@cawimmer430, if possible keep the E350 CGI, do not sell it ever! Mercedes aren't built like what they are used to be and you will definitely miss the old tank like feel of the E class.
I may be in the minority, but I firmly believe that
after the DaimlerChrysler era Mercedes is back to building
the best cars they've ever built. And you know me, I love the classic Benzes, but there's just no comparison with the new ones.
The newer Mercedes' are faster, more efficient, safer, more comfortable, better handling and easier to drive than their old counterparts. You could argue that they are also more durable because they don't have rust issues. They don't need to visit the shop as often for tune-ups, expensive oil changes, new spark plugs and so forth. The old Benzes were "safe" due to weight and steel - the newer ones are safer but weigh less and thus "don't feel like a bank vault". A W126 feels lighter than a W123 for example, I know this because I had one!
So if we compare a W213 with a W123, the new E-Class is simply a better car than the famed and legendary W123. The only thing the W123 excels at is less complexity and ease of maintenance (and no anti-pollution controls) - but remember, back in the day a W123 was complex. We can claim today that a W123 is easier to maintain and repair because 43 years later we know their weaknesses and how to effectively repair them. The W123 is often claimed to be bulletproof, but they had their issues. The Solex carburetors on the 250s were unreliable, all gasoline W123 had timing chain issues (generally after 250,000 km) and they all rusted. We remember them fondly, but there is simply no comparison. Technology, build quality, precision engineering etc. has evolved and cars have gotten much better.
The bigger problem, from my point of view is, that people are treating cars like a throw-away-product in this day and age. Gotta have the best and newest! So after three to five years they want the newest model so there is no incentive to properly maintain a modern car. In Europe, ever stringent emissions standards will also do their part to eventually force people to part with older cars. In the old days people kept their cars longer and also knew how to work on them and keep them in running order.
