where do I begin? My family owns Car dealerships, Ive been around cars all the time, they are my passion!
An older European vehicle is always better than a newer American made, even if the European has twice as mayn miles. Older Japenese models are also always a good bet and cheaper than a European, now with saying that there are certain models that us car guys know to avoid. Overall though American car reliability and longevity is below par with a couple exceptions.
For the car you asked about, The Mercury Mystique, well those were not good quality at all. They had serious mechanical and build quality issues, and usually only last about 100k before theyre complete junk, not to mention their safety record is aweful, and on and on. Mercedes benz, is it a 300TD, 300D ? either way, the older Mercedes 300's are built like a tank, as long as maintenance has been done by the previous owner and you keep it up, (you have to do that with any car), that car will take you 3-400 thousand miles. Another thing is the Mystique will be needing a timing belt within the next 10-15,000 niles, Mercedes doesnt use timing belts so you never have to change them, expect to spend 4-600 for a new one on the mystique, that should include the water pump as well. Timing belts have to be changed because if they break, kiss the engine goodbye! Overall I think the Mercedes is smarter but Im not the one driving it! I had a 300TD with 260K drove like new, and looked new, Ive been driving my Saab 9-3 for 7 years and have almost 200K, and people think its new when they ride in it, find me an American car like that lol! Good Luck, hope this helped!
