3 years? Might have been higher median without it.

Regardless, point is that a lot of Americans somehow manage to keep their cars on the road for a decade or more. True, the median may have been higher, but the trend is clear.

My Dad, a lifelong car guy, said once that in the thirties and forties, fifty or sixty thousand miles was considered reasonable life for a car, but now(he was saying this in the mid sixties) a hundred thousand miles was considered reasonable life.

In the sixties and into the seventies, 100K was probably a good lifespan for a car.

Today, I see a quarter million as being a good mark to consider as par.

My $0,02,

__________________
2001 SLK 320 six speed manual
2014 Porsche Cayenne six speed manual

Annoy a Liberal, Read the Constitution

I think my CE could do that. But it won't be by me. The M103 still purrs like a kitten and it turns heads at 134k, but it's a weekender for me now. Can't see it being a DD for me again.

Why not a daily driver? Do you just prefer to drive something different?

I use my 330K mile 300E for a work car, 44 mile round trip to work. It is totally and completely as reliable as my much newer and lower mileage car and truck. The 300E is reliable, relatively economical and a hoot to drive the hilly and winding road to and from town every day.

Although it is not cosmetically great anymore, it is a great driving car. If something came up that necessitated a thousand mile trip somewhere, I might very well take it rather than getting anything else out on the road. I would have complete confidence in it and I know it would be a comfortable trip in any weather.

__________________
2001 SLK 320 six speed manual
2014 Porsche Cayenne six speed manual

Annoy a Liberal, Read the Constitution

Well Larry,
Even if I used it as my DD, my r/t to/fm work is 2. 8 miles; three right hand turns from home. I'd have to live (and work) to 150 to get near the 300k mark. Not much chance of that. It's also starting to have the mysterious and greatly irregular infrequent stalling. Had a guy check out and clean all the elect. connections tested everything under the hood, fp, etc. after it quit on him!. He drove it around for a few days and took it out on the parkway couple of weeks ago for high speed riding. Ran ok for him, but I'd be leery to jump in it now and motor down I95 to FL.
I'd take the CTS, as uncomfortable as the driver position is for me right now.

Ah, intermittent stalling, and never does it when you want it to -- Classic M103!

__________________
TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

Oh okay, I understand your dilemma. It's too bad to.

__________________
2001 SLK 320 six speed manual
2014 Porsche Cayenne six speed manual

Annoy a Liberal, Read the Constitution

First time about 5 years ago it was the fpr that finally went bad. The second time, about two years ago ---exact same symptoms ---turned out to be worn distributor cap and plug wires. Problem solved till a few weeks ago when it died after sitting in the garage for two months to skip the weekly road salting down here this winter. Took it out and after a few stops it stalled & wouldn't start. So far so good.

But heck, I was thinking of Larry & this thread so I brought it in to the office this morning.

Looks great! I wish mine looked that good.

__________________
2001 SLK 320 six speed manual
2014 Porsche Cayenne six speed manual

Annoy a Liberal, Read the Constitution

It probably does from 90 feet! (I'm sure dynalow's looks dang good from close up as well but my wagon is a 100 footer. )

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1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

Thanks Larry. The sun glare off the chrome wheel well visors adds some visual effect.

Thanks Swamp, and judge for yourself....up close

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/2827936-post9.html

I rest my case!

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1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

People have some damn good eyes around here.

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1979 Black on Black, 300CD (sold), 1990 Black 300SE, Silver 1989 Volvo 780, 1988 300CE (vanished by the hands of a girlfriend), 1992 300CE (Rescue).