Tom, that's why the japanese are so much more successful with car manufacturing and build quality. So much of a car's engineering is made up electricals and electronics nowadays. The japaese have historically dominated the electronics market and have adapted much of this technology to automotive design. They have fewer electrical gremlins in their vehicles while everyone else is trying to play catchup.

Peter, I'm glad you take pride in your work. I do too, in my profession as well as wrenching on cars for myself, family, or friends. Unfortunately, I'm squeezed at work to add expedience to my quality. (Interestingly, when I was a junior engineer, it was the other way around, and I was asked to add quality to my expedience... you just can't win!) I know that doctors are squeezed as well.

But back to MBs. After owning my E320 for five years, I can honestly say I've never owned a car that needed so many repairs. It's all the gizmos on my car that keep breaking down. It's reached a point where I almost hate to drive the car, knowing that something else will break in a short while. There are many days that I sincerely believe my mother's Mercury Sable is a better car than my E320.

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95 E320 Cabriolet, 169K