Spartan Mercedes 190 (w201)
Discussion
spreadsheet monkey said:
I'd be leasing a new E-class (and finding a mileage correction specialist) if I were in your shoes...
They're s
t, though, aren't they?And expensive. I worked it out once and three years and 75,000miles would cost me £21,000. And I'd have to drive a modern E-Class. If they offered a small petrol six with a traditional grille, modest styling, and colours and upholsteries to my taste I might think about it. But in truth, I think the w126, w201, w124 and r129 are the best cars of their type there has ever been, before or since, and that's why I drive them.
r129sl said:
I think the w126, w201, w124 and r129 are the best cars of their type there has ever been, before or since, and that's why I drive them.
No intention of telling you how to run your fleet. I'm glad you enjoy your M-Bs, and the Readers Cars threads make interesting reading 
r129sl said:
spreadsheet monkey said:
No intention of telling you how to run your fleet.
Don't worry: absolutely wasn't taken that way at all!My old man has just bought a new E220d Estate. AMG-line. Black. Black inside. Black wheels. Black windows. What's that all about?!
A work colleague was really keen to show me his new £15k car a couple of weeks ago - after all I am a car enthusiast. It was a newish 318d M-Sport. In my eyes about as dull as a car can get. The M-sport takes dull and ensures it rides a little less well.
I was nice and said I thought the colour was simply splendid. He is happy.
It was fantastic to see the spartan at the barge meet - it really does look fantastic in the metal. Some won't understand, but I do.
This reminds me - I must retrieve my 190 and gold 300e from the garage - exhausts have apparently been fitted.
0a said:
If he likes it, then that's great - be happy for him.
Sage advice. But, you know, this is a man who way back when in our grim northern town ran not an Escort or a Cortina, not a Chevette or Viva or Cavalier, not a Princess or Montego or whatever everyone else's dad had but a Mk1 Golf, an E21 BMW 320 and an E23 728i, a Capril 3.0S, a Citroen CX, a succession of Audis, a w124 300D, an E38 728i, really interesting cars. I mean, turning up in a CX in 1981 Northumberland was like turning up in a spaceship. Bizarrely, at the time I longed for him to buy a Cortina.
0a said:
This reminds me - I must retrieve my 190 and gold 300e from the garage - exhausts have apparently been fitted.
Don't do it: the golden and immutable rule of barging—that at any given time at least one car must be at the garage—dictates that you will then have to put another car into the garage for expensive fettling.
BlueMR2 said:
dumab said:
hidetheelephants said:
Splendid; what's the colour called? It deserves to be British Racing Custard.
It could be safari yellow?Not sure!
.It gets called the Custard Cream rather than the Spartan.
The colour was absolute resale death. Yet it is really beautiful, especially against a backdrop of green fields:
Edit: about the seats, they are holding up very well, pretty much as new, really; very firm, but even and unworn, good over a distance. I think the first owner was quite slight.
The colour was absolute resale death. Yet it is really beautiful, especially against a backdrop of green fields:
Edit: about the seats, they are holding up very well, pretty much as new, really; very firm, but even and unworn, good over a distance. I think the first owner was quite slight.
Edited by r129sl on Thursday 15th June 10:02
Long time, no updates. That is good news.
My youngest damaged the grille with a rock, so last night I replaced all the bars. Easy enough job, although I managed to drop one of the six fixings that hold the grille onto the bonnet.
Bent:
Part stripped. Very easy, all finger tight.
I ordered all these little clips, but they seemed unnecessary. Certainly there were none there before.
The clips go in these little holes, for reference. As I say, unnecessary.
And fixed:
While I worked in the garage, someone was watching me (having first wrecked the place and shat everywhere):
All new grille bars, clips and a gasket came to less than £30. MB prices are totally random.
My youngest damaged the grille with a rock, so last night I replaced all the bars. Easy enough job, although I managed to drop one of the six fixings that hold the grille onto the bonnet.
Bent:
Part stripped. Very easy, all finger tight.
I ordered all these little clips, but they seemed unnecessary. Certainly there were none there before.
The clips go in these little holes, for reference. As I say, unnecessary.
And fixed:
While I worked in the garage, someone was watching me (having first wrecked the place and shat everywhere):
All new grille bars, clips and a gasket came to less than £30. MB prices are totally random.
Edited by r129sl on Saturday 12th August 11:21
That was Mrs R. It is her car day-to-day.
I took it out for an early run this morning. I wish it were a 2.6. The little four is just a bit harsh when thrashed. Don't thrash you may say, but it's just my nature...
I forgot to mention, there is a curious knocking from the offside rear. I can hear it while driving but not if I rock the car from without. It may be something in the boot but I think it more likely that the tool I lost in the petrol tank has dislodged itself and is knocking about in there. Balls.
I took it out for an early run this morning. I wish it were a 2.6. The little four is just a bit harsh when thrashed. Don't thrash you may say, but it's just my nature...
I forgot to mention, there is a curious knocking from the offside rear. I can hear it while driving but not if I rock the car from without. It may be something in the boot but I think it more likely that the tool I lost in the petrol tank has dislodged itself and is knocking about in there. Balls.
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