My 3rd W124 Estate and it's very, very hard to think of anything else I'd rather drive for the money. Beautifully-built, spacious, comfortable and supremely reliable. They are heavier on fuel than modern counterparts, but at the moment (Feb 2011) you can buy a cracker for £3000-£4000, less if you're lucky. I've bought more modern, smaller, more economical cars and these have had niggly electrical troubles and, of course, the inevitable cambelt changes. When I think of how little fuel the modern, small cars use compared to the Merc, I go for a drive in it and all is forgiven.

The other point it has over many modern cars is that you can actually see out of it! It has a low window line and I have noticed that the kids are better behaved in it, possibly because they don't feel so hemmed in.

Don't go to a main dealer, there a plenty of specialists around - my mark below is for my specialist in Worcester, Service Point.

The Coupes are fabulously elegant and the Saloons are the biggest bargains of all. Diesel Estates are making big money - probably not worth it now unless you do a really high mileage.

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reviewed by DenduA on 18 January 2011