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Hmmm,

Actually the 190 is one of the toughest little cars MB has ever made. Its still rolling even as a new car (the CLK is based off the C chassis which is based directly off the 190/300 chassis). A 190/300 with good service records can easily be expected to be around for quite some time with minimal repairs (a VERY cheap car to own if well maintained).

Agreed Classic Car does have a different light in everyone's eyes. I think Mercedes understands that their vehicles are kept for long periods of time and serviced. One person's basic transportation is another person's classic. Agreed also that MB is not going to excersize the same level of service for a 190 owner that they do a S class owner they still remain professional and understand the specific needs of the people who own their specific vehicles.

Perhaps its just the Volvo dealers I have been exposed to (every last one of the bastards in a 100 mile radius of Atlanta) but I notice a certain air of contempt towards me the moment my car went out of warranty (contempt to the tune of $2500 worth of repairs they had been sweeping under the rug when my car was under warranty that suddenly were critical the second my car hit the magic number). I'm rather convinced that my Volvo dealer not only does not understand my specific needs but does not care either.

I'm not sure the S70 will be around to become a classic even though it has a lot of the ingedients to become one. Being the last of the "classic" 7 series brick bodies and being the most well equipped and appointed of the line is one of them. Volvo made a lot of mistakes on the S70 which will affect the car majorly in the future. Already Lease turn ins flooding the dealers have caused a pretty good fall in the resale value of these cars. On top of that Volvo's inability to accept any responsibilty for their design flaws will continue to alienate more and more owners further dropping the value. An alienated owner with low resale value facing an overinflated repair cost for an engine failure or other major failure is a deadly recipee for scores of S70's to end up being recycled as auto salvage.