ntakebay

By reading the responses here, my impression is that MB can be "durable" (may or may not be reliabe) car with minor problems. It is a good point (get a reliable car and MB as a 2nd car). Well, maybe some smaller car rather than 4 runner (we prefe not to drive a SUV). A lot of people here seem to think SUVs are better for snow, but they don't put snow tires. The momentum of heavy car isn't great for snowy condition in my opinion. I'd rather drive a smaller car (fwd or rwd works even in AK) with the best studded tires. Since I already have a "toy" (MG), I probably shouldn't get too many cars... I'll pass MB for now.

r_liebo

MB has reached the low point with reliability, I believe, and is on the rebound. I bet by the second year of the new C-class (since all 1st year models have problems), quality will be vastly improved.
MB knows it has big problems, and they are addressing them. MB has confirmed that the new E class will be vastly "simplified" to combat quality control issues, and I imagine the same will be true for the next generation C.