£1,000 S-Class v 7 Series v Lexus LS - the best cheap car?

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If you wanted a luxury car without the luxury price tag, you’d probably consider buying a used car... But how about a used car that’s 20 years old!?

Well, Mat’s got his hands on a Mercedes S-Class, a BMW 7 Series and a Lexus LS all from the early 2000s to see if opting for a classic limo is worth it. Oh, and he’s going to launch them, of course!!

First up is the Mercedes S320. Back in 2001 it would have cost £51,000 but we bought it today for just £1,800. It’s got a 3.2-litre straight-six turbodiesel engine that produces 197hp & 470Nm.

Then there’s the Lexus LS430. It would’ve cost £54,000 when new, but we got it for £2,000. The Lexus packs more power than the S-Class, coming with a 4.3-litre V8 petrol engine that delivers 281hp & 417Nm.

Finally we’ve got the BMW 735i. In 2002 this would’ve set you back £53,000, but today it cost us just £1,400. This 735i has a 3.6-litre V8 petrol engine putting down 272hp & 360Nm.

So, which of these old limos will be Mat’s favourite? Keep watching find out!

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[carwow]

So, which of these old limos would you go for? VOTE below!

[krizzzy]

I hope this become a regular series. Reminds me a lot of the old Top Gear cheap car challenges!

[Naddour]

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

[zakmoh]

After owning the Merc S320 and the LS430, I have realised how good the Lexus is. Everything just works.

[metalcorpse]

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.

[saptorshimukherjee]

I want to see mat do a review of the Lexus LFA.... Carwow please make it happen 🙏

[Skyborn-]

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.

[testagiuseppeable]

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

[_C_E_C_]

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!

[ArkitektoHardinero]

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!

[OdysseyTag]

So crazy how modern the 7 still looks on the inside and outside compared to the other two.

[MrTimeless]

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.

[sean]

Love this type of content - really cool seeing reviews for these older used cars!

[dinelkap]

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

[scientist]

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.

[JustOneMoreWatch]

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.

[silvervalver]

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

[hafizsyed]

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..

[kiwicanukable]

Another version of this with the E Class, 5 Series and GS would be interesting too

[VulcanGT]

So this is where that re-upload is from