expert opinion needed

expert opinion needed

Author
Discussion

steady eddie

Original Poster:

150 posts

213 months

Friday 17th September 2010
quotequote all
I am torn between a w124 E320 coupe and a more modern E class,
and I would appreciate advice from someone who has expert
knowledge of the cars.
The car will be used as a daily driver cira 5k per annum and will be garaged.
I am in Northern Ireland and it would mean a trip to England to find a good W124.
I intend to keep the car long term and I would like some info on the difference in the driving experience of the cars and also running costs, reliability etc.
Would anyone who has owned or still owns either of the cars be willing to give advice
Thanks
Eddie Walsh

74merc

594 posts

193 months

Monday 20th September 2010
quotequote all
Hi Eddie. I had an E320 coupe for a few years, lovely cars they are too. I can't help with the later models, but if you want some advice, give me a shout.

74merc

594 posts

193 months

Monday 20th September 2010
quotequote all
Forgot to say, I based in NI too.

TwistingMyMelon

6,385 posts

206 months

Tuesday 21st September 2010
quotequote all
I have been running my e320 94' coupe as my daily driver since feb and have done 8k miles in that time

Great car, my best car so far, I do a 60 mile M4 journey twice a week and it is perfect, sits at near (or way over) 100 leptons in silence and is very comfortable. I also do the odd short journey to town too as this is my only car, I also have two kids a mum and a dog in there all together at times!!

I only paid £1400 and it isn't too bad to run, in fact it is very cheap considering its nearly 20 yrs old and got nearly 200k! 15-32 mpg depending on style

Prices do fluctuate, I've seen and driven cars worse condition than mine for over £3grand.

I'm not so keen on mercs past 1995, I think the recent models seem, look and feel better, but anything from 95-2008 I wouldn't go near at all, thats my opinion though and personal taste.


pollawyn

175 posts

180 months

Wednesday 22nd September 2010
quotequote all
Not really a direct answer but I have a 1992 500SL and a 2007 280cdi. Both are remarkable cars, very well built and reliable. I have no hesitation in recommending their stablemates from their respective eras but if I had to choose one it would be my 500SL, no contest.

r129sl

9,518 posts

204 months

Thursday 23rd September 2010
quotequote all
You're not making a meaningful comparison. It's like asking: should I have a pizza or a banana split?

A modern E-Class is what it is: a brand new car with all the latest tech costing £40,000. A w124 likewise: a 20 year old car costing at most £10,000.

The w124 is fundamentally better built but will require more trips to the workshop than a new or even new-ish E. The style of the w124 is subtle and comfortable; that of the modern E is more brash and aggressive. The quality of the w124 is leagues above that of the modern E (the most obvious manifestation is in the dashboard and trim materials which, in the new care, are dreadfully cheap in comparison, but the difference run deep); but the w124 is a simpler car with less equipment less ingeniously packaged.

Given the choice between a perfect, "new" w124 320 E on the one hand or a new w211 or w212 E350, I'd take the old car everytime.