Discussion
Some of you may remember but most won't, that last Autumn I bought a winter barge that I'd wanted for a few years, a late 1995 Mercedes E220:
It was a great car and most weekends I did 500+ miles in it on jaunts across the country without fault, with little needing doing during the six months I had it. I changed the coolant, faffed around to fit a new rear washer pipe and fitted a new steering damper. These things are amazingly good value for money if you appreciate 'proper' engineering and don't mind doing some of the basic mechanical bits yourself.
Fast forward to a few weeks ago and I thought that I'd look for something smaller as I never actually used any features that made the E220 so cumbersome - the massive boot and seven seats...
I fancied a Porsche, but can't afford a manual 993 and didn't get on at all with affordable 996's, which seemed to lack everything I've felt in 993's and earlier cars.
So I made a sensible decision - stick with an ultra-reliable, staid W124 and bask in the glory of the sun reflecting off a three-pointed star as I cruised slowly around the M25, although it does have some bonus Porsche heritage.
It's a 1992 Mercedes-Benz 500E in Marmite-flavour Bornite metallic.
Under the bonnet is an engine, which is mated to a four speed auto and then through a Big-Brother-esque traction control system to some period 225/55/16 tyres at the back end.
The engine is almost irrelevant, as 90% of the time it's silent and just wafts you along at a moderate three-digit number of metric leptons. There's a slight growl on startup, but that's it. It's the quietest 327bhp 5L V8 around. Around town it's extremely easy to drive sedately, but it eats A and B roads with moderate ease. Timing the 0-100 (the true definition of automotive performance!) using various GPS devices seems to have it sorted in under 5.5 seconds at the slowest.
Porsche gave these a wider track front and rear (with the matching flared arches) and on the standard Merc SL eight-hole wheels it sits pretty nicely. Not low enough to scrape over every sleeping Policeman you find, but low and flat enough to allow it to corner at speeds that a 1700kg 20-year old Merc shouldn't physically be able to do.
Inside it's a pretty nice place to be, with four perforated leather recaro's (the front two are electric + heated), loads of Walnut and the usual W124 comforts - electric windows, mirrors and sunroof, cruise control, climate control, electric blinds and a button that makes the rear headrests drop flat but not back up again.
Excuse the awful pics - I really do have a decent digicam, but I can't get it to take anything that doesn't look like it's been taken with an early camera phone.
It has little bit of rust on one rear wheel arch and under the rear window which is getting sorted in a fortnight, and the bumpers and side skirt might get resprayed at the same time as they're quite stone-chipped. I've already repaired and had polished some cracks in the centre console wood and fitted a new rear aerial...
It was a great car and most weekends I did 500+ miles in it on jaunts across the country without fault, with little needing doing during the six months I had it. I changed the coolant, faffed around to fit a new rear washer pipe and fitted a new steering damper. These things are amazingly good value for money if you appreciate 'proper' engineering and don't mind doing some of the basic mechanical bits yourself.
Fast forward to a few weeks ago and I thought that I'd look for something smaller as I never actually used any features that made the E220 so cumbersome - the massive boot and seven seats...
I fancied a Porsche, but can't afford a manual 993 and didn't get on at all with affordable 996's, which seemed to lack everything I've felt in 993's and earlier cars.
So I made a sensible decision - stick with an ultra-reliable, staid W124 and bask in the glory of the sun reflecting off a three-pointed star as I cruised slowly around the M25, although it does have some bonus Porsche heritage.
It's a 1992 Mercedes-Benz 500E in Marmite-flavour Bornite metallic.
Under the bonnet is an engine, which is mated to a four speed auto and then through a Big-Brother-esque traction control system to some period 225/55/16 tyres at the back end.
The engine is almost irrelevant, as 90% of the time it's silent and just wafts you along at a moderate three-digit number of metric leptons. There's a slight growl on startup, but that's it. It's the quietest 327bhp 5L V8 around. Around town it's extremely easy to drive sedately, but it eats A and B roads with moderate ease. Timing the 0-100 (the true definition of automotive performance!) using various GPS devices seems to have it sorted in under 5.5 seconds at the slowest.
Porsche gave these a wider track front and rear (with the matching flared arches) and on the standard Merc SL eight-hole wheels it sits pretty nicely. Not low enough to scrape over every sleeping Policeman you find, but low and flat enough to allow it to corner at speeds that a 1700kg 20-year old Merc shouldn't physically be able to do.
Inside it's a pretty nice place to be, with four perforated leather recaro's (the front two are electric + heated), loads of Walnut and the usual W124 comforts - electric windows, mirrors and sunroof, cruise control, climate control, electric blinds and a button that makes the rear headrests drop flat but not back up again.
Excuse the awful pics - I really do have a decent digicam, but I can't get it to take anything that doesn't look like it's been taken with an early camera phone.
It has little bit of rust on one rear wheel arch and under the rear window which is getting sorted in a fortnight, and the bumpers and side skirt might get resprayed at the same time as they're quite stone-chipped. I've already repaired and had polished some cracks in the centre console wood and fitted a new rear aerial...
I just had an idea for a new PH meme. It needs a suitable picture (maybe one of yours 
), with the text " BARGE ! ". Pretty much in the way young'uns might say " CHOON " !.
It will of course be used/posted by those appreciaters of a quality barge. If such a meme existed (and maybe it does) I'd post it now.
), with the text " BARGE ! ". Pretty much in the way young'uns might say " CHOON " !.It will of course be used/posted by those appreciaters of a quality barge. If such a meme existed (and maybe it does) I'd post it now.
Ved said:
0-100 in 5.5 seconds? Are you quite sure?
Maybe he meant 15.5 which sounds about right.I love this car. I am a huge fan of Mercs and had a 500 SEC previously, though that only kicked out about 230 bhp but was a good cruiser with more than adequate performance, so I imagine this is like a rocket.
This is possibly the ultimate barge in my opinion. The finest era of quality, one of the best engines, and it's a Merc.
Massively impressed.
strangehighways said:
Just one thing,
(Don't bite me). The badge on the back. Isn't it a tiny bit too high? and normally isn't it on the right hand side? Need some Merc beards to chip in on this one....
Badge is on the correct side, but it is a bit high. I shall have one one day (blueblack E500 please).(Don't bite me). The badge on the back. Isn't it a tiny bit too high? and normally isn't it on the right hand side? Need some Merc beards to chip in on this one....
Edited by strangehighways on Wednesday 4th April 09:48
Who are you using to fix the bodywork side of things? Looking for a place to put the SL in to get a few scratches sorted, and from memory you posted photos of your last car in Battersea Park, so you must be near me.
Edited by jke11y on Wednesday 4th April 12:44
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