[willy]

Big Shrimp God Bless you, most of what you did I had to pay to have done, referring to the electronics. Then I had to pay to have them done again, and again all within a year and a half. My friend has had Merc since he was a kid( long time) he won't go back either, second motor bought new and within very short time after warranty expired was costing him many hundreds a year to repair bullsh!t electronics problems that left him disabled in the water twice each motor.
He has Yamaha now two years bought used and a little worn and has not cost him a penny. My Johnson same thing so far knock on wood. It comes down to what your experience with different brands. Mine and some of my friends put the mercury's in the sea as anchors :-/