After not buying a new (to me) car since 2003, it's finally time to do the deed again, so those are my choices, as far as I can tell the Merc ($23K) has price going for it, the Jag ($38K) has it's recent production going for it. Merc has 40K miles, Jag has 10K, any input on the two?

I've test driven both and I'd be very happy driving either one, so it's a question of value for money and reliability/maintenance costs. Also, if you have nothing better to say than "roll the Benz baby" or something along those lines, please refrain.