Faults:

I have owned a white Mercedes Benz 200 (W123) since 1985 and have so far done around 127,000 miles. The average fuel consumption has been around 18 m.p.g.

After 17 years, it has overhauled engine.

It has shown some sign of rust around the rear and front windscreens, but they have now (April 2002) been repaired and the whole car made to look like new.

General Comments:

Value for money, it has been an outstanding car and there is no further depreciation cost involved.

Faults:

Kick-down switch needed replacing.

Fuses kept blowing (linked to kick-down switch).

Dashboard lights needed replacing.

Ongoing oil leak below rocker cover.

Rad needed new core.

Fuel leak - pipe from tank to pump corroded.

General Comments:

I brought this car from England to Ireland as I wanted one for years. The shape is beautiful, and the pillarless windows are a bonus. Also love the tan upholstery. It needed some work to pass the NCT (=MOT), but nothing serious.

Good acceleration, but sorely let down by only having a 4-speed auto box. Thus engine noise is loud at high speed. Hate the wiper switch - needs funny hand acrobatics.

An affordable classic, parts readily available and plenty of expertise around because of the ubiquitous saloon.

14" alloy wheels let the styling down slightly, but no other alloys will look good on it.

The suspension isn't up to Irish roads, but I can't afford a Hummer.

Faults:

Engine died?

Tapping and used tons of oil the valves went.

Transmission jumps and doesn't get in to gear.

Steering went and needs a new steering block.

Radiator went.

General Comments:

I fell in love with this car after driving a van for years I wanted to buy a good solid reliable car that was comfortable and would last me for years. A Beirut taxi as friends call the w123"s. I was in one that had done 900,000 Ks yes true

Mine broke down on the way home from the dodgy geezer I bought it from. The first car I ever bought, as the other one which I still own was a present.

The thing is it looks great. when it drives it drives well although max speed on the motorway is only 80mph a little slower than my Maestro van! Do I put money in to it?

Needs a new engine new steering block and possibly new transmission which will be the costliest. so I'm really torn on this car.

I just don't know if it"s worth it

However I don't blame the car.

Partly my naivety and partly the crook I bought it from.

Faults:

When I have done a short journey from cold, I try to start it again and it doesn't want to. It does eventually start, I suppose you could call it a characteristic.

You cannot take it through a regular car wash. Due to the way the windows part in the middle, some water leaked in and left a watermark on the seats. I learnt from that and only hand wash now.

On the driver's seat the cloth has become a little worn on the lower edge of the back rest. I expect this is down to the car being 18 years old, and used regularly.

General Comments:

I have only had this car for a short time now and it is definitely the car for me.

It is the most comfortable ride I have had for a long time. The seats are more cushy than the ones in my lounge.

It accelerates very quickly for a heavy car and is quite good around corners, it does wallow a little but I don't mind. If I wanted good handling I would have bought a Mini.

I didn't really know much about this type of car before I owned one. It's the small things which make you realise you are driving a Mercedes, like the driver and passenger sun visors which both contain light-up Vanity Mirrors. The First Aid kit on the rear parcel shelf has never been used. The carpets are of a fine quality that even after 18 years still feel like new.

There is only one thing I'm not sure about with this car - the size of the steering wheel. It makes you think you might be driving a bus.

Something I have to mention about the car are the looks it gets. Never before had Mercedes, Audi, Jaguar and Land Rover drivers glanced at me in my old Triumph 1500, let alone let me pull out in front of them at a junction.

This car makes you feel special.

When you mess about with the windows - which puts on a good show - making the front an back slide together so smoothly looks really nice, You do hear the odd "oh look at that" which makes me even more smug!

I love this car and have only had good comments from others too.