[Digmenow]

See, I don't want to limit my Mercedes-Benz experience to just the 107. I want a daily driver, too. So I had the Avalon down to Claude for a spot of work and when I picked it up, Ms Claude struck up a conversation which began by her remarking on how nice my car was. Now this woman drives a very straight and clean '85 W123. Here's a pic for reference. Hers is actually silver.

I've never posted pics of the Avalon but at almost 260,000 miles, it has its share of road rash, dings and the beginnings of rust in the rear wheel arch. It's still serviceable but is no longer the hot mama it was when I got it.

She explained to me that Claude, and herself by extension, had begun to recommend Toyotas to their customers instead of M-B or Volvo. She said the quality had suffered so much that they felt they could no longer advise people to buy them. These people make their living repairing mostly Mercedes along with a few other brands. She even went so far as to tell me that she would try to talk me out of replacing my 107 with another one if my rust issues prove fatal to the car!

I realize this is nowhere near the issue Scott had with his former indie but I have to admit, this little conversation threw me for a bit of a loop.

I just don't know anymore.

 

[steve58]

I say , get what you want. But keep the MB's under the "toys" category. Its gonna be all about gas mileage, as you know.

My 98 Silverado daily driver/work truck with 190,000 miles is in need of replacement. I dont know what to do either. It cost the equivalent of a payment on a new truck to run it ( 16 mpg) around $100.00 a week. Its been paid for for over 5 years.
I just don't know anymore.

 

[ChiefRider]

The quality of a 107 is what it is, and is what it was; It can't diminish other than with the condition of a given car. "Newer" M-B's have suffered from increased production volume, decreased worker-per-car ratio, and the need to increased the economies of scale to stay competitive. The oft quoted statement that the late 107's were a high point for M-B quality is relatively accurate, if you equate quality with your vehicle being built with a high degree of direct human attention. All this mumbo jumbo being said, Toyota has done a fine job of building a reliable car, and the Europeans are playing catch-up. If you have terminal rust issues in your 107, what else could replace it? Certainely not a Camry! Find a well maintained late 107. If you want another daily driver and your main concern is ease of maintenance, then get the Camry. If you must have an M-B, the easiest to maintain IMHO, is a late 123 diesel, but you are talking about a 20+ year old car. Anything else will require "enthusiasm" on your part.

Chief

 

[Fluteguy]

AHEM! I have a 1993 500SEL that is in very good shape and is my daily driver.

But I keep my 380SL for inner happiness!

 

[roncallo]

See, I don't want to limit my Mercedes-Benz experience to just the 107. I want a daily driver, too. So I had the Avalon down to Claude for a spot of work and when I picked it up, Ms Claude struck up a conversation which began by her remarking on how nice my car was. Now this woman drives a very straight and clean '85 W123. Here's a pic for reference. Hers is actually silver.

I've never posted pics of the Avalon but at almost 260,000 miles, it has its share of road rash, dings and the beginnings of rust in the rear wheel arch. It's still serviceable but is no longer the hot mama it was when I got it.

She explained to me that Claude, and herself by extension, had begun to recommend Toyotas to their customers instead of M-B or Volvo. She said the quality had suffered so much that they felt they could no longer advise people to buy them. These people make their living repairing mostly Mercedes along with a few other brands. She even went so far as to tell me that she would try to talk me out of replacing my 107 with another one if my rust issues prove fatal to the car!

I realize this is nowhere near the issue Scott had with his former indie but I have to admit, this little conversation threw me for a bit of a loop.

I just don't know anymore.

I have often felt that the 126 was an end of the quality era for MB. But the good news is that because they suck so bad after that I can buy a late 90's S600 for under 15K. Since I can do my own work it's not too bad.

John Roncallo

 

[MBGraham]

I have often felt that the 126 was an end of the quality era for MB. But the good news is that because they suck so bad after that I can buy a late 90's S600 for under 15K. Since I can do my own work it's not too bad.

