I have heard MANY stories like yours. The overriding theme in all of them was the superior crashworthiness of the premium brand German cars. I feel much better knowing my family rides in either a Benz or our big BMW. Our driving skills often have little to do with accidents. Just like your case, timing is everything.
My favorite one happened at a Porsche club event. One participant spun leaving the track backwards at over 120 mph. The car flipped end for end several times, rolled repeatedly, struck a barrier wall and came to rest upside down on the grass. This was in a 968 (variant of the 944 series). The car had no roll cage, it was stock except for upgraded seatbelts. The driver walked away from this one as well. I was able to examine the car afetr the wreck. The passenger compartment was tottally intact, the rest of the car was scrap. Even a small, properly desinged, automobile can take tremendous abuse.
Why the switch back to a V6 after the V8? I drove an ML500 and felt the V8 made the truck feel much more substantial. Of course I'm a sucker for power
I assume you traded the 99 for the 00 in your signature.