PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - View Single Post - 1996 E320/ How Much More Should I Put Up With!!!???

markg612 · #10 10-28-2007, 02:07 AM

Quite the thread.

As Dirty Harry says, "Do you feel lucky."

I find it interesting you find such fondness for the 104 engine, as do I, its perfection of inline technology for the day, but why not dump the rushed to production low budget body and slide back one year.

Grandiose statements are abound in this forum, and I really hate making all inclusive boasts, but take a look at the W124 from 95. Ten years of perfection that at a minimum are 12 years old as we read and type. BUT, ten years of a car that on the cheap side was over 50K. A car that was two years late to market because it wasn't engineered perfect enough by its designers. the 210 and the ML were the Americanization of a once perfect process of Mercedes that surname to a need to pacify the American ideal of what a german luxury car should be. Cupholders? come on! The 210 was jammed through and delivered to a hunger market, but it is a mere shadow of its forerunner.

My point, dump this prototype gap filler for a 95 124 and enjoy the last of a dyeing breed in Germany engineering. Aside from its biodegradable engine wiring harness, properly maintained, no 210 will ever hold a candle to it.

Yeah know what's scary? When my wife is observant enough to ask me why a lot of the round eyed (210) benzes have so much rust on the doors and other places she says, and then asks why our cars (124s) don't.

Where's Mr. Stumpf now. OOOOOOPS!

My 95 124 wagon listed for 57K, a new 96 ML was 32K and a 210 sedan was under 40K. Now how the hell could they do that without sacrificing perfection?

IMHO