Didn't realise these were still so cheap...

grayb

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Anaemic engine but a very clean looking car!
 
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d215yq

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They're not a desirable car in that spec.

Had a E220 4sp auto which I believe is the same engine with 10% more power which was a lovely car to own and drive in. I bet with the manual gearbox that's as fast as an E220 auto and faster/nicer than the desirable diesel models which are 4 or 5 times the price. To be honest not sure what all the fuss is with the diesels (I have one). I get that they're indestructible and do better mpg but they're noisy and unrefined and not that well suited to the finer ride and waftiness of a W124 I got in my petrol estate/coupe. Sure, as cheap daily transport doing miles the diesel works for me but as these cars age there can't be many people who use them as daily's so then not sure what the point of the diesel is and why they command such a premium when stuff like this is super cheap.
 

LostKiwi

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I drove an E200 auto saloon W124 many years back. Slow doesn't adequately describe it. Perhaps glacial would fit better.
I think the sweet spot for these is one of the 6 cylinder petrols.
 

Craiglxviii

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They did have some impressive sweepage. About half a gallon at a time...
 

Craiglxviii

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I drove an E200 auto saloon W124 many years back. Slow doesn't adequately describe it. Perhaps glacial would fit better.
I think the sweet spot for these is one of the 6 cylinder petrols.
It’s acceleration was measured in leagues per epoch. I borrowed a friends once. It was beyond stately. Perhaps more stately home...
 
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d215yq

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Not sure where you guys are getting your figures from. The hallowed 300D estate model which would set you back 6-8k is 109hp 0-60 in 15 seconds! (again I know because I drive one!)... This is 136hp 0-60 in 11.2 secs.

Doesn't set the world on fire but pretty much any standard family car of the era had similar performance, and plenty of the base models still do.
 

Craiglxviii

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I was lent an E200; I can remember pounding the steering wheel trying to get it up to speed. It didn’t work.
 

00slk

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I had a 200T automatic, a fairly laid back drive, but it was much much faster than my 240d 4speed :D
 

Bogus

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That is a tidy looking car, plenty of room for the family, the shopping , a baby buggy and a set of golfclubs, and a comfortable drive. Sure you are not going to race anyone away from the lights , but neither are you going to hold up that tesco lorry, or a long line of commuters. It may not accelerate like your blinged up saxo, but it will be around to watch it going for scrap.
 

DSK

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Looks nice and I bet you wont see any of the modern 200/220's in that state in 20/25 years time! . Merc were on top of their game back then. Nice and room and built well. The interior also looks well kept inline with the exterior and a credit to its owner.

The one in the article is a low spec model but just look at all 200/220's of today.... not exactly quick despite what all the idiots driving them think sat on the arse end of the car infront. Its only the mountain bike gearboxes that's getting them along adequately. At the risk of upsetting a few, the quality of the modern ones is joke. Back in its day it would have been in line with the likes of the BMW 520 etc.

There is a red 300E estate like the one pictured near where I work, its had the same owner for at least the last 7 years I've worked there. Its looking a little aged on the paint work (from a detailing enthusiast), suspension looks tired and thanks to some idiot its recently been dented on the front wing as its parked on the street but, its still being used a daily work horse. Its clear its used as a work horse and not washed often but, that paint is doing very well considering the lack of TLC. When I have seen it go past at lunchtimes on the odd occasion, mechanically it sounds well enough.
 
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