Mine was leaking oil when it was bad. I have driven with a good one and a bad one and the only difference I can tell is with a new one the steering feels much heavier, more like a "luxury" car. With a bad one it is easier to steer, feels more like a Toyota. I think it is there just for that reason, to make it feel diffferent, but everyone insists it makes it handle better some how.

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1998 C230 330,000 miles (currently dead of second failed EIS, yours will fail too, turning you into the dealer's personal human cash machine)
1988 F150 144,000 miles (leaks all the colors of the rainbow)
Previous stars: 1981 Brava 210,000 miles, 1978 128 150,000 miles, 1977 B200 Van 175,000 miles, 1972 Vega (great, if rusty, car), 1972 Celica, 1986.5 Supra