Technics or Thorens, need suggestions

Noromance, I have nothing against Technics. I think they make a great cartridge for the money. I dislike all direct drive turntables because every last one I have ever heard on a system I deemed to be excellent sounded less than stellar and that includes older SP 10s. (Have not heard the newest version so I can't comment on it.) 
There are so many excellent belt drives out there with wow and flutter specs down around 0.03%. The SP 10 is 0.015%. If you think you can hear the difference then you need to take Michael Fremer's place on the staff of Stereophile. 

Ill get a dedicated phono sometime later, so I'm not restricted to Mac for a long time. Any comments on luxman vs. technics vs. thorens? Also please consider the prices I can get on Luxman and technics. 

I heard the Thorens TD1600 at a show September last year (please let there be one this year!), and it sounded excellent through some all beryllium driver vintage Yamaha NS1000s. I remember posting on here some of my impressions (low noise and huge dynamics) from that show. 

The Thorens TD1600 also looked classically beautiful, re-appropriating and I daresay even improving their own original design over that one later infamously 'borrowed' by Linn for their LP12.

Possibly still most iconic look in audio.

In earlier times the Thorens would have been a no-brainer. It simply trounces the stylish Technics if seen as furniture.

Some information on the 1600/1601 here from tnt audio's scribe, the one and only Mark Wheeler. 

https://www.tnt-audio.com/sorgenti/thorens_td1600_1601_e.html

Having said all of that it's very very difficult to go against the technical phenomena that is the Technics 1200G.

I think this is a classic heart versus head decision.

Since I'm somewhat less sentimental than I used to be, I'd get the Technics.

$2.5k for the G. Buy it. Use it. Don’t like it? Sell for what you paid at least!

I’ve heard and seen the Technics 1200G and yes it looks and feels much better in real life. I haven’t heard anything else and likely won’t be able to. I’m in a position to get a new G for 2,5k, it’s an open box about 1 month old.

This is amazing price for "G", go for it before it’s too late. It’s $4k new.
$2500 is superb deal for SL1200G ! Don’t sleep. You could even sell it for higher price. 

Alternatively, I can get a Luxman PD-171A for around 5k, or PD-151 for 3,2k both almost brand new. How does Luxman G compare to the Technic models ?

My Luxman PD-444 is Direct Drive from the 70’s, i have no idea about new LUX, never tried.

To be candid, I am not crazy about the looks of Luxman either. I’d Love to have a wood frame but will not sacrifice quality.

You can have a wooden frame on your G if you wish too, but it’s a custom made, see what people can do with older cheap technics, the frame is very easy to made.