Mercedes W124 Cabriolet: Guilty Pleasures
It's impossible to do this one without summoning the ghost of Frankie Howerd...
Stolid yet handsome, it's an old-school Benz
Soft Rock
I know, I'm getting my excuses in early. Because although I'd love to be able to say that the W124 Mercedes E-Class cabriolet* that I lust after was an exception to this rule of inflexibility, I can't. If anything, it's practically the exemplar, a car that - to get the knob gags out of the way - is positively flaccid in its lack of rigidity. One that behaves like a bouncy castle if asked to digest a rough road at anything other than a very gentle pace. In short, the exact opposite of the sort of taut, solid open-topped sportscar that should sit higher on my list.
Yet, having owned every other W124 body variant at one time or another, my desire for a cabrio is almost overwhelming. Just look at its profile: did Merc's design mastermind Bruno Sacco ever sign-off on a finer looking car? You can practically see the lack of structural strength in the long, low shape - especially as the folded roof is entirely stowed beneath the rear deck, unlike most of its pram-like contemporaries that left theirs on display. Like its Coupe sister the cabrio sits on a shorter wheelbase than saloon or estate, but there's still a huge amount of space behind the door, with the front and rear linked by nothing more than sills, floorpan and some modest under-body reinforcement.
Fun in the sun for four real sized people
Erectile Dysfunction
Drive one and the lack of rigidity becomes a strange part of the W124 cabrio's appeal; a flaw that you quickly learn to adapt to and - as far as you can - to drive around. Even a steel-roofed E-Class from the period isn't the most precise driving tool, and the cabriolet's trembling harmonics makes it one of those cars best sampled at the sort of pace normally reserved for piloting nervous grandmothers to doctor's appointments. Fortunately this is something that both the 320 six-cylinder and 220 four-cylinder variants are happiest when asked to deliver, especially with the supremely slushy autobox that almost all cabrios have. Besides the cabin is so nice, the reflections in shop windows so appealing that you really don't mind trundling at sub-Proton pace.
Proof that proper style never really dates
Clearly I'm not alone in my love for this unlikely icon, a truth borne out by the way values have steadily as those of the far sturdier Coupe have slid. Even leggy four-cylinder cabrios are starting around the £10,000 mark these days, and if you've got a decent low mileage E320 Sportline in a decent colour you can pretty much name your price. The fact supply seems to have dried up in recent years suggests its also one of those car that is being hoarded. I should have bought one when I had the chance; I'd have a leathery suntan and a very broad grin.
*For the Merc pedants we know the cabrio is an A124, not a W124 but we've stuck with the generally accepted terminology for the purposes of this story - Ed.
Like what you see? Photos from a car advertised in the classifieds...
15 years into Saab 900 Convertible ownership and I've never considered it to be a problem. Would I track day it? No, of course not - that's not what it was built for, but as an everyday driving tool the benefits far outweigh the deficiencies.
15 years into Saab 900 Convertible ownership
15 years into Saab 900 Convertible ownership
Mercedes seem to have mastered the art of the big, wafty 4-seat convertible though, mind you they started quite early in the 20th Century.
I know the W124 was launched in 1985 but the convertible was not available until late 1992. By which time the E36 was launched.
Also a W124 is a BMW E34 rival more than E30
Looks like I can do pedantic
Having owned a few convertibles, I can think of many which are much worse in terms of scuttle shake. In fact, I would rate the W124 as very good for the time of production.
It is also a car that can surprise when driven in a spirited fashion particularly with the Sportline suspension properly setup, yes the recirculating ball steering does not help but the car does handle and the ride/suspension compromise is well engineered.
They say the 124 is not a driver's car. If that means tearing about like the boot is on fire, kidding yourself that you're descended from Stirling Moss, that every straight is Mulsanne and every corner Indianapolis, then maybe so. But as a tool for driving in the real world on real roads among real traffic, and for making good progress, it is pretty much unsurpassed.
We recently moved to Switzerland (new job) and a long story very short I managed to track down and buy a 124 cabriolet in E320 Sportline with the very rare dogleg Getrac 5 speed manual gearbox (as fitted to Maseratis etc.). Only 59 made (110 with the standard 5 speed I think). FMBSH and a healthy mileage (180k kms) but in very good condition considering. And, like many second hand cars in Switzerland, actually very cheap for what it was (£5k 
).Anyway back in November 2014, two weeks into ownership, I was involved in my first ever accident in 30 years of driving.
I was hit broadside (T-boned) at about 80 kmh by a car that simply did not see that his minor road was crossing a main A road (he admitted to fiddling with the sat Nav.....). I didnt have time to think as he hit me just in front of the footwell.....thankfully I was alone without kids. I walked away with no broken bones just bruised and battered with a couple of dislocated fingers and a sore head. Lucky. His car (a new Hyundai Coupe Turbo) was totalled and his wife was in hospital for a couple of months. He had broken leg.
My car was a write off (
) and I was unable to drive for a few months (Headaches and dizziness as my head went through the drivers window). The safety shell of that Merc was untouched though...but it shook me up. Saddest thing is that to replace that car would cost me in excess of £15k now, cash I simply don't have. So, for two weeks our family had a very rare A124 cabriolet. It was a relaxing, comfortable 4 seater cabrio and a very cool car that drew admiring glances. In manual form it flew when you wanted it too (for such a heavy car that is).
Decent ones (the last E320 versions on the 5sp auto) will be £50k in a few years for sure so if its your thing, grab one while you can. It will be a sure fire investment (in fact any 124 model will be I reckon if its in good nick). You will not be disappointed.
A couple of photos of mine below (before and after)
And the other one....
They say the 124 is not a driver's car. If that means tearing about like the boot is on fire, kidding yourself that you're descended from Stirling Moss, that every straight is Mulsanne and every corner Indianapolis, then maybe so. But as a tool for driving in the real world on real roads among real traffic, and for making good progress, it is pretty much unsurpassed.
As for the hard top, yes, Weissmann made them and mine had one (along with the original wind deflector). I kept them after the crash. Hard top is very rare - I sold it for the equivalent of £1700 and the deflector for £300. Bitter sweet.
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