Mercedes w201 190e

doesn't feel like a Mercedes, but externally looks like one

Being the owner of two 1970's Mercedes cars (w114, w123) I purchased the w201, last week, for an insanely bargain price, don't get me wrong, car is immaculate, & has a very low 100,000
miles (160,000 km's on the odometer).

Externally, it has that classic look, & that of traditionally high quality, a MB hallmark. New price in 1993 was a whopping, but predictable AUD$78,000 (on road costs inclusive).

The interior is very plain & lacking of any feel of quality. I was very surprised that the vehicle has
no rear seat head rests, or even centre, fold down arm rest, also no tachometer! Whereas my 1978 w123 has all of these.

On the road: it takes quite a long while to warm up, once it has, performance is brisk, drivetrain is quite noisy (diff etc), but engine is very quiet.

I feel myself leaning toward my 280e (w123), it looks & feels Mercedes, in every sense of the word, in any case it was a world better than the model it replaced. My w114, feels more like a truck, than a car! -but still a good drive, is solid, has none of the creature comforts, but makes up for them in other ways... (solid).

If you can be lucky & pay a few hunded, for a w201 (like I did), it's worth considering. The bad thing about it, is the cost of spares, from a MB dealer, even the most basic items, like a rear view mirror, is up around the $700 mark!! A previous owner paid $1,900 for a major service, plus new front brake pads, so be warned!!!

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