The Outcome I Didn’t Expect: Two Identical Mercedes - 50 Years Apart!

( www.alltfl.com/ ) Check out our new spot to find ALL our content, from news to videos and our podcasts! Back in the 1960s and 70s, Mercedes-Benz garnered a reputation for building world-class cars. Has that only improved as we make our way through the 21st century? In this video, Tommy and Kase check out a 1972 450C coupe against a brand-new 2024 CLE450!
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#car #compared #oldvsnew

[@chriskalkman3815]

Those 143 horsepower will drive you hundreds of thousands of miles.

[@LetsRoll53]

I seen them go millions

[@jaymum23]

So will the 375 horsepower.

[@uwepomeranus3137]

​@@jaymum23If you are (very) lucky your first grand overhaul catches you beyond 100k. Best Mercedes garage vids on YT: Motoren Zimmer. There you learn a LOT.

[@lewisselier]

@@jaymum23Nah man, it’s just all plastic shit, everyday you can give the mechanic a visit at 350,000 km/217,000 miles. you can write the car off to a scrap yard.

[@owamamazongolo8200]

Mercedes are very reliable cars I rarely or even haven't seen a Mercedes in a Mechanic shop broken, if it's broken it's either it's flooded or abandoned and what Whistlingdiesel did to the G-wagon ​@@lewisselier

[@JMNTN]

There is nothing like the feel of an old mercedes

[@silverman5691]

A Peugout 404, or 504 have quite the same "feeling"

[@matsujarvinen]

@@silverman5691 No doubt.Great cars.If I was to buy a 70´s car,other than MB,it would be Peugeot.They were so much more comfortable than other cars.Looked nice,too.

[@johnlamb3101]

New Mercedes with a Renault engine - how successful is that? French engineering! Give me the W123 any day!

[@rebeltvr6046]

@@silverman5691 Peugeot 504 was a legendary car in Africa where I grew up, same with the Merc W123. Both legendary cars that can go through the horrible African roads and still do 500K miles or more with ease, and in comfort. I wish they still made cars like those.

[@Ze_Hans]

​@@johnlamb3101 shut up, Citroen DS was a product of french engineering that blew every other car away.

[@joemartino6976]

Mercedes reputation, back then, was based on engineering excellence, build quality and reliability. I remember one automotive writer pointed out that even the back of a Mercedes wheel cover was chrome plated when it didn't really need to be. Design was also classic, elegant and restrained. Whether intentional or not, Mercedes has lost a bit of the magic in their progress over the years. The concessions to ostentatious luxury and bling didn't help either.

[@johna1160]

An "automotive writer" should know the chroming process involves dipping the item multiple times. It is impossible to plate one side and not the other.

[@airline3hum]

@@joemartino6976 Perfectly sums it all up.

[@aftonline]

There's no way the 2024 Merc will still be around in 2074. I'd go with the 74 model any day.

[@deancrawford2577]

I remember a customer bringing me an old 230E, he wanted the engine overhauled, we couldn't understand why 😂. It had serious mileage on the clock, he was adamant he wanted the engine overhauled. I stripped the engine and measured everything, I couldn't find any wear anywhere, it even had the original honing pattern after 450k. Astonishing.

[@MrPPunch69]

What? Only $ 14.000,- ? In Europe you would pay for this model in this condition at least 30.000,-

[@Weiseorgelspieler]

not for an US reimport. In northern Europe rust killed most of them. Not so in california, a lot of those survived over there.

[@V59971]

30k with rust

[@qisyaizzia5045]

In Malaysia...that old Benz value more then USD 70k...no doubt.

[@Ze_Hans]

It doesnt mean its worth 30k, its just overrated

[@Ze_Hans]

​@@qisyaizzia5045 wtf is even malaysia?

[@brianklamer3328]

These days Mercedes are built to a price point. The ones from the 1970-late 1980 models were built to a standard.

[@Ze_Hans]

"Oh shit thats deep"

[@GaryJohnWalker1]

From when Mercedes meant something - quality was great engineering and build quality, not just "luxury" or "fancy tech" and a maker's hq in Germany.

[@cw3438]

Nailed it!!!!!👋

[@jaymum23]

They still have quality and great engineering.

[@luciancormos1648]

​@@jaymum23 Not on cars

[@jaymum23]

@@luciancormos1648 Yes on cars.

