dang, bro.

$1600 for new shocks, motor/trans mounts, motor/trans/diff fluids, etc.

not having to get all greazzy & cuss a lot for once = priceless :)

I have spent big $$ on our 85 300D several times.

In 2001, spent $7000 on a replacement rebuilt engine.

About 4 years later, spent $3k on a new paint job

Last fall and still continuing after winter break, have spent close to $3k on hidden rust repairs.

But the car is one we have had since 1990 and is hard to part with!

On the other hand, we have a 2006 smart ForTwo CDI. Low mileage. In the last 6 weeks we have spent $3100 (it would have been more if MB had not helped out) and it still needs new front springs and brakes (which I will do myself). This is a car I do not love, and I think I have convinced the wife, it has to go soon!

Looking at GLK diesel as main LD car. Over C$50k so even with 0.9% financing, $900/month payments! That could pay for a lot of repairs for our old cars!

Just spent ~$260 for a compressor/dryer for the 310k mile E300.
Just spent ~$1500 for the 198k mile '05 E320 wagon that I picked up for $4k. I have finally rolled it into the shop and will be swapping the engine out over the next couple weeks.

Someone had dropped a case of toilet tissue on G. Bush Taxway I hit one of them doing 75 MPG & even with the splash shield it dented the left sideframe around radiator & cause a leak. New BEHR around $300+transmission fluid+coolant =$450.Car has 270k+ miles.

So far sounds like I'm in good company! :D

As long as tranny stays healthy I think I'm in good shape. Chain, etc. looked good when head gasket was replaced. Injectors are original....maybe that's next.

Sorry for $900 a month I want to see either a nice backyard or a wharf when I look out the back door....

Well, do i get to play the game ;) ... I've spent about $29,000 since last July, but then again, I was doing a restoration...

It IS hard to stomach! However, we do get a view of ocean and a pier thrown in when we use the car to get us away for a couple of months from our winter view of a frozen lake!

It is hard to know what to buy. We need space to carry stuff on long trips and want something that is covered by warranty because modern cars just cost too much to repair. MB does have good warranty and it can be extended out to 7 years. We want a 10+ yr car.

Our '98 E320 still runs well, but mileage is getting up there. Ideally, I would buy a 1989 or thereabout 300SDL with under 50k miles. That would probably still be about $200/month if spread over 5 years ;)

How about a 2006-2010 Toyota Sienna? Quiet, powerful, economical (well, kinda... I can get 30 MPG out of conservative highway driving, but it goes down fast), roomy, very comfortable, very smooth engine and transmission, and much cheaper than an M-B (our 2008 cost $20,000 used with 30,000 miles in 2009). We now have 97,000 miles on it and have done exactly zero repairs. I would recommend it to anyone looking for what you described above.

I say 2006-2010 because the engine in those cars (3.6 L V6) is nicer than the earlier one used 2004-2005 (3.3 L V6), although the 3.3 is by no means bad or anything.

I bought a new Sienna in 1998 for $28K as a kid hauler and still have it today with 266K. The reliability of this car has been nothing short of amazing. The kids are now grown, but its fully depreciated and still runs great so I've removed the 4 rear seats and use it as a truck and occasional work commuter when I'm not driving the MB. Replaced the timing belt at each 100K and the spark plugs at 170K. The ONLY other repairs have been a $25 oxygen sensor, $12 thermostat, and two door handles. Pretty amazing for 15 years!

That's amazing. So no struts/shocks? Engine mounts? I thought we were doing well with our 02 Odyssey, but you're doing even better!

At that mileage we were on transmission number 3 on our 96 dodge caravan.