John Roncallo

I own three MBs - a '98 W210 E320, an '85 W123 300D and the '72 350SL.

The SL is a toy (owned for 19 years) and with the D-Jet, always a bit troublesome. Being a convertible, it also lacks stiffness and at times reminds me more of a US tank than a sports car. (Maybe I need some work on the suspension?)

The W210 is a fine car, but there are rust issues on these cars in specific areas. Everything has always been fixed by MB, mostly under warranty or goodwill. It is a fine car and at 10 years old, still have had almost no mechanical problems. A great driving car at any speed.

The 300D is probably the best car I will ever own, unless I find a low mileage W126 diesel. We have had it for 18 years. Engine was replaced but through no fault of it's own - someone dropped a wing nut into the air inlet which destroyed the turbo and the engine! We have had rust, but always had it repaired. Suspension, transmission, rear end are original (400 k km) and it still is tight and drives beautifully. I think this car represents MB at it's best (except perhaps for the 300SD)

The W124s seem mechanically good, but I hate those plastic sides.

My next car?? It will be a replacement for the E320 for our long trips. May just buy a Honda Odyssey or something like that. Trouble with Honda & Toyota is that their service and parts charges are more like MB that GM

 

[dugald]

May just buy a Honda Odyssey or something like that. Trouble with Honda & Toyota is that their service and parts charges are more like MB that GM

My advice is to stay away from Honda. Their quality has declined.
My wife's 2003 Accord, just months out of warranty, suffered a catastrophic auto transmission failure. The damn thing downshifted to 2nd gear at 80 mph. The effect was like stomping on the brakes.
If the road had been slippery, the car would have been in the weeds. Anyway, it needed a replacement transmission and the best Honda would do was to supply a half-price rebuilt part instead of a new one.
So much for Honda quality and goodwill. "So sorry we almost killed you, that's the breaks." I talked to Transport Canada who says there have been quite a few complaints and maybe a safety recall will follow.
Meanwhile I vowed never to buy another Honda and to tell others to do likewise.

 

[isthisdave]

^ A friend has an 07 S2000. Recently had warranty replacement of synchro rings in the manual trans. Not exactly new technology there, you'd think they'd have that sorted out by now.

 

[nobby]

Meanwhile I vowed never to buy another Honda and to tell others to do likewise.

My 2006 (first new car for me) is the best vehicle I have ever driven in the snow. It is also comfortable and goes like stink.
On the other hand, I have had a full brake system replaced and an on going water leak into the passenger footwell which has resulted in a full carpet change and a cracked windshield...also replaced.
Other than that, I will love it more when I'm not forking out $766 a month.

EDIT: Honda Pilot 2006

 

[dugald]

My 2006 (first new car for me) is the best vehicle I have ever driven in the snow. It is also comfortable and goes like stink.
On the other hand, I have had a full brake system replaced and an on going water leak into the passenger footwell which has resulted in a full carpet change and a cracked windshield...also replaced.
Other than that, I will love it more when I'm not forking out $766 a month.

If you'd asked me about Hondas before this incident, I would have said "fine cars, we're on our second". Now I am convinced they are a menace.

 

[nobby]

If you'd asked me about Hondas before this incident, I would have said "fine cars, we're on our second". Now I am convinced they are a menace.

My '93 Civic has 410,000Kms on it and has no quit in it. It just won't die. But I agree. They don't make ANYTHING like they used to.

 

[dugald]

They don't make ANYTHING like they used to.

Now you're sounding old like me.

What irritates me about the Honda thing is the safety issue. I mean, dropping into second gear at highway speed could kill someone.
Now get this: when I talked to Transport Canada about the problem, the guy told me there was a safety recall on the car for a transmission failure mode that completely locked up the wheels. Imagine that on an icy road.
Turns out my car had been modified for that recall on a routine service visit, so I guess fail-to-second-gear is Honda's idea of improvement.