Wow, lots of good advice. I'm still in the preliminary stages of looking, right now, and I'm weighing my options: sell our Subaru and/or the SD, get something brand new at 0% financing, find a nice used ML/300TD/300TE, possibly a 4matic, or a new Dodge Ram pickup. Also the upcoming Chevy Silverado SS interests me... 500 hp?

The ML is the first Mercedes I've considered that doesn't have a hood ornament. This may sound silly, but I kinda rely on the hood star to align myself with the side of the road. I love the ballsy V8 in the wife's Mountaineer, leading me towards the V8 ML.

Also, I am trying to get the best handling car I can find. I have fond memories of my '72 280SE. Our Subaru is pretty tossable, but lacks on-center feel. The SD is a nice highway cruiser, but lacks tossablility and it's pretty much of a tank. Also, I have had occasion to really need the carrying room of a wagon/SUV/pickup truck.

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Bob Roe
Lehigh Valley PA USA
1973 Olds 88, 1972 MB 280SE, 1978 Datsun 280Z, 1971 Ford T-Bird, 1972 Olds 88, 1983 Nissan Sentra, 1985 Sentra, 1973 230.6, 1990 Acura Integra, 1991 Volvo 940GLE wagon, 1983 300SD, 1984 300SD, 1995 Subaru Legacy L wagon, 2002 Mountaineer, 1991 300TE wagon, 2008 Murano, 2007 R320CDI 4Matic 52K, some Hyundai, 2008 BMW 535xi wagon, all gone... currently
2007 Honda Odyssey Touring, 2014 E350 4matic