moving from w124... what's best?

Slaphead

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Hi all,
I'm thinking of upgrading (for no particular reason) and this will be my first foray out of w124 territtory. I'll probably go up as far as a 2.8 lump and it can be one or two door (we already have a w124 estate for the practical stuff) so which model is best? I'd expect to be looking at around 1999/00. I won't get into the budget here simply because I'm based in Ireland and there's really no comparision with UK prices. I'd consider importing but I'm a bit busy at the moment so I'd rather not....

any ideas?
 

jberks

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Lots of people are going to warn you off and advise you keep the 124 I suspect. To be fair, with good reason. The W124 was the last of the well built mercs and everything after is a really a downgrade, at least in terms of build quality.
I assume you are talking about a W210 and by one/two door you mean estate/saloon rather then coupe. Personally I'd recommend a Diesel E320 rather than a petrol 280 - better economy and performance and generally regarded as the best engine in the E class range. Just watch out for the rust....

If you want to drop an body size, perhaps one of the last W201 C classes which were very similar to your 124 and there is a nice 280 engine in the range.
 
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Slaphead

Slaphead

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jberks said:
Lots of people are going to warn you off and advise you keep the 124 I suspect. To be fair, with good reason. The W124 was the last of the well built mercs and everything after is a really a downgrade, at least in terms of build quality.
I assume you are talking about a W210 and by one/two door you mean estate/saloon rather then coupe. Personally I'd recommend a Diesel E320 rather than a petrol 280 - better economy and performance and generally regarded as the best engine in the E class range. Just watch out for the rust....

If you want to drop an body size, perhaps one of the last W201 C classes which were very similar to your 124 and there is a nice 280 engine in the range.
Oh I know there's drop in quality alright but I've got the itch! I may very well stick with my E200, for all it's faults (manual and underpowered) it's still a better drive than most cars I share the road with.

I simply don't like the C Class, they just don't do it for me. I have been looking at the W210's but a CLK is a possibility.... which implies a 2 door is ok. Road tax is a bitch in Ireland so I'm trying to avoid anything as big as a 320, especially as I don't do the milage to justify a diesel.
 

squealinneil

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W201 = 190, not a C class, (which followed + isn't nearly as good - see "last proper Merc discussions" ad infinitum).
 

jberks

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squealinneil said:
W201 = 190, not a C class, (which followed + isn't nearly as good - see "last proper Merc discussions" ad infinitum).
Meant W202 then - its all so confusing!

The CLK is a good bet if you can live with the 2 door. Its pretty well regarded, a potential future classic in many ways and if the tax is CC related then from memory, the 230k is a similar bhp to the 320, more economical and certainly a lot quicker than the 200 W124.
I found the CLK and the W202 to be pretty well screwed together. The difference between the W202 (and hence CLK) and W203, at least in 'feel' was quite pronounced and led me to a W210 when I changed.
 
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Slaphead

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Thanks.... I might consider a CLK if it's not too "mid life crisis" lol!
 

clive williams

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Slaphead,

Don't dismiss the diesel as being slow or boring. I'm still coming to terms with the E320CDI midrange acceleration on kickdown, which I was not expecting to be in the same league as my 500E (must read the torque figures!). The boot up the backside has to be experienced to be believed.:grin: :shock:

Clive

500E
E320CDIT210
 

mjtray

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The problem with diesel's is that you pay such a premium for them if you are buying second hand and you got more for your money if you go down the petrol route......having done the Math some time ago, I worked out that you needed to be doing in excess of 18,000 miles per annum to make it pay.

Having run numerous petrols and diesels, I can honestly say I like both options...ie the torque on the diesels for in gear acceleration, but then again I love the creamy smooth power and howl of the W210 320 petrol I'm currently driving, which I recently bought for £2.5k less then the equivalent diesel.......thats pays for a lot of petrol !
 

jberks

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mjtray said:
I love the creamy smooth power and howl of the W210 320 petrol I'm currently driving, which I recently bought for £2.5k less then the equivalent diesel.......thats pays for a lot of petrol !

I went round and round in circles on that one. I do 20-25k PA and even then the fuel saving maths is borderline. I bought the diesel in the end and it is nice filling up once a week for £65 rather than twice for £45 a shot, and the mid range is lovely. I do miss the whirr of the v6 a little, but I don't miss the 22 mpg. Financially it doesn't really add up unless you factor in depreciation. Then it starts to be another ball game.
However,if you intend to keep the car a long time none of that really matters. Yes the 320CDI is a great engine and the kick in the back is fantastic (I compromised on a 270CDI which is still quite lively and chippable to a 320), but in any case, if you do go for a CLK, I don't think a '99 clk came in anything other than 200,230k 4 pot and 320 v6 petrols so the decision is made for you.
 
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Slaphead

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clive williams said:
Slaphead,

Don't dismiss the diesel as being slow or boring.


Oh I don't, but with my milage at about 11k and falling (I'm walking more to get the weight down!) it wouldn't make sense. Not only that but as I'm moving into the edge of the city centre I won't need a car at all by next summer (but we'll keep an MB estate for the 2 big dogs and the 2 teengage kids). A CLK230 would be great for the 10 months or so with very little depreciation...
 

mjtray

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I know its all swings and roundabouts in making a decision, but personally I would go for a 320CLK if you can......much more refined engine than the 230K (have had two 230K's in the past in W202's) and from my experience not that different in fuel consumption....I never seemed to get more than 23/24 out of my 230K's.

I also found that the 230K sounded like it had a bucket of rusty bolts in it when you started it up from cold.....not my favourite MB engine, but by all accounts one of the strongest engines ever made by MB.
 
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Slaphead

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mjtray said:
...I would go for a 320CLK if you can......much more refined engine than the 230K ...

It would be my preference too but road tax is based on CC here and a 3.2 would be a bit much, frankly I'd resent paying it!

I'm seriously considering a CLK 230, indeed I'll be driving a prospective one in less than an hour.
 
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Slaphead

Slaphead

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Well it looks like I bought myself a '97 CLK 230! Nice clean car, sensible price and sensible miles (83k). Alll the extras I want. I can hardly type for smiling! :)
 


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