Two great cars in my life: First, for the pure value, any mid-90s Jaguar XJ6... A car of astonishing quality, and a great value on the used market. That inline 6 is perhaps the most perfected engine in the world. Seecond, for pure driving pleasure? The BMW M3 E36... On the used market, if you’re careful, (do a PPI with a top-flight mechanic), there is no better car for your dollar.
Out of the 16+ cars around here, only two are foreign and one of them is the only 6 cylinder. I have a ‘90 560SEL. The only car I took over 140mph comfortably. I have the window sticker for that one and it was $90K new so it had better handle and perform great. Extremely easy to work on and well engineered. The other is a ‘78 280SE. It is a total slug, but is a fun little car. The engine is bulletproof which is why I see so many old Mercs still in use oversees.
The Krouts really know how to sensibly engineer stuff especially when you compare it to American stuff. To change the blower motor in my ‘76 Catalina Safari, the shop manual has you cut a big whole in the inner fender to access it and then putty the panel back in. Some engineering idea on an item that does need replacing now and again.