While I still have my 124, I am in need of another car to replace a nice 2008 Toyota Highlander that got totaled this summer. I am stuck trying to decide between a 2010 Highlander Limited fully loaded with 21K on the clock and a 2007 ML 320 CDI with 37K on the clock. The Benz, with more miles and older, is priced $1,000 higher than the Highlander.

After a lot of research I found the problems/complaints on the 2007 ML low to none, no so with the 2008 and up.

One thing about the Highlander, it saved us from serious injury. We were rear ended by a big rig on I8 during a zero visibility dust storm, the car got mashed good and spun around, we only had cuts and bruises & my jaw got dislocated by the GPS flying off the dash.

__________________
Brian
87 300Dturbo 180K #14 head still running R-12 SOLD 12/2017
02 F350 Powerstroke 180K
05 Chevy Express 1 ton w/Royal Utility box 120K
08 Infiniti FX-35 40K
15 Golf Sportwagen TDI 35K
10 Sprinter 3500 chassis with a Class A Winnebago on it. 56K

I think it could be accurate to say that all of the safety features, emissions control and electronics in cars that the average person wants (things that most cars did not need to "have" until recent years such as built in GPS, computers to distract the driver, etc. these may be nice and helpful but the more complex something is, it is more likely to fail somewhere). Case in point with emissions: Chevy had 400 HP enignes in station wagons in the 60s that were mechanically sound but were extremely inefficient and dirty, once emissions come along you don't really see 400hp engines very often, more like 150hp V6's and 180hp V8's that were not as reliable but of course much cleaner. Same thing with newer Mercedes and safety features. An older car from like the 60s could get into a minor fender bender and not be damaged too much (passengers may be injured but as the speed of the crash increased (even to 20-30mph) the car would most likely be totaled and the driver would most likely be seriously injured or dead). With new Mercedes you could be in a fender bender and have thousands in damage or a total loss because the cars are more or less designed to break apart in an accident so that the passengers are not injured. This can mean "weaker" suspension and such because a large bump may knock cause actual damage.

You can still be enjoying operating it 10 years from now,Whereas the A.T.C.
(Alabama Trash Can) will be Junk! (it's the ML [Or M, or GL,or R] )that lacks
Q.C. when compared to the Toyota.

__________________
'84 300SD sold
124.128

Is that a "yes" on the Toyota?

__________________
Brian
87 300Dturbo 180K #14 head still running R-12 SOLD 12/2017
02 F350 Powerstroke 180K
05 Chevy Express 1 ton w/Royal Utility box 120K
08 Infiniti FX-35 40K
15 Golf Sportwagen TDI 35K
10 Sprinter 3500 chassis with a Class A Winnebago on it. 56K