[@johnomahony7364]

Hey Tommy beautiful car bro. I’m goin with the 72 all day. No electronics just pure driving pleasure.

[@Stevieboy130664]

Old one is classy - but classier with the European headlights!

[@gotham61]

The new car will be in the junkyard as "uneconomical to repair" when the 72 is still rolling along fine. It's not accurate to say that parts availability is a big issue with older Mercedes. They do a much better job than most companies of keeping parts available through their Classic Center.

[@phillynch6295]

4 mins into video, and already convinced I need an old Mercedes coupe in my life!

[@thomasrump5930]

The series was called a /8 in Germany from their lauch year. A 250c had been our marriage car - in dark blue. Very sophisticated car - I miss it every time see one !!

[@angrypenguin956]

Your old merc has a lot of charm. I love those old models.

[@edgarsdzerins]

One is timeless beauty that will drive millions of km! The other is crap that will fall apart by 100K km!

[@drewgreenhalgh9162]

Totally not true.

[@owamamazongolo8200]

Now that's a lie but okay

[@mikedelicus]

Without the bias of nostalgia, most of the old Mercedes had severe rust problems after ten years. It’s my experience with older Mercedes cars from the seventies and eighties.

[@Ze_Hans]

And there's you who cant afford neither.

[@Ze_Hans]

And there's you who cant afford neither. Plus your "timeless beauty" looks like garbage container.

[@mikev.5845]

The 250C will someday dance on the CLEs grave 😂

[@albertackah-hemans1945]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@LetsRoll53]

Nothing like a classic Mercedes just beautiful and well built.

[@SurlyriderBilly]

The old one all day long for me. One word craftsmanship

[@Ze_Hans]

One word: glazing and nostalgia overhype

[@g-mang-man7924]

I apprenticed at a Benz dealer, I absolutely love W114/115 coupes! I did work on them back in the day

[@MrFlyingguy]

i own one and it drives so well in modern situations... 1974 280se bosch k tronic fuel injection i think

[@thomasdawson1439]

I'm in year 2 of owning a 2019 S Class, so far the tech hasn't had a glitch, build quality is also, from what I can tell, very good. The cruise function 'functions' and is so simple and relaxing to use. It's just a daily pleasure, I've got no issues with MODERN cars, they just know how to build cars there at MB too.

[@matthiasbalke9089]

One was built to last an eternity, the other was built to be recycled after three years.

[@Porsche996driver]

A 4-speed Auto in 1972 was UNHEARD OF. Look at that relatively flat-handling! Any American car just rolled over at any turn! Also you guys don’t capture what this car was all about. This was designed as a Banker’s / businessman’s car to drive across WEST GERMANY between cities on the AUTOBAHN at relatively high speed quietly and securely. It was designed to be Uber-capable and completely unobtrusive for the Businessman. ✨

[@taylorjs2534]

I had almost the same car; 1972 280C (also robin's egg blue). The difference was a dual overhead cam inline 6. Loved it. The view from the driver's seat was amazing. That Merc Star and the high fenders. It felt special. I have to agree, seats, especially in the back were durable but not comfortable. Something that you don't see today: The designers considered the mechanics that would ultimately work on them. None of this, sensor behind the engine that you have to take the cylinder head off to get to. There was a hole in the frame in a position that allowed a socket extension to reach a bolt. They are heavy, so after 50 years, they now look lowered... which is sort of cool.

[@marial8235]

The classic stands heads and shoulders above the modern junk.

[@Don-kr5tp]

The straight 6 single overhead cam was sooooo good.

[@ibakedit5850]

An uncle of mine had the 4 door 280. I do recall it being bulletproof, however the ride was firm and road noise was prominent. In comparison a neighbour's Lincoln MKIII was way smoother and much quieter.

[@lesstyranny2695]

My daily is still an '84 300TD (all orginal with almost 400kmiles) and its the most useful, pleasueable, reliable and graceful car I have and very likely will ever own.

