Well, this discussion is certainly going downhill.

For comparison purposes, how much does it cost to keep a 1994 Toyota on the road, in excellent condition, with functioning a/c and other goodies? I wish I knew. But I don't know _anyone_ who drives a Toyota that old. Shoot, I don't know anyone driving a Toyota or Honda older than about model year 2000. So I cannot compare the cost of maintaining the Mercedes against anything of equivalent age/miles.

I find the argument that a 124 is too expensive and too unreliable specious at best. There's nothing to compare it too. My newest car is five years older than the oldest thing for which Consumer Reports collects its fabled red and black dots. There's simply no data. How much should it cost to maintain and repair a 10 year old car?

We've had discussions on this board about the cost of maintaining an LS400 or Q45 of similar vintage, and it's not inexpensive.

- JimY