The price on Merc parts is not as bad as people make out.
I bought 'unobtainble centre caps for my 280SE for £34 from Mercedes. A well known SL selling place once told me Mercedes didn't sell them. How much do they charge? Try £80 for 4.
That's before I get to the price of Merc wings and the talk about that .
Oddly, Mazdas and Fords have been pricey in a few respects for me to own.
I have found exactly this with Porsche. Some specialists sell parts for a far more inflated price than the dealers parts department. Porsche parts desk has become my first port of call.
I bought a manual Volvo 850 T-5R saloon last year just because I was bored of my modern cars and needed something to muck about with. I don’t daily it but took it on a 400 mile trip 3 months ago and I’d say it’s quieter than my F80 M3 when cruising on the M way, much less tyre roar. Easy to work on as well. Never see them on the road either.
No where near as awesome as you, but I recently bought a V70 T5 and I love the thing. I never quite understood the appeal until I got one and I now can’t see myself getting rid of it. I’d love a T5R or a V70R but I use mine as a daily hack which gets very abused and it take it very well.