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fad,
would love one. as a matter of fact, i do think it would make a perfect daily driver but it's simply not available here.
The local distributors bring in only up to the 2.4 6 cyl (W210s). The gray market ones are mostly large displacement S classes. I guess the thinking is that if they're spending money anyway to bring in a car, might as well bring in the best, right? An S320 would do as well but the examples I've seen aren't up to snuff. For some reason, it is the S500s and S600s that are well taken car of and thus the only ones worth considering among the W140s available. S320s tend to be hotel cars, very few private imports, and as I said, the ones that are available are pretty much beat up.
Badinfo,
Spending money for a car is one thing. Maintenance is quite another. If maintenance is not that onerous, spending a little more for the acquisition may be justified. Big $ acquisitions plus big $ maintenance, especially if no warranty is available is simply not acceptable to me since I would have to take into consideration the total cost of ownership. (I also take into account depreciation and what I can eventually sell the car for several years down the road). It's called looking at the big picture. And it applies as well to buying less expensive vehicles.
Remember, I was looking for a daily driver, which would mean racking up the miles. At some point, the car would have to be replaced so I have to take all these things in consideration. It's simply a matter of budgeting, keeping things real and reasonable, and managing expectations (mine).
On the other hand, I intend on keeping the E500 for a very long time. I paid quite a premium for it and I was fine with it. What I was paying for over and above the value of the car was the chance to own one of only two examples in the country (a third is rumoured to exist but I haven't seen it).
I've knocked off the disco out of the list. I realized I'd still be wishing I got a Range Rover if I settle for the Disco. I think I'm scratching the S600 out of the list as well. Too much money for the nice V12 badge (I sincerely doubt the I'd have much use for the extra power...it's the diminishing returns/diminishing marginal utility thing...) The G wagen, I also just realized, will always be a pipe dream. Not too many of those here and the ones I know who own one aren't selling.
Now it basically boils down to a choice between the S500 and the Range Rover... I'd love to get both, but that just too fiscally irresponsible.
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