Last, true tanklike Mercedes 123, 126 or 124?

[mbonly]

we all know about the durability and tanklike construction our diesels possess, I sometimes find myself opening and closing the doors, especially the rear one just for the simple enjoyment of listening to the sound and feeling of what a tanklike chassis is like. I think that's one of the things I enjoy more about my car , just knowing that solidity is there. I think we will never see cars built this way again as all the interest shifts to weight savings and fuel economy on regular cars and even worse for electrics. Thats the reason we use this medium, because we all have one thing in common: We wish we could drive this cars forever or until the next one comes along but that time may never come, hence the question: which do you think was the last, true tanklike Mercedes w123, w126 or w124?

I believe the big body w126 probably has the most "tanklike" feeling..(being the largest and heaviest).
You can open and close the doors of a w123, a w126, and a w124 and I think you will feel the solid shut and the most heavyness from a w126.

I have tinkered with all these cars and own both a w123 and w126 yet the w126 just feels more tanklike...the w123 feels a bit more sporty.

[Ara T.]

In the opening-and-closing the doors test, the W126 wins hands-down, those doors are damn heavy. The W123's no slouch though, and im sad to say i've never had the pleasure of being in a W124.

[speedy300Dturbo]

In terms of heft, weight, and physical solidity, the W140 is above the W126.

[Astroman]

Oh BS about the 140. I've been helping a friend work on one lately and it's nothing but a big piece of plastic. Sure, it has the thick laminated side windows, but that's all it's got. Nothing but plastic and fiberglass from nose to tail. I'd never take one over an all steel (except for the aluminum hood and trunk lid) 126, and "tank-wise"? Not even close.

[123]

hmm, well i have never been in a w126, but out of my 123 and 124 hmm, tough, the w123 felt alot heavier, like the doors were made out of solid metal, but the "clunk" on the 124 doors sounds nicer to me, i think the materials in the 123 probably feel slightly more expensive than the 124, but i think i prefer the 124 for overall feel! ( if we could get 126's with diesel engines here u better believe i would have one aswell!!! i just cant afford to feed the v8s!)

[speedy300Dturbo]

Originally Posted by Astroman

Oh BS about the 140. I've been helping a friend work on one lately and it's nothing but a big piece of plastic. Sure, it has the thick laminated side windows, but that's all it's got. Nothing but plastic and fiberglass from nose to tail. I'd never take one over an all steel (except for the aluminum hood and trunk lid) 126, and "tank-wise"? Not even close.

Well, the W140 is substantially heavier than the W126, has thicker pillars all around, much higher structural rigidity, and is a safer vehicle overall. IMO, that makes it more "tanklike". I'm not sure what Bondo-ed up POS you were working on, but to say that a W140 from nose to tail is "nothing but plastic and fiberglass" is simply ignorant.

[fahrgewehr2]

Originally Posted by Astroman

Oh BS about the 140. I've been helping a friend work on one lately and it's nothing but a big piece of plastic. Sure, it has the thick laminated side windows, but that's all it's got. Nothing but plastic and fiberglass from nose to tail. I'd never take one over an all steel (except for the aluminum hood and trunk lid) 126, and "tank-wise"? Not even close.

Please, the 140 makes a mockery of the 126 in just about every way, including of course, repair costs. The doors are MUCH thicker and heavier. What fiberglass, other than maybe the side panels (uh, same with the 126) are you talking about? Sounds like you might have been working on a Saturn in the dark?

[gerryvz]

Originally Posted by speedy300Dturbo

In terms of heft, weight, and physical solidity, the W140 is above the W126.

I would put the cars in order of solidity of doors/chassis/tanklike feeling:

W126 (sedan or coupe)
W123 (sedan, coupe or wagon)
W124

The 124 is definitely a notch lower than the 126 and 123, both of which are pretty close overall. The 140 is down with the 124, perhaps slightly below it. The 140 has BULK but lacks the tanklike feeling that is the topic of the discussion. Weight/bulk does not equal a vault/tank feeling.

I'd rather be in a crash in a 126 than any other car -- far more metal between you and the outside world.

Cheers,
Gerry

[dtf]

I know it's a gasser but with 251,000+ miles my W124 '94 wagon is a tank, a very hard working tank. She gets her oil changed 12 times a year.

[Jim B.]

I agree with the late "Dieseling Doktor", Marshall Booth, (post #13) and I really think it is the 1981-1985 300SD that is surely the toughest Panzerwagen diesel sedan of them all.

[Gurkha]

I got rear ended by a medium size truck on my 240D in NY, it was quite a hit and all I felt inside was a thud. My trunk and fender was damaged badly reflecting the impact. I read somewhere that the W123 was designed specifically and were meant to be driven in bomb ridden Beirut as well as the roads in Africa so I am not surprised.

[mbonly]

After a long time away from this board I signed on today and was refreshing my memory with some old posts and found out that our Marshall Booth has passed away, it was a sad moment, all the help and advised he provided and his dedication to diesel motoring are rarely seen, may we someday have another Diesel Doktor while never forgetting the one and only. Rest in piece.

[matthias08]

car looked like this when i got it, 4 days ago.

[gerkebi]

Holy S***! What happened??