Well to each his own. I had '90 300E from 100K to 175K. '92 300E from 113K to current 244K. In the total of 206,000 miles there was only 1 instance of being stranded. Now these miles were 95% interstate and travels were long trips all over the Eastern U. S.
There were more than a few replacements of normal wear items.

Now these were not the first years of new model, bad idea generally. They were also not highly computerized. I did a fair amount, but not all of the maintenance work on them. The only thing that almost caused me to switch was the A/C system which went out several times. If my experience had been that I couldn't count on the cars, I would have been done with them.

Operating cost was a consideration. My starting assumption was, and is, that I am not going to sit in a Toyota for hours on end and mile after mile. Therefore, my choice is a car payment of over a grand a month for something I like, or a paid off 100K mile Mercedes with the maintenance cost.

So now I have recently gotten the '97 S320 with 109K, now 115K. Note last three years of model run. The car has full dealer service records so I know where I'm starting. We will see how it goes.

I also stand by my statements about style, status, etc. If they weren't valid reasons for purchasing decision, then Mercedes, BMW, Jaguar, Land Rover would sell no cars. I have great skepticism about reliability surveys.

Steve