Give me this any day (Euro 500SEC or 560SEC) over a W140 (which looks awkward, big and even obese from EVERY angle), I will take the 15mpg and the fact that a new Maxima is faster. Plenty quick (285hp) to keep up with traffic and be a great daily driver.
Last of the true vault Mercedes. Beautifully built and designed under the directorship of the visionary Bruno Sacco (MB Design Chief). Very easy to work on, Bosch CIS is reliable and lots of parts availability and excellent forum support. Cost of everyday maintenance is minimal, little things will break and wear out, but to be expected of any car that is 20+ years old. Owning one (in terms of cost \ reliability) will make Porsche 928 and (horrid) Jag. XJ-S owners blush. Trannys and engines never break.
These cars were not designed to compete with the 911 more like the (horrid) Jag XJ-S and the BMW 635CSi, these are Grand Touring cars with long legs that can cruise all day at 100+mp/h and not break a sweat. Very comfortable, beautifully built and have aged gracefully. Lots of spares available as they were built for 10+ years!
My very good friend has a 500SEC that has over 220,000 miles on his car and it sits outside in the 90+F summer and -30F winter and several feet of Colorado snow and starts every time and has never left him stranded.
This car is breathtaking...!
Life is too boring to drive boring cars! I egg you on to get one, very rewarding.
Yasin