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From a 124 to a 210. Is it really an upgrade?
For years I have intended to eventually replace our 124s with 210s.
Problem is, I love the 124s. I think they were the last of the best MBs. A 1995 124 is probably THE one to have. But ours are getting to that age...evaporator, head gasket, PS pump, Aux water pump, etc. I drove a 1997 210 yesterday. It was very nice. More bells and whistles. I did not think it handled as well as the 124. The 210s are cheap...but the 124s are Real Cheap. For maintenance, I seem to know these 124s like the back of my hand (and learning more all the time!). Would giving up a 124 for a 210 be considered an upgrade?
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2012 E350 2006 Callaway SC560 |
#2
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yes and no...
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=119726 I've never driven a 210 so I'm biased.
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-Marty 1986 300E 220,000 miles+ transmission impossible (Now waiting under a bridge in order to become one) Reading your M103 duty cycle: http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showpost.php?p=831799&postcount=13 http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showpost.php?p=831807&postcount=14 |
#3
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Hey brewtoo,
Just made the jump myself. Your thread echoes many of the same thoughts I had when making the decision. I have gotten to know my 300E so well I'll definitely miss her! I went from a 1989 300E to a 1998 E430. Is it an upgrade? Definitely yes, IMO. The car is much more advanced all around. Initially, it felt a bit foreign to me, and somewhat 'aloof' compared to the hands-on, sturdy road feel of my 300E. However, I've already grown to love the E430 in the couple of weeks I've owned it. The 5-speed transmission is leaps beyond the old 4-gear IMO. It shifts smoothly, no more of the solid 'clunk' of the 4 speed. The 'W/S' switch still gives you the choice of a 2nd gear start, and it is nice to have the option. The 5th gear is a godsend for highway travel. I can't comment on reliability, but my 300E has over 330,000 Kms on the original tranny. Will the 210 hold up accordingly? I hope so. For the record - although the 722.6 is touted as 'sealed for life', my tech replaced the fluid recently and recommends doing so every 50,000 Km. Another nice feature is the ESP, which can be switched on or off. If you drive in snow as I do, it's a great feature. The option to remove it for some 'spirited' driving is nice as well. Summer roads here I come... It's hard to compare the engines as the inline 6 to the V8 is apples to oranges. Not really a fair comparison, the V8 has so much power and torque. The grin factor it produces is substantial, however. I had some suspension components replaced before I purchased it and it handles very well. Overall, I'd say the handling is superior. Less body roll, same tightness. The interior is excellent and the controls are well laid out. Although the car doesn't seem much bigger from the outside, the interior space is a fair bit larger. This is something I really enjoy as I'm 6'1" and with some passengers, everyone has enough leg room! To me, the only thing that remains to be seen is if the car ages as gracefully as my W124 did. I just sold her today and I'll miss that car. It's been the best vehicle I have ever owned - thus far. Will the 210 fill the shoes? I hope so!
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Chris 2007 E550 4Matic - 61,000 Km - Iridium Silver, black leather, Sport package, Premium 2 package 2007 GL450 4Matic - 62,000 Km - Obsidian Black Metallic, black leather, all options 1998 E430 - sold 1989 300E - 333,000 Km - sold 1977 280E - sold 1971 250 - retired "And a frign hat. They gave me a hat at the annual benefits meeting. I said. how does this benefit me. I dont have anything from the company.. So they gave me a hat." - TheDon |
#4
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As you can see by my sig, I have several Mercedes. I must say that the E320 Cabriolet is the most fun to drive. I'll probably be buried in that one!
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99 ML320 94 SL600 92 SL500 95 E320 Cabriolet 87 560SEC 86 300SDL Grease Car 80 380SLC Euro 13 Fiat Abarth 02 Maserati Spyder Cambiocorsa 00 BMW Z3 90 Rolls Royce Silver Spur 80 Ferrari 308 GTSI 88 Jaguar XJS12 H&E Edition 99 Land Rover Discovery |
#5
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powerpig, as you have roadsters, sedans, and the mighty SEC, what aspects of the E320 Cabriolet make it the most fun to drive ?
