I have this debate daily with a friend who drives three Japanese wagons. He buys them with high miles and puts money into them. Then he puts in 2K stereos on top of the 4k to 5k in replacements to get them running right. He loves them and they're good cars but my 1988 300 CE moves better and handles better at speed and has better balance. I appreciate the debate but for me there is no contest. I prefer the German design over the Japanese design. The Japanese designs are at best watered down copies of the Mercedes designs. And this is true for many cars. I have yet to put money into the big gas guzzling coupe I bought with 110k on the clock for 2 grand. It runs really well. Tie rod ends are cheap by the way. Even the good ones from Lemforder. Some seals are not a big deal, are they? Mine leak but they dont drip. And most parts can be sourced for a deal at places like Arizona ********. Front end alignment is always an issue. It's because of how people drive a Mercedes and on what types of roads they're punching it. My opinion is such that all Japanese touring cars are good drivers and last for a long time but they never have the style, road feel, durability or power on tap driving experience that Mercedes delivers every time. Of course the high-end Japanese sports coupes are now really great but they're still crap/Jap cars. I'll stick with the other marques, the ones from Germany. Mercedes is tops in my book. Really, tie rods are not costly and they are important. Same goes for motor mounts, spark plugs, sub frame bushings, fuel pumps, etc. Cheap parts I'll be replacing on the 300CE soon. Decent stereo coming up too. Thanks for sharing about Japanese dependability.

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1988 300CE 120K RIP(Midnight Blue/Parchment)
1987 300E 202K (Arctic White/Palomino)


Now I see the secret of the making of the best persons. It is to grow in the open air and to eat and sleep with the earth. ~Song of The Open Road