# Best Ride **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [February 22, 2009, 1:17am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-ride/26803 "2009-02-22T01:17:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2009, 3:14am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-ride/26803/21 "2009-02-28T03:14:21Z")
I’m skeptical. Edmunds estimates that the average repairs for the 2005 XJ Vanden Plas are over $3000 per year, yet the average repairs for a 2005 Lexus GS430 are less than $700 per year. If that’s improved quality, I’d hate to have owned the unreliable version. ---
**Author:** ![twotone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@twotone](https://community.cartalk.com/u/twotone)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2009, 4:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-ride/26803/22 "2009-02-28T16:08:01Z")
None of the Europeans (BMW, MB, Audi, Jag, etc.) have Japanese reliability nor to Jap cars have European styling or performance. If reliability is your top consideration – go Japanese. If you appreciate engineering, handling and style – go European. I’ve owned and appreciate both. As with anything, you get what you pay for. Twotone ---
**Author:** ![Caddyman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/caddyman/32/23_2.png) [@Caddyman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Caddyman)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2009, 5:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-ride/26803/23 "2009-02-28T17:27:03Z")
Keep the car you have. For your situation, it has no equal. Buying a new one will not provide any improvement. The Panther Platform, (your car) is no longer being made. A new Lincoln is a downgrade, not an upgrade… [Previous page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-ride/26803.md?page=1)