Fuzzy your 2006 car doesn't fall under the rust issues, it was a problem they had from changing to waterbased paint and not getting it right, iirc around 2003-2005 they sorted it out, and you 7g Merc doesn't fall under the op's price bracket, I liked my e class a lot, had 215k miles on it when I part ex'd it, but it wasn't a "fun" car.
mercs certainly have got it right for driver comfort though, and I can see why the 63's and 55 AMG's have such appeal
