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I agree wholeheartedly with LarryBible and Oldblue...You may pay more for a particular item on an MB, but for the most part when you fix it, it STAYS fixed.
I own a 79 MB. Years ago, I owned a 79 GM car, and I could get a starter for it for less than $50. However, it was relatively difficult to install, and I had to replace it at least every TWO YEARS! Sometimes more. My 79 300SD has had ONE starter replaced. ONE!
The interior and suspension of that same GM car was NOTHING like the interior and suspension of my SD. That car rattled, squeaked, vibrated, shook--half the interior was plastic!...NONE of which happens in my MB, which is obviously much older NOW than that car was THEN. I have friends with Hondas and GM cars that are YEARS newer than my car that are also plastic-covered rattle-boxes.
My girlfriend's Toyota Camry is the most "vanilla" driving experience I've ever had. That car has NO personality or "road feel". It also has a few squeaks and rattles as well, too many for a 96 model, for sure! She recently spent $1,200 fixing various oil leaks, vibrations and other problems. If I exclude cosmetic improvements (wheels, floormats, etc.), I haven't spent that much on my car since I've OWNED IT!
You may pay significantly more for an MB part, but more often than not, you will replace that particular part FAR LESS frequently than with most other cars of the same age. And it will drive better, run better, and squeak and rattle far less than any Honda or Toyota or GM or Chrysler car of the same age.
To some of us, the superior driving experience is worth a few bucks. You get what you pay for.
Mike
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