[@Takethiskeycard]

Great car Sir. My 1998 w210 has 210k miles. Planning to reach 400k miles as well 😅. Older mercedes are gems

[@V59971]

I'm a simple man and I love simple things .. that classic merc just does it for me

[@thatcarguy1UZ]

Before watching this video or reading anyone else's comments, I'm going to tell you hands down unequivocally the 1972 Mercedes is a far better car than the new Mercedes. The '72 Mercedes was built when Mercedes Benz's motto was "Engineered Like No Other Car In The World." and they lived by that standard. It was built to be reliable and high quality. The modern one is built to extract maximum profit from people who are dazzled by shiny things and amazed by useless features, and their disintegrated build quality and reliability reflect that. The '72 Benz is the car that could rack up over 1,000,000 miles. The new Benz is the car that will cost you $1,000,000 in maintenance and repairs to break 100,000 miles.

[@McGhinch]

The W140 was the last one built by engineers. Everything after it was built by the controllers.

[@normbittner3762]

Nice old Benz- cool and conservative. I have a 1976 BMW 525! and just like your Benz- they drove so much better than other cars of the era. Artwork.

[@landhopper4296]

I miss that model 5. So elegant and so focused. So well made. I saw the new M5 yesterday. Looks awful, weighs 2 and a half tons.

[@normbittner3762]

@@landhopper4296 I agree completely

[@7728abbott]

Great flow to your videos, men. Enjoyable.

[@shiftymcgee9359]

It’s nice not to have a video full of Roman rants.

[@RonnN-gf8tm]

My Delta 88 doesn't feel like an ancient car...but its definitely slow n underpowered But still love driving it. 307 motor

[@michaeltutty1540]

I custom ordered an 84 Delta 88 2 door with the handling suspension. Also gauges. When it worked it was a great car to drive. I had upgraded tires and shocks, but still. Too bad mine was a dud. GM spent more on warranty repairs than I did buying it, including taxes!

[@86twin]

This should have had 350’s

[@sidkarnick]

I have a 1982 W 123 and a 2024 GLE 450 petrol, here in Bombay, India.. And you guys just nailed it with this video.. I Resonated with every opinion of yours.. You got a new sub.. Thank you for making this film.

[@robertwestinghouse4098]

I had a last version W123 280CE with horizontal lights. Seats firm, but great for long trips. Build quality is EXCELLENT. It was an outstanding car then and still amazing. Not fast, but loved it. Sold it because I moved into a W201 because I wanted a smaller car. Great memories.

[@vegestaples]

Consumer Reports routinely places Mercedes at the very bottom of the list when it comes to dependability... what good is great engineering if it doesn't hold up...⁉️🤔

[@robertwestinghouse4098]

@@vegestaples I think you should check the dates. Generally Mercedes build after 2000 were the problem. The W124/W124/W210 are among the best cars made. My W201 has 232,000km and still great. Ask that of a 21st century Mercedes and that would not happen.

[@ltcmoose2001]

I had a 78 280E in Germany. The car had a grove at 220 kph on the autobahn. It had speed rated tires and 4 wheel disk brakes. Great car. No American car would run that smooth that fast all day long.

[@paulballard304]

Hey boys, (as a boomer) I had a 1975, the last year W114, 280 DOHC injected, white on white in my college days as my first Benz. It's great to see the comparison and your appreciation of the build quality back then, as well as the features today. You forgot to mention the W114 had a cavernous trunk compared to today. Hope to to see your review comparison in 2074?!

[@karlreinke9653]

Just look at all the window views!! So much glass

[@grabir01]

Straight 6 is the one to get. All the way until 1988/89. Would love to see the last and best of this car. That would be a 1988 300CE.

[@user-qi5xw8cq4w]

They had straight six longer than that… There was no engine change of the M103 300 in 1988/ 1989, it was produced until 1992 or maybe early 1993. But the 300-24 arrived in 1989, still a straight six. But the US didn’t get the M103 maybe?

[@grabir01]

@@user-qi5xw8cq4w The big change in 89-90 was going to EFI.

[@pnwadventures2955]

"New" Mercedes all move their temperature gauge, at least on my M113 engine vehicles. I believe the cooling is way oversized (Mercedes still stress tested vehicles in places like death valley back then) and running in a more dynamic cooling, that may rise or fall by as much cool air is coming in, until the thermostat finally is hot enough and kicks in. Then the gauge tops out at, I believe, slightly under 90 or 100C, or just a little over middle on the gauge. So you will see the temp gauge move, as the cooling is oversized compared to other cars.

