Quote: I am even considering getting a '91-'93 Mercedes 300E 4matic for the winter, which is just a small version of a panzer tank.

May I suggest that you go to the Mercedes forum and do some research on these cars. I have a 350C 4Matic and would not trade it. In my experience, with good maintenance they are like new at 45 to 60000 miles on the clock.

I could not agree more with your quote. If you drive one you will notice a smooth, solid ride. It really does feel like a tank with excellent steering and power. Perhaps not high torgue (throw you back in your seat kind), short burst of power from the line but really a pleasure to drive.

In my mind, our beloved Xfire does not drive like a Mercedes SLK of the same era. There maybe something in the tires/suspension that makes a difference but if you drive one you will see the difference. OK some of you are saying that a Mercedes is an old person's car without style.

If you would like another option of German engineering, go drive a Porsche. I really love to drive mine. Unfortunately, we do not have roads like in Europe so you really can't drive high speed for miles and miles. When you drive like that you need a well engineered car.

Both can be expensive to repair but if you keep them for 10 plus years you will not find them excessive provided you do not beat them up. It seems like the idea of keeping a car that long is not in the American mindset.

American muscle cars and most other cars made for American roads are made to get off fast, reach high speeds in short distances. Think street racing or even track racing. There is a difference in philosophy and engineering between German and American cars in this regard. You may also want to think American vs. Russian fighter technology.

In regards to cost to repair and frustration with problems in our Xfires please remember our Xfires come out of 1990's technology and Mercedes was experiencing issues during this time frame. If you visit the Mercedes forum, you will see many of the issues we are experiencing today are the same ones they experienced with the same platform years ago. Why didn't they fix it? I suggest the need to get the Xfire to market fast and once there it was a dud so why spend more good money after bad. Mercedes already had a new generation of SLK and the Xfire was a Chrysler. People expected some problems with Chryslers and this car should have had less then was normal.

Funny to think of our 2004-2008 cars as really 10 to 15 years old technology.