From time to time, I like to calculate the cost of ownership of my vehicles.
For my purposes, I'm using purchase cost plus all maintenace and repairs (thus I'm excluding fuel, insurance, inspections, etc....). Somewhat arbitrary, but those are the big variables.

We bought our 2002 Honda Odyssey new and have driven it 134,000 miles. Over this time, we have spent $30,710 including the purchase price of $26,000 or so. We had an extended warranty through 100,000 miles, so overall maintenance and repairs have been really low. Anyway, that comes to 22.9 cents per mile.

I bought my 1992 300D at 137,500 and have driven it 87,000 miles. On it, my total cost of ownership is 25.9 cents per mile.

I've only had the 1991 300D for 14,000 miles, so figures wouldn't be meaningful yet.

What do you think? Can the MB catch the Honda (I have my doubts)? And can I get either one under 20 cents per mile? Only time will tell.

Another happy variable is that my ability to do my own work is only improving. So that will offset, to some degree, more frequent repairs, higher labor rates, and higher parts prices.

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14 E250 Bluetec 4Matic "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 159k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 179k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver on Tan, 145k mi, wastegate conversion, ALDA delete

19 Honda CR-V EX 77k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife