When the R171 was announced, I had a 10 month old, Obsidian black R170 - I thought the value of that would fall fairly quickly with the new model out, so I ordered a new 350. At the time (June 2004) it was said that the 55AMG would not be out for another year, hence the 350. I picked it up from the factory, and the more I'm the custodian of it, the more I want to keep it forever. I don't do that many miles in it, never in the wet or salt - I've got other cars, bikes & vans for that type of thing. It's everything I want in a car - in thirty years time, I'll either be pushing up daiseys or not driving, so I'll keep it forever. OK, the AMG is quicker & faster, but I very rarely drive my 350 to the limit anyway. I'm not at all envious of AMG owners, or people who are perceived to have better cars than mine, nor do I gloat over people who have cars which might be perceived to be lower than mine. I love it for what it is, am ecstatic to own it and drive it, and am generally, all round, a happy bunny - BTW, if you hadn't noticed it's a greenish shade of green, and I would not swap it for anything (who mentioned a twin supercharged 6.3
).