Actually, if you can't do a lot of your own work, an MB might not be the car to drive from an economy standpoint. I keep mine going at quite a low cost per mile as long as I don't start accounting for my labor. I enjoy doing my own work.

The good news about a Benz is that most every repair I make STAYS FIXED. Many cars I've driven in my 39 years with a drivers license I cannot say that about.

As far as Japanese cars go, my wifes Toyota 4Runner wouldn't start last week and without me at home she got it jumped and took it to the dealer. The car is 4 years old and it was battery time. They charged her $110 for a battery! They also scared her by calling with an estimate of $800 for overdue preventive maintenance including only: plugs, air filter, belts, windshield wipers, pcv valve and they also wanted to "flush" the transmission.

Okay, I'm embarrassed that I'm behind on this maintenance, but I don't drive it and it's not an MB, so I'm not anxious to work on it. It has been a flawlessly good car.

Since I had to leave for Europe on a business trip on Saturday, I did not feel guilty taking off Friday to get all this done. I went to the auto parts store and spent $154 for all the parts needed for the above. I started about 7:30 Friday morning and was finished about 10:00AM. Sooo...... the dealer wanted $800 for 2 1/2 hours labor and $154 worth of parts. Let's see, $800 minus $154 = about $650. $650 divided by 2 1/2 hours = $260 per hour.

Can anyone line these things up in my driveway and let me do as many of them as I can for $700? If so, even at my $700 cut rate, I expect to be retired in about six months.

Soooo....... don't try to tell me that the Japanese dealers are any cheaper or less blood thirsty than the MB folks. Also, Toyotas are not immune to having an acchilles heel here or there themselves. I remember a year or so ago reading Mike Tangas post about his Toyota pickup that had a recall on a serious engine problem.

I don't think any make is immune to similar problems.

Back to my original point. If you can't do at least some of your own work, you will indeed spend big bucks for repairs, particularly at the dealer for an older Benz. Even if you spend several thousand a year in repairs. What kind of new car can you drive for that, a Taurus? Thank you no, I'll drive my wonderful MB's, occasionally gripe about some shortcoming here or there, fix the shortcoming and keep enjoying these great driving automobiles.

My $0.02,