Most of my family have relied on GM or Ford for their vehicle choices. My sister and her family have a GMC Savannah super extended conversion van and a Lincoln Navigator.
My other sister swears by the Surburban. To be honest though, I really don't care for them all that much -- they have terrible leg room in the back seat -- my 190e is more comfortable than the back of that thing!
My parents have mainly driven Buicks, but they bought a Ford Windstar when they retired. They have done absolutely nothing to it -- it's been a great vehicle for them.
Me, on the other hand, I think my cross to bear has been cars! I started off with an '88 Cutlass Calais. It was totaled in an accident where the driver hit me on the driver's side. Not a pretty sight. Then I drove my mom's '87 Park Ave. for about 6 months. In the meantime, they bought an '89 Mercury Sable with only 38k on it. I decided to buy the Sable for them because I was in college and the Sable had way less mileage. What a mistake that was -- it was a total lemon. I spent way too much in repairs, and then the darn thing literally BLEW UP!! Can you believe that??
Mom had so much good luck with her Park Ave. that I decided to purchase a Buick LeSabre. ANOTHER lemon -- replaced the tranny and a host of other things. When I thought everything was A-OK, it broke down again, to the tune of $2.8k. I said FORGET IT!
Found a GREAT deal on my '93 190e and have been so happy with this car. Great gas mileage and it doesn't break down all the time. I had to do the head gasket on it, but that's been the only major repair -- other than that, it's a champ. Soooooooo, thousands of dollars in debt later, I have a car that actually WORKS.
A seminarian with a Mercedes is probably an oxymoron, but I was looking for dependability, and I got this one at a good price. To those who look at me funny, I tell them, "TOUGH!!" They drive Cadillacs anyway.
Take care.
Michael.