Today's unlikely car-crush

[Chris71]

Just noticed a Mercedes 230E (in exactly the same colour, may even be the same one) parked outside my office:



It's perhaps not the most photogenic car and I'm not usually a barge fan, but it oozed charisma in the flesh. I want one.

[CampDavid]

Way ahead of you on that, I've been smitten for a good year or more. Apparently much better built than the W124 though they rust a bit. Crap on fuel too, but then it's an old car. CE models are my favourite for being almost pointlessly identical to the saloon but also for being pillarless. Lovely

[Chris71]

Yep, in the back of mind I already assumed the costs would be prohibitive as a daily driver (and while I can only afford a maximum of two cars I'd never have a saloon as a weekend car...) But it was a thing beauty.

[CampDavid]

Chris71 said:

Yep, in the back of mind I already assumed the costs would be prohibitive as a daily driver (and while I can only afford a maximum of two cars I'd never have a saloon as a weekend car...) But it was a thing beauty.

Depends on how many miles you run it but it may be a little more economic than you think. At 56mph it's probably more economical than a Mondeo is at 80, if your commute is a couple of motorway junctions it may be just the thing to travel in, slow lane, gliding along. Less stressful than the constant break lights of lane 3 at 8:15 in the morning

[Original Poster]

It looks like the perfect set for an 80's porn film.

[Mitchy88]

Chris, what has happened to your car blog?

I used to enjoy reading about the S3 and had hoped for more of the same with the Caterham!

Cheers, Mitch

[Chris71]

Mitchy88 said:

Chris, what has happened to your car blog?

Spending too much time on my day job (its blog included)!

My own blog's still being updated from time to time though (http://chriscarblog.blogspot.com/) and the most recent post is indeed on the Caterham.

[Garlick]

Beautiful car, much wantage.

[Mitchy88]

Cheers Chris, makes a good read.

[mat13]

Garlick said:

Beautiful car, much wantage.

shouldn't you have learned by now?

[inlovewithRWD]

Slightly O/T but I've been lusting after something else by Mercedes recently:


I have an irrational desire for one...

[davepoth]

My cousin has just borrowed his dad's old one which he's had since new. I told him he looks like a Senegalese taxi driver.

[standfree93]

Saw a Mercedes Benz 230.6 on holiday. It was parked in the town centre of a town in Turkey, looked like it had been sitting rotting for years.

[GC8]

CampDavid said:

Way ahead of you on that, I've been smitten for a good year or more. Apparently much better built than the W124 though they rust a bit. Crap on fuel too, but then it's an old car. CE models are my favourite for being almost pointlessly identical to the saloon but also for being pillarless. Lovely

The W124 was the pinnacle of build quality and over-engineering, I think.

I had a W123 about 14 yrs ago and it was going then. Ive been on the look out for a nice five cylinder diesel ever since and Ive only seen one: an absolute minter in Amsterdam in 2008 as I was passing by in a charity rally - and Henk wasnt selling it.....

[tomtom]

I love my '124

[eesbad]

I had one of these (a 1986 280SE) in light blue for a year as my daily driver - 19mpg around town but 32 on a run. Ate up the motorway miles and a joy to drive. Expensive if the gremlins set in (£600 for a cold start device that had to be shipped from Germany). But I only paid a grand for it in the first place so...

[MadRob6]

I read the thread title as you witnessed an unlikely car being crushed then I saw the picture. I thought you'd been watching too much top gear and had a love of destroying lovely motors.

I've come to my senses now and I'm with you on that one, lovely car.

[Rouleur]

I saw a W114 yesterday. It just looked so cool and stylish in amongst all the plain looking modern stuff, it really brightened up my drive to work.

[visual123]

MadRob6 said:

I read the thread title as you witnessed an unlikely car being crushed then I saw the picture.

Same here, I thought you worked in a scrappy!

[kambites]

Always loved the hub-caps on those, for some reason.