[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by the

MB had some quality control issues in the early 2000s. I would avoid anything from around 2003 or earlier. The 05s and up have been much better.

Anyone who takes a 4 year old Mercedes to a dealership for service is going to get what they deserve (i.e., a raping!), just like at a BMW or Porsche dealership. The last time I was at an MB dealership in Cal, I noticed the shop rate was $150/hr.

Like BMW and Porsche, though, in places like metro So. Cal., there are lots of excellent independent shops which are much more reasonable.

But, a MB, Porsche or BMW is generally going to cost more to maintain than a Honda or Toyota, for sure.

Agreed. My major question, is she going AWAY for college, or is she still in high school? If she's local where you could handle any repair needs, then it's ok. But I would NEVER send my daughter away to college with a German car, unless you just want to hand her a stack of blank checks. For starters, you don't want to chance your daughter's car stranding her in a strange town, and German cars just don't have the reliability of the Japanese. Then, you don't want her to blow her tuition money to repair a Mercedes. Parts and labor are always much more on a German car. Not to mention, if she keeps this car post-college, then she'll be driving an OLD German car. Not good.

Personally, when my daughter is of driving age she will be driving a Japanese car. Unless the Germans have caught up on the reliability front by then. If you want to spoil your daughter with something a bit nicer, I'm sure you can find a good deal on a Lexus RX, Infiniti FX, or Acura MDX. But out of curiousity, why buy her a SUV that gets crappy MPG and won't hold it's value?