I *cannot* believe what I am seeing here. As an owner of multiple MBs from the 50s through 2003, I am stunned by the number of people who are ever so ready to condemn new MBs, especially on a Mercedes forum. Mercedes continues to manufacture the finest cars on earth. I will not pass negative remarks on Lexus/Toyota because I have never owned one, but I will enthusiastically and unequivocably provide the highest recommendation on new Mercedes vehicles. BTW, my ownership of newer cars includes w220, w230, w210 (no w211), w140 and w129.