Actually, it WAS a very good read, unlike I had expected.....particularly when you delve deeper into the other reviews. It, and all of the MB reviews, actually, have a common thread which I am sure was unintentional: The MB marque declined precipitiously in 1997 with the buyout of Chrysler, a decline from which they may never recover....at least to their prior stature. I do believe that MB is not alone, and that a huge percentage of premier European brands have suffered from the massive corporate buyouts of the late 1990's to today. Jaguar is a sad, sad remnant of what it used to be prior to ownership of Ford; Volvo is fast in Jaguar's tracks, and sadly Aston Martin will be a joke in coming years; Saab is a mere shadow of it's previous glory since GM. It is clear that it is the design of current and future automobile corporate culture is becoming more and more like government: Drag everyone down to a low common denominator and let no one excel.

So, if you are lucky enough to own one or more pre-'97 MB in good condition and are able to keep them maintained to their 30-40 year design life, then you very well may posess one of the last of the great Benz's. The corporate motto of Gottlieb Daimler's DMG was "Das beste oder nichts"....The best or nothing. Unfortunately, if the powers that be within the Mercedes Benz organization don't address the problems they currently have, than the latter part of G. Daimler's motto just may come to pass.

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1996 SL320 97K miles
1996 C220 130k miles
1992 500SEL 170k miles <---sold
1986 300E 216k miles <---sold