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#6
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Going upscale, W124 style.
Brewtoo, what about getting the upgrade from a W124 sedan to a really mint W124 Cabrio or a Sportline coupe?
It'd still be in the familiar idiom but really something beautiful and exclusive. And then there is the E500/500E, you'd LOVE driving one of those, guaranteed. (or the E420, for about 75% of what the E500 gives you, but at a budget entry price.) Not to say the W210 is a bad choice, it indeed is more modern, but it's inferior in build quality to the W124.
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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ... 1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold) 2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp 1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k 2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold) |
#7
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Quote:
That was a big factor in my buying the 210. I loved my W124 dearly and it served me flawlessly for 8 years. But I didn't think that buying another one, and expecting to get 5+ years out of it, was a reasonable assumption. As far as build quality, I don't know if any manufacturer, let alone Mercedes, is going to ever build something like the W124s ever again. It's too competitive a market now with Lexus, Audi, Infinity, etc. However, there are many features of the 210 which, to me, make up for any lack of build quality. The transmission alone could potentially make the argument. After driving the 722.6, I could not go back to the 4 gear. Yes, it was (is) a solid tranny with proven quality, but it lacks performance and the shifts could sometimes hit at weird times and it seemed to have a mind of its own at times. Not to mention certain shifts could be, well, rough. The 722.6 shifts like a dream. Faster, more responsive and the 5th gear is a must on the highway, IMO. Will it last like the 4 gear? Time will tell. All IMHO, btw.
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Chris 2007 E550 4Matic - 61,000 Km - Iridium Silver, black leather, Sport package, Premium 2 package 2007 GL450 4Matic - 62,000 Km - Obsidian Black Metallic, black leather, all options 1998 E430 - sold 1989 300E - 333,000 Km - sold 1977 280E - sold 1971 250 - retired "And a frign hat. They gave me a hat at the annual benefits meeting. I said. how does this benefit me. I dont have anything from the company.. So they gave me a hat." - TheDon |
#8
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I've been banging on this idea for weeks, and I think the w210s still have a lot of depreciating to go through - in other words, the w124s are cheap and staying there. For me to sell my '95 E300D and move up to a w210 would mean that the w210 will lose value as I drive it - so I'd have to cough up more money up front to buy it, then I'd have to lose money on it when I sell it, and I'd more-than-likely still have the same repair bills as my w124.
For now, I think I'm going to stay in the w124 camp. My '95 is fun to drive and gets 30mpg driving like a demon from the darkness, hasn't cost me much in maintenance, and hasn't depreciated much at all. If I didn't commute 140 miles a day, I'd probably move up to the w210 and enjoy the nicer climate control, but as a high-mileage commuter the w124 is perfect.
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- Brian 1989 500SEL Euro 1966 250SE Cabriolet 1958 BMW Isetta 600 |
#9
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The Cab is the easiest to handle. The others have a great ride but feel "heavy" The Cab feels more sporty IMHO.
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99 ML320 94 SL600 92 SL500 95 E320 Cabriolet 87 560SEC 86 300SDL Grease Car 80 380SLC Euro 13 Fiat Abarth 02 Maserati Spyder Cambiocorsa 00 BMW Z3 90 Rolls Royce Silver Spur 80 Ferrari 308 GTSI 88 Jaguar XJS12 H&E Edition 99 Land Rover Discovery |
#10
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Quote:
My 2000 E430 was purchased by the second owner owner of the car in 2003 (with about 30,000 miles) for $34,000. I paid $18,600 for it in 2005 with about 70,000 miles. You can find 1998-2000 E430's all day long on ebay Motors for between $9,000 - the low teens with around 100,000 miles. I'm not sure how much depreciation these cars have left in them. We're talking about a car here (the E430) that sold for around $65,000 brand new, and that you can now buy for around $10K. As far as I'm concerned they are shamefully undervalued.
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Paul S. 2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior. 79,200 miles. 1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron". |
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