.
Robin
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I have been driving a Lexus RX for the past 22 years and I am due for another one. Since they changed the engine from a six-cylinder to a 4 cylinder Turbo on their redesigned 2023 RX 350, I cannot get to used to the unbearable roaring engine noise. I am about to retire and I need to replace my 15-year-old RX 350 but concerned about the reliability of the GLC. I love everything about GLC, it is quieter than RX and really fast even with a 4-cylinder turbo engine without a turbo lag. I test-drove it and I truly love the GLC but I am worried about repair and maintenance costs. Does MB honor their extended warranty and normal warranty bumper to bumper without any hassle? Can you help me to figure out the maintenance cost and potential issues for the first five years? Do you think I will regret if go with an MB after enjoying good reliability with Lexus for the past 22 years? What I am reading online about MB ownership is scary and exciting same time. I am stuck with consumer reports removing GLC from their recommended list. Please help me make my decision. Thank you all.
I have had a new 2021 GLC Coupe sine August 2021. No Problems so far. I also purchased the 4 year maintenance package for $1700. No worries about repairs for 4 years.
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I know Lexus service is exceptional but I have never had any problems with MB and I am on my second GLC. Yes things go wrong but if they have - and they have been minor things - Mercedes have always fixed problems under warranty - even had a new battery with no cost whatsoever. Just to say you will always read problems on forums, that’s what they are there for
I have owned both models and can speak to the comparison. I sold my RX a couple of years ago after 15 years of ownership and bought a GLC 300 which I currently drive. The RX is a larger car than the GLC 300 by quite a bit. If you need cargo space, the RX has more, though I haven't had trouble fitting into the GLC what I need to carry. The GLC 300 is far more agile and I enjoy driving it more. The RX's lengthy turning radius was always a problem, and turning it took a lot more effort than turning the GLC. My wife has a physical disability and has been much more comfortable in the passenger seat of the GLC than she ever was in the RX. Both cars have confusing infotainment systems with a long learning curve. In terms of reliability, you can't do better with an SUV than the RX, and Mercedes' service department is inferior to Lexus's. In two years with the GLC I have had a couple of issues, though nothing major and the warranty isn't bad, but while Lexus always had a loaner car available, Mercedes hardly ever does, and Lexus's service department pays more attention to keeping customers comfortable in the waiting area and promotes greater communication between customers and service personnel. I don't know if the RX offers a wireless connection with Apple Car Play or Android Auto, but the GLC does not, and the design of the central console makes a wired connection with a cell phone difficult. Hope that helps.
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I had a 2011 Lexus RX 350 (purchased new, only owner) when I ordered my 2020 GLC 300 in July of 2020. Had issues with delivery. I was out of town when it arrived & when I was going to pick it up, was told not to come, as it had a cracked windshield! Well, the photo they sent when it arrived did NOT have a cracked windshield. Said they had no clue how it happened. Had to wait for a new windshield. Not happy with the Mercedes dealership I ordered it from at all. Things I miss about the Lexus? It sat higher, was slightly larger, and rode better. Don't like that the heated seats in the Mercedes go down from 3 to zero over a period of time. If you're on a long trip, there's a point when you cannot have a heated seat at all. The 4-cylinder turbo on the Mercedes doesn't get much better mileage than the 6-cylinder on the Lexus. I'd definitely look at a Lexus again when it's time to replace this GLC 300.
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