[speeder]

There are so many better ways to keep your children safe than putting them in a 5k lb. SUV, IMO. People can die in those vehicles, too. As Minkoff suggested, they do not handle like cars.

I'd put her in a late-model Acura or some other good Japanese car w/ all of the modern safety features like traction control, latest version ABS, etc... They are safe cars.

A brake job on any car at the MB dealer is going to be painful, plus they always want to replace the rotors when they have minimal wear, etc... That was my experience, when ex-GF had a new Benz. They need to feed the beast which is their zillion-dollar facility and make a profit, you are an important part of the equation.