Just wanted to update the thread. We considered MLs (both gassers and CDI models). I would say that in the 6-8 weeks we were looking, of the dozen or so that came up in our area (pretty much all of Texas except El-Paso!), 80% had evidence of electrical problems in the Carfax. Just too risky considering the electrical problems we had in our '82 300TD were too much for us.
We ended us buying a 2013 (used) VW jetta Sportswagen TDI. It's diesel, gets 34-42 mpg, is a manual transmission (maybe the hardest thing to find in most modern cars), and has pretty good storage capacity - not ML-level, but better than GLK, CR-V, Rav-4, etc.

So far we are pretty happy with it....there is an issue with the windows that the dealer has to address this week, but other than that it is more comfortable that most of the other vehicles we test drove, has V-tex (which we prefer to leather after our experience with MB-Tex), and can be pretty easily modded - to add nav for example.

RE: warranty, we got a 2 year warranty on the VW, which is nice b/c parts are similarly high for VW. We have pretty much come to the conclusion that modern cars are built to lease, not buy.

The factory warranty just happens to coincide exactly with the terms of the lease they offer. After that, you can buy a CPO, but that warranty only extends for a couple of years, rather than the entire financing period.

The issues I have with leasing are the high fees (due at signing and to return it at the end, and being at the mercy of the dealer about any damages ' beyond normal wear and tear' I just don't trust them to make that call fairly.

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Current Mercedes
1979 maple yellow 240D 4-speed

Gone and fondly remembered:
1980 orient red 240D 4-speed

Gone and NOT fondly remembered:
1982 Chna Blue 300TD

Other car in the stable:
2013 VW Jetta Sportwagen TDI / 6-speed MT