The car: 1994 C280 with about 90,000 miles.

What I like:

I like the classic look of the car, compared to the newer styling direction that MB has chosen. This is especially true with the interior. I like how solid the car feels on the road. It has good power, and it handles well enough now that I've made a few tweaks to the brakes, suspension and tires. I like that with a bit of love and attention it looks like a 2 year old car instead of a 12 year old car, and still manages to draw compliments and respect from strangers. I've never driven an car with an engine that is as smooth as an inline 6, so I love that too. Buying this car 6 years ago was the culmination of a dream I've had since I was 6 years old and my dad brought home a 1964 280S (I think). It was chocolate brown and had tailfins.

What I don't like:

It always seems to need something. In the past two years I've done LCA bushings, a water pump, the AC condensor and the AMM. The air pump went bad about a year ago, but I'm living without it. The head gasket has a very minor oil leak that my mechanic is just telling me to live with for the time being, especially because he'll have to replace the wiring harness when he does the head gasket (original harness, still in decent shape, but bound to fall apart when he does the job). I don't like how lazy the automatic transmission is, and hate how hot it can run in the summer (although thanks to JimF's cool harness, this isn't a concern any more).

I'm completely resigned to the fact that this car was an ego purchase. I get to work on a light commuter rail, with a station that is a 10 minute walk from my home. My wife has a perfectly good Honda that has been almost completely trouble free. I don't need any car, let alone a Benz. So I don't complain too much about what it costs to keep it maintained the way I like. I made my peace with that about 5 years ago.