It appears to me that about half the 210 wagons are 4-matics. Even here in Texas there are many to be seen. AWD on a road car in Texas is about as pointless as it gets, IMHO. RWD was a requirement for my car, as I am unwilling to deal with the extra complexity and lower fuel economy of a 4-matic car.

Third seat was standard on U.S. 210 wagons. Also standard is the cargo cover/dog net.

Fool economy for the RWD 210 is 21/27 per the sticker. Adding 4-matic degrades both city & hwy by one MPG to 20/26.

Don't know that I'd recommend any one year 210 wagon over another. For the most part they are all pretty much the same with regard to reliability and build quality. Model year 2000 saw some restyling of the front end and also small improvements to the interior.

I have a 2001 210 RWD wagon and am mostly satisfied with it. I say mostly satisfied because it replaced a 124 turbo-diesel wagon that I would argue is the best MB wagon we've ever received in the U.S., giving the poor 210 some large shoes to fill.

- JimY