GOOD LORD!!! The '98 E320 I just bought is only three years newer than my old car, but it feels like it's 15 YEARS newer! It has a completely redesigned engine (V6), 5-speed automatic transmission, all new interior, and of course, the redesigned exterior sheet metal.
Even the electronic key, familiar to many of you "Newer" Benz owners, was new to me.

Not that this is really breaking news, but I guess my point is that if you have never driven one of the '97-up models, you need to. Believe me, you will FIND a way to afford it!

Congrats. on your new baby. Use it in good health!!

For me, I prefer my w124 CE. But then again, I have always liked the look of my car, and I love the smoothness of an inline 6.

Sure some fo the creature comforts are nicer in the newer models, I however like the fact that my car has minimal stuff going on in the cabin, too many car electronics scare me. a Friend spent over $1000 to replace one of the computers in his BMW, and he doesn't even use the computer anyway, its that stupid control panel with the info on it.

Alon

__________________
'92 300CE - Sold
2004 C240 - 744 - C7 Wheels - Android Radio
2002 C320 - 816 - Sport Wagon

...just got back from the San Jose,CA MB dealer a few hours ago and had a wonderful time kicking the tires of these beauties

2000 E430 Sport
2002 E320 Sedan
'97 & '98 SL500 & 2002 Silver Arrow SL500
2002 C320
2002 CLK55
'95 S500 Coupe

(last week I looked at an 2002 E55 and 2000 E55 in S Cal at the Pasadena MB Dealer)

...so far after tasting these samples- - none have jumped at me to be filling anything overwhelmingly outstanding above my current pair of W124's....except that there's appears to be quite a few of these around (w/ exception to Silver Arrow)

imho
-fad

Mallory,

From one who has taken the same route as you....I wholeheartedly agree! Much improved ride and gas mileage too over my 1995 E320.

Happy motoring!

-fad,

Did you drive the S500 Coupe? I think this may be my next Benz purchase, as I really like the looks and I am usually the only one in my car 99% of the time. I have not had the opportunity to drive one yet and was wondering what you thought were the primary differences between the Coupe and the W124, specifically a 92 400E.

I still have my 260 & 300E's and when I got the 400, couldn't believe the difference in power. Now that I know what the 400 drives like, I want the 500! Really I would like any of the W140 500's.

Also, why is it the coupes command more money than the sedans?

Thanks!

__________________
Brian W.

01 S55 AMG Silver
01 CLK55 AMG Silver

Hi Brian- I currently own a '94 E500 (37.5k) and '94 E320 coupe (96k) MBs

I have driven a few S500 Coupes and the nature of these W140 coupes are distinctly different vs. the W124. They can be characterized as: 1) hightest luxo, 2) heavy, 3) not very nimble or quick, 4) a 1st class cruizer, 5) feels tons bigger vs. the W124. If this is your calling- - then the W140 coupe is for you.

(vs. your W124 V8- you may feel that the the W140 coupe- even with the 5.01 litre V8- is slower and more cumbersome)

Between the two- the W124 Coupe seems to hold the perfect balance given these characteristics: "size-wise" for a personal coupe, maintenance, luxo features and ride, gas mileage, and good looks....someone or other is always complimenting the E320 Coupe on its good looks

I've tried to rationalize a W140 Coupe for a long time and since the prices have dropped to be affordable- - it seems that now there's really an incentive to pick one up....except- - my intuition is telling me that the W140 will be a major challenge to keep in perfect condition...

...for now, I'll stick with my E320 Coupe. I just put over 1500 miles on it last week on a vacation to Baja Mexico and back to SF Bay Area- - no problemo whatsoever. I even ran a few gallons of Pemex 93 octane (Mexican petrol) with no apparent problems. The coupe was loaded with a completely full trunk, 2 mountain bikes w/ rack, and quite a few pieces of Mexican pottery on the way back. I averaged 22.5mpg over the 1500 miles and did the return trip from Mexico door to door in 8hours and 15 minutes (including 3 stops)

after a wash and wax to shake the vacation dust and grime- the E320 coupe is back to pristine


-fad

-fad,

Thank you for your response, it was quite interesting and insightful. I would like a little more interior width, but not at the expense of what you describe as "cumbersome". Maybe I'll research the idea of a W124 coupe.

Thanks again!

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Brian W.

01 S55 AMG Silver
01 CLK55 AMG Silver

I couldn't agree with you more. I drive my '97 E320 all week long and it is a dream compared to w124. (and I don't have the V-6).

On weekends I drive my '86 300E. There is no comparison. The E320 wins in just about every category. But it's also 11 years newer. The 300E does feel more nimble. Maybe because it's so much smaller.

Good luck - you made the right choice!

