I think there is a general trend towards lower reliability in the long-term, and this isn't just with the high-priced marques such as MB, BMW, Volvo, etc. All cars in general aren't lasting the way they used to. Complicated electronics are part of it, no doubt. But I have to wonder if how much responsibility the whole leasing phenomenon has in the way that cars are becoming "disposable", as Steve put it.

Most cars are leased for a period of 2-4 years. In most cases the car will be under warranty for the entire time the original lessee is driving it. The lessee flips the car in the 2-4 year timeframe and moves in to a new, fully warranteed car and has nothing but good things to say about the ownership experience. The dealer and manufacturer (especially the manufacturer) are happy because they've moved another car over the curb, making profit not only on the sale but more importantly on the finance contract.

Who ends up with the car then? People like you and I and everyone else who participates in forums like this for *all* makes and models. People who will turn their own wrenches to varying degrees, and don't mind driving something older that still looks good. We inherit the problems, but since we may not have bought it through the dealer, neither the manufacturer or the dealer really care about us. So we pay for the wiring harnesses, head gaskets, mass airflow sensors, etc.

As long as that original consumer is happy and keeps coming back for another lease, the manufacturer and dealer are happy. So they design the car to be trouble-free for just long enough to keep that original consumer happy. We, in essence, subsidize the lesser factory quality because we pay the price to repair things that should've lasted longer than they actually did.

If the orignal lessee is looking at "disposing" of the car after 4 years, it stands to reason that the manufacturer will increase profitiability by giving them a disposable car. Why build in quality that will never be appreciatedy by the person who paid the dealer for the car?

Jonathan