[@francoisdeletaille]

One interesting difference is how light and open the old one was to sit in, while the new one is much more like something you wear, being one with the car. It's a different approach to interior space and the interaction with surroundings.

[@chrisjeanneret5091]

I'm sure the gearheads will jump in, but as I recall the early 4-speeds used a coupling (not a converter), so the gearing was kept short for better launch torque. May explain why you believe that the acceleration curve is flatter than contemporary cars.

[@grabir01]

The new one is junk!

[@user-vx7vi3vq1c]

The new one certainly won’t be here in 50 years.

[@grabir01]

@@user-vx7vi3vq1c It will not be her in 7-10 years as they are still using the Bio-degradable wiring harness. ECO friendly. Same as the SL300 and SL500's.. Junk!

[@porcelainthunder2213]

One will still be running perfectly in 5 years…the one from 1972.

[@user-qi5xw8cq4w]

Those alloy wheels was an extra option on these as well. It was the one alloy option for some 15-20 years.

[@jdfleetguy28]

Great video guys. Good job. Both cars are super nice in their own distinct ways. I love a 2-door coupe especially those that are more luxury-oriented like MB and BMW is known for.

[@potatodonkey1856]

Would gladly buy the old Mercedes over anything new on the road today. They are really reliable, even with some deferred maintenance they still keep running fine

[@Ze_Hans]

You poor broke people are really something else. 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@ianpolo5673]

Old Mercedes has great interior feel that is undescribable in a good way that new Mercedes unable to deliver.

[@damilolaakanni]

IMO, i'd pick neither of the two and go for either a W201 or W124. It's going to be easier (and cheaper) to find parts for either of those than both of these should they break. I also think the old one is ugly while the new is quite boring.

[@AshleyGordon-dt1zq]

That car if from the "blank canvas" years of Mercedes. Effectively you bought a well engineered and superbly built car, which you had to fit out the way you wanted it via their extensive options list. Advanced mechanicals (4 wheel disc brakes, independent suspension and much more) was standard together with basic comfort items like carpets, wood trim, good seating etc. After that, everything was optional. Indeed back then Mercedes deliberately kept things as simple as possible, in total contracts to today. You are still driving that 250 C fifty years after it was made. I very much doubt the new coupe will be around in even as little as 10 years.

[@qisyaizzia5045]

Very nice...love the old Benz.❤❤❤

[@asteverino8569]

Except for the giant logo in the grill, the new Mercedes looks like a Hyundai or many other newer cars.

[@alpha7ization]

The simplicity and reliability combined with practicality makes the 280 more reliable IMO

[@airline3hum]

Great video, wonderful cars, especially the old version.

[@bennyhannover9361]

My mom drove in 1984/85 the 1971 250 C coupe my dad bought for 2.500 DEM with 2.5 liters inline six, single carb 130 bhp at 5.400 rpm . Topspeed 185 kmh , zero to sixty 12 seconds or a bit less. Still a quite quick cruising car in Germany with a peppy appetite for fuel 15 liters ran mostly through its throat on 100 kilometers at a speed of 120 kmh per hour. It was repainted from bluegrey to VW petrol metal blue looked nice.

[@BenzAddiction]

Love it, keep the good work 👏

[@pnwadventures2955]

Thank you for this amazing Mercedes video - maybe some more M-Class videos soon?

[@verdict1163]

Small correction, 14" Bundts were optional on W114 coupes as early as the early 70s. They were made by Fuchs and were forged (not cast) aluminum (in the late 70s/80s they became cast I believe, but looked identical to the earlier forged versions). So these wheels are correct for the car, at least they would be if they were 14s and not 15s. There are many aftermarket makers of the Bundt-style wheel, which are of varying quality.

[@billnicholas1381]

Chassis cods are important when ordering any part

[@ronaldbaatjes2470]

I would say that the real lesson here is what Wolfsburg learnt with the VW Beetle.Only difference is the cost ratio.

[@richardnedbalek1968]

Tommy and Case make a great car review duo!

[@4WHEELBIKER]

Great vid ! I agree that the newer coupe will not age as well over time as the older 250C. But that is true of most modern cars due in large part to design similarities across brands.

[@andyarchitect]

I think you should take a trip to Europe and do a few videos on the cars here... in particular showing the estate cars (waggons) that are still popular here and get your take on brands not seen much in the US such as Skoda, Renault, etc.

