Most are not items considered "necessary" and if they fail just don't fix them....such as reclining rear seat, remote locking, door closing assist (except the trunk won't close tightly!), etc.

This attitute towards upkeep usually results in a junker. Why buy a great car, only to cheat yourself of the experience the car can provide? Seems to me like it would be embarassing to have someone climb into your big fancy S-class, and then explain to them that most of the features are broken and you have elected to leave them that way. Also, there are safety concerns (tires, brakes, suspension bits) when one is unable to afford to maintain a car. Exmaple was a post here a week or so ago about someone who had a balljoint failure, which he had chosen not to have fixed.

The issues mushroom raised(mileage, insurance cost, parts availability costs as well as maintence costs) make me think that a more simple model would be a better choice.

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'90 300SE 298k
-300K and it gets put into retirement.
'80 300D 255k Purchased new by family in 1980.

Had a:
1973 220 (gas)
1980 300SD
1992 400E