I gotta chime in here. My 89 929 Mazda has been nearly as easy to work on as the 300D. The glaring exception being replacing the valve cover gaskets. Timing belt, front end work etc etc very easy. It too though is a rear wheel drive. That being said, it's still can't hold a candle to the MB ride. The mazda is my last rice-burner being retired this fall or as soon as I find another diesel to supplement the current ride. I gotta have at least two cars, a truck and a wife car to be happy! I had 7 until this summer when I thinned the herd of two other 929s and my old but trusty but rusty Jeep pick-up.