Ian, I agree. If you have not driven it, or ridden in it, then you have no right to criticize. The E320CDI is not going to be the "finest MB diesel ever made". I am crossing my fingers for the S400CDI. Now that may be the finest diesel ever made.

SL74

The newer MB's have all kinds of bells and whistles, but people who DO own them always complain, constantly, I've yet to meet one who doesnt. us older MB drivers love our cars, is that because we cant afford the new ones? Nope, we prefer quality over a DVD that talks to me and tells me where to go, and mood lighting, and 489 HP and 7-speed automatics. I dont have the luxury of leaving my only car with the stealer every time something goes kaput, because I AM NOT driving a loaner ML320 around.... I want a goddam car not an electronic toy.

97 C280 Sport

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Ali Al-Chalabi

2001 CLK55
1999 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins Diesel
2002 Harley-Davidson Fatboy
Merlin Extralight w/ Campy Record

The next one I buy. The one I sold 5 years ago.

7 year old W202 (C280 Sport )never needs service, except oil/filter changes every 5K miles, new tires & battery. Nothing else, 200K miles and still runs like new. Amazing.

best is kinda vague though.

best styling? engineering? durability? ruggedness? economy?

there are many different parameters by which best can be measured.
i pick the 124. versatile (4 body styles, 5 if you include the long version, 6 if you include the hearse version), handsome, economic (200D) powerful (500E) practical (4MATIC) durable (my 15 year old car has an interior that amazes people, still purrs, and can roar too) and so on.

the broad range of cars (aneamic 200 with a carb to the almighty 500E) presents a smorgasbord of great options for many different people with many different needs. the vary from stripped models with wind up windows, steel wheels with hubcaps to the decked out models with climate control and powered rear sun shades. and looked fresh throught its life thanks to subtle upgrades through the different model years.

but then again, i am biased.

__________________
'O=00=O'
bmw 2002.
long live the legend

I think it is still the epitome of style and reliability compared to past and later S-class. And it's not because I own one.....

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1983 w126 280SE - daily drive
1983 w123 200 - sold

There is no question, given the criteria mentioned in the original post

Reliability
Collectability
Safety
Classic styling

The winner HANDS DOWN is

126-body 560SEC

I would put the 1992-1994 500E/E500 as a close second, but only because it is a sedan.

There's VERY little to argue here, given the original question.

Cheers,
Gerry

hmm.. lets see...
S500 W140 (dunno much about the engine.. but i rode in one.. and i liked the way it rides and also how it looks)
560SEC W126 (definitely one of my dream cars)
300TDT T123(unfortunately mine is not turbo) or 300TD T124

of course the choices i have is all a matter of MY preferences.. now if one of them is a problematic car due to engine performance or lack of body integrity.. well.. i like them anyway...

__________________
Mike

----------------------------------
1975 200 - Sold (no pix);
1978 200 - Sold - http://www.pbase.com/hboy/redbaron
1979 300TD - Sold
http://www.pbase.com/hboy/greenwagon
http://www.geocities.com/hboy726/300TD.html
1985 230E - now my daily driver...

Howdy All,
The best built MB the last 20 years was first built in th early 50s and is still being built. The Unimog

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Frank X. Morris
17 Kia Niro
08 Jeep Wrangler 4 door unlimited

Let's see... I'm going to be very general

SL R230 - This car is just drop dead gorgeous. I don't care if every kid in Boston has one, it's just so nice to look at. It's also amazing inside it.

E Class W124 - same reason. it looks good as a coupe, wagon, convertible, limo, sedan..so many of them in the world yet they are still prestigious - and yes I'm biased :-D

S-Class W140 - The W220 looks nice and probably drives better blah blah blah. It lacks the W140's presence and Benz-look. Especially in long wheelbase S600 V12 form 48-valve V12.. lovely

there they are..

gonna add a 4th

The W211. This car is also beautiful. I love it inside and out. Especially with the V8s or the new 400CDI V8

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2008 BMW 335i Coupe

rented an e270cdi in nice two years ago.

a great car in the twisty bits of the alps. the compression braking allowed me to clean the new maser's clock. its brakes just could not stop fading.

as to the best benzes, i own them. excluding the roadsters, which i hate. altho i recently examined a 56 300sl that does tempt me.

my faves are my 1986 560sel[original owner], my 1987 560sec[2nd owner], my 1995 e320cab[original owner]. i have a 1979 6.9, but i think it to be underbraked and the front seat doesn't offer me enough legroom.

last year i acquired an unused 1997 c140. quieter than the c126, faster, but much more difficult to place in traffic because of all of its blindspots. a classic, i think, but i am still undecided as to keeping it.

long and the short of it, my favorite back road drivers are the cab and the old warhorse, 560sel.

WOW, I've never HEARD of an interior that could do that before? What did you have your seats restuffed with? :p

the 126 sec is a beautiful car, maybe the best
any sl will be fine
124's and that in a coupe is also a classic body design

rich

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88 300E White, sold 9-04
88 190E Black 2.3 sold
90 300CE White, Grey sold 12-24-04
92 400E White,Grey Sold 5-06
90 300CE 91K Signal Red,Black Sold 2007
1989 300CE Smoke silver,Tan Sold 1-08
1993 300E 3.2 M104 motor
1991 300CE White,Grey
1994 E420 beautiful car,gone to new home
1994 E320 Smoke an Parchment.Beautiful car

if you get the right tiger print seat covers youll get that effect

__________________
'O=00=O'
bmw 2002.
long live the legend