The coupes are rare! Especially the 94-95 models. I hardly ever see one for sale or on the roads. They are beautiful!!!

There is a lady here in town that has a 95' e320 coupe that she drives as her daily ride. Her hubby drives a new 911 and Range Rover for weekends. Her 18yr old daughter drives a new C-class, but mom sticks to the old coupe! Old compared to its stablemates! This coming from a lady that hangs with all the other rich women in town that drive the new benz's and Lexi 430 and 470's. She is the classiest of all of em'!

later,

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Current stable......
17' Rogue SV 70k
11’ Saab 9-5 NG 94k
10’ e550 4matic 185k

sold
02' e320 210k
00' e430 167k
01' e320 171k (regret sale)
91' 300d 2.5t 300k (sold to ecoofidaho)
79' 240d 177k (old yellow my avatar)
87' 300d 169k (junk but fast)
85' 300tdt 261k (RBM parts delivery)
85' 300dt 68k (one owner cream puff)
82' 240d 250k
84' 300dt 198k (sold to diesel don)
91' 190e 2.3 61k
88' 260e 140k

I know that feeling. Its like getting a new heart transplant!

__________________
... Kerry

126 tailed by a 203, 129 leading the pack.

I agree the W210 drives much better and is more modern than the W124, but the quality of the materials, well... the jury is still out on that one...

Also, being the owner of a W124 T-reihe, I think my '95 E320 is much proportioned and better looking than the Ford Tauresque W210 T.

In terms of the coupe, the W124C is one of the classiest lines ever produced by M.B. I especially like the Cabriolet. In terms of cost, coupes have two less doors and are usually shorter than their sedans, although Mercedes atributes their higher cost to the reinforcement of the chassis due to the omission of the B-pillar, which makes the coupe look really cool with all 4 windows open.

Cost saving procedures killed the classic looks of the CLK, which looks cheap and plain with those fat B-pillars.

The W140 is the epitome of the old Mercedes-Benz philosophy of the "cost no object" of supreme engineering. I have driven several miles on a CL500 and I beleive is not as cumbersome as many beleive it to be. The more you drive it, the more nimble and agile becomes to your senses.

A. Rosich
S320, 1998
E320T, 1995

Naturally our opinions vary on these fine automobiles since we have different tastes and preferences...and the models are different enough to cater to a wide range of personalities

fyi- both the E320 Coupe & the E320 Cabiolet are very very limited production automobiles...however the E320 Coupe is rarer between the two by an astonishing factor (N America import)

'94 E320 Coupe: 825 imported to N America, retail= $61.6k
'95 E320 Coupe: 307 imported to N America, retail $63k

'94 E320 Cab: 1698 imported to N America, retail $77.3k
'95 E320 Cab: 3676 imported to N America, retail $79k

'94 S600 Coupe: 252 imported to N America, retail $133.3k
'95 S600 Coupe: 539 imported to N America, retial $133.3k

'94 S500 Coupe: 793 imported to N America, retail $99.8k
'95 S500 Coupe: 1341 imported to N America, retial 91.9k

'94 E500: 374 imported to N America, retail $80.8k

...ranked by rarity these appear to be the rarest production MBs imported to N America '94-'95:

1) '94 S600 Coupe (252)
2) '95 E320 Coupe (307)
3) '94 E500 (374)
3) '95 S600 Coupe (539)
4) '94 S500 Coupe (793)
5) '94 E320 Coupe (825)
6) '95 S500 Coupe (1341)
7) '94 E320 Cab (1698)
8) '95 E320 Cab (3676)

If one was trying to find a needle in a haystack (for purchase)...try to find a low mile Starmark '94 or '95 E320 Coupe Sportline with heated seats, traction control, CD, chromies, etc. (fully loaded- in any color other than red or green)...I had all the CA factory authorized dealers scouring the country for a year, and came up nil (couldn't even find a red or green one).

Best we found (over 3 years ago) was a Starmark non-smoker '94 E320 Coupe with heated seats, traction control, chromies, CD, phone, 59k, Black Opal over grey...I took it and have been totally happy with the what the vehicle offers ever since (no performance mods or add-ons whatsoever).

Sooner or later, I'll pick up a low mile '93-'95 300CE/E320 Cab for my wife to enjoy.


-fad

PS- folks comparing non "as-new" condition '95 MB to a "new" MB...is a no brainer since it'll be an apples to oranges comparison..

Fad:

After 1 1/2 years of searching we did find our "needle in a haystack". A 1993 300CE Cabriolet (midnight blue/parchment) that had just over 35K miles. You should add this car to your list of "rares", as this model was only made in 1993 (the '94-'95 models are slightly different) and I understand that only about 700 were brought into the US. They sold for $77K (new).