Greetings fellow merc lovers. I'm relatively new to the forum but I find it very informative and enjoyable.

I live in Europe and my question is this: I am considering buying a very nice 190e with very low mileage. The car is an automatic and herein lies my problem! Will fuel and maintanance costs be much higher? Is the auto box a good idea on this car?

I am not an aggressive driver and auto seems like a nice novelty( have never had an auto before!)

Please share your thoughts with me on this.Thank you

If you drive in a lot of stop and go traffic, an automatic is the one to buy. If you will drive the car occasionally, on the weekends for instance, a manual is the one to buy.

Just remember, GOD made us smart emought to develop automatic transmissions.

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Regards

Warren

Currently 1965 220Sb, 2002 FORD Crown Vic Police Interceptor

Had 1965 220SEb, 1967 230S, 280SE 4.5, 300SE (W126), 420SEL

ENTER > = (HP RPN)

Not part of the in-crowd since 1952.

It will be an everyday car with mostly town driving and not great distances.

Manual trans.. The auto box isn't even any fun..might as well get a 190E 2.6!

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MERCEDES Benz Master Guild Technician (6 TIMES)
ASE Master Technician
Mercedes Benz Star Technician (2 times)
44 years foreign automotive repair
27 Years M.B. Shop foreman (dealer)
MB technical information Specialist (15 years)
190E 2.3 16V ITS SCCA race car (sold)
1986 190E 2.3 16V 2.5 (sold)
Retired Moderator

thanks for the feedback.

only buy an auto if it were a great car at a great price and the i would convert it to a stick.

that engine is not a huge powerhouse and will suffer a huge loss of usable power to the automatic tranny and lose a big part of its attraction.

imho

but i am a stick lover.

tom w

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

If it's a 16v or a sportline, manual is the only way to go. For all the other 190e's auto is just fine.

I disagree

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5 speed '91 190E 2.6 320,000 mi. (new car, fast, smooth as silk six, couldn't find any more Peugeots)
5 speed '85 Peugeot 505 2.5l Turbo Diesel 266,000 mi. (old car, fast for a diesel, had 2 others)
5 speed '01 Jetta V6 (new wifes car, pretty quick)
5 speed '85 Peugeot 505 2.2l Turbo Gas 197,000 mi. (wifes car, faster, sadly gone just short of 200k )
5 speed '83 Yamaha 750 Maxim 14,000 mi. (fastest)
0 speed 4' x 8' 1800 lb Harbor Freight utility trailer (only as fast as what's pulling it)

I see lots of varying opinions and I can't say I'm any closer to a decision.
Please comment on the statement below

''In the real world the Mercedes four-speed auto is almost peerless''

The transmission in mine is different than the 16v and I think has perfect ratios and shifts just fine. Compared to the auto it's 4th gear is the same, but the stick has an additional gear. The engine turns 3000rpm at 80mph.

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5 speed '91 190E 2.6 320,000 mi. (new car, fast, smooth as silk six, couldn't find any more Peugeots)
5 speed '85 Peugeot 505 2.5l Turbo Diesel 266,000 mi. (old car, fast for a diesel, had 2 others)
5 speed '01 Jetta V6 (new wifes car, pretty quick)
5 speed '85 Peugeot 505 2.2l Turbo Gas 197,000 mi. (wifes car, faster, sadly gone just short of 200k )
5 speed '83 Yamaha 750 Maxim 14,000 mi. (fastest)
0 speed 4' x 8' 1800 lb Harbor Freight utility trailer (only as fast as what's pulling it)

You disagree with who? With everybody?

But unfortunately He hasn't made us smart enough to make one that lasts very long. Automatic transmissions are about laziness, not intelligence. He made us smart enough to make hammocks too but that doesn't mean we should spend all our time lying under a tree.

What I meant was I didn't thing an auto was fine for 190e's other than 16v or sportlines. I think a manual is the only way to go anyplace an automatic transmission is.

__________________
5 speed '91 190E 2.6 320,000 mi. (new car, fast, smooth as silk six, couldn't find any more Peugeots)
5 speed '85 Peugeot 505 2.5l Turbo Diesel 266,000 mi. (old car, fast for a diesel, had 2 others)
5 speed '01 Jetta V6 (new wifes car, pretty quick)
5 speed '85 Peugeot 505 2.2l Turbo Gas 197,000 mi. (wifes car, faster, sadly gone just short of 200k )
5 speed '83 Yamaha 750 Maxim 14,000 mi. (fastest)
0 speed 4' x 8' 1800 lb Harbor Freight utility trailer (only as fast as what's pulling it)

the fiver in the 16v is not an overdrive, but a close ratio box.

tom w

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

thanks