What is the best Mercedes Benz made in the Eighties! Gary

W124 300E!!

or a W126 (560, 420, 380 SEL)

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2006 E350 w/ 155k miles (Daily Driver)

Previous:
1993 300E 3.2L Sedan w/ close to about 300k miles
2003 E500 Brilliant Silver (Had 217k miles when totalled!)
1989 300E with 289,000 miles (had for <1 yr while in HI)
03 CLK 500 cabrio (Mom's)
2006 C230k (Dad's)
1999 S420 (Mom's/Dad's)
2000 C230k Sport sedans
2001 CLK320 Cabrio (Mom's)
1995 C280 My First Mercedes-Benz... (155k miles. EXCEPTIONAL AUTOMOBILE. Was Very hard to let go of!)

In the distant future, when all else is gone from planet Earth, there will be cockroaches driving 1984 300SD's that are burning peanut oil!

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The Golden Rule

1984 300SD (bought new, sold it in 1988, bought it back 13 yrs. later)

In my biased opinion, nothing makes a Mercedes Benz mechanic who started training in the 70-80s, swoon like a w123. I would have to say, hands down, the best, most bought, most loved and most regretted sold Merc from the 80s is the w123 300D.

...jbaj007.

The 1984 300SD TurboDiesel has to be the best 1980s Benz, bar none.

Rugged, reliable, comfortable, indestructible, beautiful, easy to fix, fast at highway speed...a car's car.

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Current Benzes

1989 300TE "Alice"
1990 300CE "Sam Spade"
1991 300CE "Beowulf" RIP (06.1991 - 10.10.2007)
1998 E320 "Orson"
2002 C320 Wagon "Molly Fox"

Res non semper sunt quae esse videntur

My Gallery

Not in this weather!

It as to be the 124 & 201 models , Strong , fast , aerodynamic, lightweight and reliable. There is a model to suit everyones needs from a 2.0 L Diesel to 16v racer or a 360 AMG staition wagon to the mighty E500 V8.
The only problem is which one do you choose?
Linds UK

I'd say the W126 most typifies the Benz image which people have when we say Benz. I always thought it was "stately."

Kuan

W123 - imho.

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... Kerry

126 tailed by a 203, 129 leading the pack.

I read through this post again and wondered why I didn't think the W126 was my choice.

If I had wanted the Benz of the 80s, the W123 has a proven track record of reliability and easy maintanence. It may not be as refined as the W124, and of course, it doesn't carry the complex problems the refinement brought along with it.

Put it simply, you could identify what was wrong and get it fixed with much ease. And the beauty is that it hardly ever needs much fixing when properly maintained.

Detail it well, and it will look as stately as any other marques.

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... Kerry

126 tailed by a 203, 129 leading the pack.

I have or have had both an '84 300 SD and a '85 300D. The 123 is as reliable and about as sexy as a tractor. The 126 is just one better, it has basically the same engine and reliability, yet much more luxury and comfort.

I'd say, it's a photo finish, but the 126 wins by a nose.

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Mr. BILL

91 300E 120K
90 300SE 275K (sold)
92 BMW 525iM 120K
90 BMW 525iA 175K
85 300D 175K (sold)
84 300SD 245K (sold)

w123 AND w126, just get 'em both!
...and yes the w124 gets rave reviews
for handling....

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1979 300D 220 K miles
1995 C280 109 K miles
1992 Cadillac Eldorado Touring Coupe 57K miles SOLD
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1979 240D 140Kmiles (bought for parents) *SOLD.
SAN FRANCISCO/(*San Diego)
1989 300SE 148 K miles *SOLD

To be really fair, the 80s were dominated by the 2 models : W123 and 126. The 124s came in somewhere the later half of the mid 80s : 1986 if I'm not mistaken. Then again, for the sake of debate, is it really fair to compare the 123 vs the 126 as they are both from different classes?

Had the topic been, which was the best MB produced in the 20th century, would your opinions be any different?

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... Kerry

126 tailed by a 203, 129 leading the pack.

Brothers of The Benz, All
According to "AUTO" magazine;

The W124030 300E is the best used car on the market.
If it's the best used, it must have been equally as good New?
Oh by the by, I just happened to have purchased one in January 1988, it is a 1987 300E.
Happy Trails Beep Beep from The Spiderman in Houston!!!

Most of you are probably not old enough, or baseball fan enough to remember the Billy Martin commercials where he says: "I feel very strongly both ways".

That's the only way I know to respond to this. My ex brother in law who is my dealer MB Tech and drives a 124 diesel says that the 124 is better than a 123 in every way. It's difficult to launch an argument against that statement. But, after driving 123's over a half million miles, there is something intangible about them that grab your trust and respect.

The 123 has simplicity and sophistication in the same package. While the 124 is clearly the better car from the behind the steering wheel perspective.

If you held a gun to my head, I think I would still not be able to choose one over the other. They are both nothing short of fabulously engineered and built automobiles.

Have a great day,

A Scotsman once told me "Lad, there's no such thing as a bad Scot whiskey, it's just that some are better than others."

The Germans probably have a similar saying about M-B.

My vote would be the W126 flagship.

BCingU, Jim