LostKiwi
Senior Member
- Joined
- Aug 25, 2006
- Messages
- 31,357
- Reaction score
- 21,620
- Location
- Midlands / Charente-Maritime
- Your Mercedes
- '93 500SL-32, '01 W210 Estate E240 (RIP), 02 R230 SL500, 04 Smart Roadster Coupe, 11 R350CDi
Having spent the past month or so using the R230 SL500 then coming home in the R129 (500SL with M119 engine and 4 speed hydraulic gearbox) from France (about 500 miles) here's a few observations.
The M119 seems to have bucket loads of torque and will happily chug along at 1500 rpm. This coupled with the 4 speed box means most roundabouts are excited in 3rd and you keep wondering when it's going to change gear (and it only does it once). In contrast the R230 spends a lot more time cog swapping and doesn't really do low rpm torque in the same way.
The M119 also seems to rev higher and more willingly - probably a feature of 4v per cylinder (m119) as opposed to 3 (m113) and variable valve timing (m119) as opposed to variable inlet tract (m113).
The M119 also feels to have more than the 20hp extra the on paper specs suggest.
The r230 is significantly more refined with less wind noise and better ride. That's not to say the 129 has a bad ride but it's definitely not so good on small bumps. Larger bumps there's little to choose.
The 230 is definitely more comfortable - especially with the comfort seats.
The 230 inspires confidence in corners that the 129 can only dream of. Variable weight power steering also allows more feel as speed increases. In this respect the 129 is somewhat isolating with comparatively little feel from the front end. That said the 129 rear is very talkative and tells you exactly what it wants to do.
Practicality wise the 129 wins. All of the boot is available all of the time. It's also a very square suitcase friendly shape. The 230 boot may be slightly bigger but it's an odd shape that doesn't always make it easy to pack efficiently. There is also the rear "seat" area which is big enough to carry 2 dogs of small to medium size.
You can see the genetics coming through. The 230 is a significant development of the 129.
Which do I prefer? The 129 has a charm and honesty that the 230 can't match and for me that's important but if I was wanting to press on through the Alps the 230 would get the vote. It really does depend on where you're going.
Interestingly neither can match the refinement of the 210 estate....
The M119 seems to have bucket loads of torque and will happily chug along at 1500 rpm. This coupled with the 4 speed box means most roundabouts are excited in 3rd and you keep wondering when it's going to change gear (and it only does it once). In contrast the R230 spends a lot more time cog swapping and doesn't really do low rpm torque in the same way.
The M119 also seems to rev higher and more willingly - probably a feature of 4v per cylinder (m119) as opposed to 3 (m113) and variable valve timing (m119) as opposed to variable inlet tract (m113).
The M119 also feels to have more than the 20hp extra the on paper specs suggest.
The r230 is significantly more refined with less wind noise and better ride. That's not to say the 129 has a bad ride but it's definitely not so good on small bumps. Larger bumps there's little to choose.
The 230 is definitely more comfortable - especially with the comfort seats.
The 230 inspires confidence in corners that the 129 can only dream of. Variable weight power steering also allows more feel as speed increases. In this respect the 129 is somewhat isolating with comparatively little feel from the front end. That said the 129 rear is very talkative and tells you exactly what it wants to do.
Practicality wise the 129 wins. All of the boot is available all of the time. It's also a very square suitcase friendly shape. The 230 boot may be slightly bigger but it's an odd shape that doesn't always make it easy to pack efficiently. There is also the rear "seat" area which is big enough to carry 2 dogs of small to medium size.
You can see the genetics coming through. The 230 is a significant development of the 129.
Which do I prefer? The 129 has a charm and honesty that the 230 can't match and for me that's important but if I was wanting to press on through the Alps the 230 would get the vote. It really does depend on where you're going.
Interestingly neither can match the refinement of the 210 estate....
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