PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - View Single Post - Am I the only one that prefers the older designs?

dtanesq · #15 01-27-2003, 01:14 PM

This is all a matter of opinion, of course, and I'm one of those who thinks nearly all BMWs are beautiful... Anyway:

I recently spent a weekend in a W210 - E430. While looking at it standing still in the garage, I found it to be a nice car to view. Not quite as distnctive to my tastes as a W124 or its predecessors, but not "unMercedes-like." Then, I went around back to open the trunk and put some stuff in for a brief trip. I was shocked that the rear deck felt as flimsy as it did. Perhaps it's that way because it's designed to crumple, but I was surprised. Then, I got into the passenger seat. The doors closing around me didn't sound particularly solid. The engine, when started, sounded fine and at very low speeds (leaving the garage) the entire car was most Lexus-like in its silence. Then, the driver merged onto the freeway and the noise was deafening. A cacophony of sounds, probably mostly due to the mismatch of the Conti touring tires to the rain-grooved Washington highway system. This, in direct contrast to the relative calm at all speeds (except under brisk acceleration) in my 15-year old 300TE (Bridgestone RE950s the difference here?). Then, the driver, my hostess, slipped her hand in mine and I forgot all about checking out the car on the way home...