My first experience with a MBZ was a friend of mine in L.A. We both worked for the government, and I never thought I could afford a MBZ, or was somehow not "allowed" to drive one b/c I was a govt. stiff. She bought a used one w/100,000 miles on it for about $20K. I thought she was insane. Of course, I was the insane one--it was (and still is) a great car. A few years later, my wife and I bought our first: 1986 300E 5-speed. Great car. I recently upgraded to 1994 E420. It's hard (impossible?) to go back once you've driven the best. (Ironically, in that sense, it actually limits your options in car buying!) But I would have it no other way. I will never drive anything else as a daily driver.