[@CygnusPrime]

While there’s a nod to the lineage between the 250C and the CLE450, they’re fundamentally distinct beasts. The 250C (W114) was, in essence, an E-Class coupe, a stalwart of its time. The CLE450 (C236), however, charts new territory. Nestled between today’s C and E Classes, it’s engineered to supersede both. In this light, the CLE450 is more of a spiritual successor, embodying the legacy of both the C and E Classes while carving out a new niche in the motoring landscape.

[@vettezeppelin]

What's so different is Mercedes place in the automotive spectrum. In 72, nothing drove like or looked like a Mercedes. They had unique things about them like the seats and headrests looked the same in every model and only Mercedes had them. The grille and taillights were basically the same on all the models too so you always knew it was a Mercedes. Also the Mercedes driving experience is something that by the 80's everyone copied. No longer was it the goal to have cars float like the old Lincolns and Cadillacs did. They all chased Mercedes for that ride and handling balance. Even copied the 3 gauge instrument pod style dashboard. Mercedes for its part started adding features like power seats and more while they took away the uniqueness which made them more like the competition. Of course they had to add features to stay current but while they are still very nice cars, they aren't the most reliable, nor do they have that distinct style and interiors like they used to. You could put almost any badge and logo on the new ones and no one would be the wiser. Also their influence is not nearly what it was in the 70's when everyone chased them. Now they are taking cues from Tesla with the screens and pop out door handles and I see Audi and Kia/Hyundai styling in these current Mercedes too. Are they still at the top..yeah pretty much except their EV's are not competitive and there probably are better crossovers and SUV's to buy over their products too. Still if you want a great sedan and E or S class is hard to beat.

[@mitchstein288]

Thanks Kase and Tommy, that was a great comparison. That interior on yours is mint. It reminds me of the phrase "They don't build them like they used to.". Which is true in some cases and some cases not. What comes to mind is pride of craftsmanship and build quality/materials. Kind of like old appliances such as old freezers that used to last 50+ years. I really want to drive one of those old Mercedes now. Which one would you take on a cross country trip?

[@kevin122759]

The 1972 is still around doing what it was intended to do. Will the 2024 be around in 2074?

[@reneegudjon3204]

They had a large castor angle to be solid as a rock at speeds . Could see it when wheels were in full turn

[@yankee2yankee216]

My recently acquired second hand GLK350 SUV is well equipped, surprise, surprise, with a 3.5L V6 (4Matic). It must have been made before the numbering system went to heck!

[@gotham61]

The bundt style wheels were available in 1972

[@johna1160]

Identical? FYI - There's this thing on your phone called a "dictionary". It's really cool, it explains the meaning of words!

[@cmdrgrantour3342]

I have one of this but the 230 and four Doors. From 1971, i Love it. I sold my old dailydriver because i Drive Just this one. IT IS Sometimes thirsty, but i make it Up for the cheap parts

[@BarmaBoysAndFamily]

Old one every day of the week. You can only afford to not worry about the new one if you lease it. But you can actually OWN the old one. Now there's a novel idea.. owning something and being happy 😉🤣

[@MichaelLee-gb7hb]

It depends how maintenance and the way driving is done by the owners of these beautiful cars. I have a 1996 C220 W202 with 255,000 miles original owner since new had the new valve cover and head gasket replaced recently and the car runs great. Also I drive and own (2) W212 E350s 2010 and a 2013 model year great cars. I agree parts are a challenge to allocate on the older Mercedes models including finding the technician that wants to work on them, but it takes time and patience. Nice video.

[@campingkillen]

My first car i 1985 was a -71 250CE (a 250 that actually was 2,5 liter as they were here in Europe...). And I have to agree on every point of your rewiev! It left the factory in a pale blue colour, when I bought it it was moss green metallic. But mid 80´s, I had to paint it Mercedes original colour "Signal rot", which is about as red as a car can get🙂Combined with a white interior and BF Goodrich whitewalls, it´s 80´s right! It was 14 years old when I bought it, but my god it was rusted out....Inner and outer sills, inner fenders front and rear, wheel arches rear, front fenders, front floors and a little in the trunk.....But other than that it was fine, mechanicaly I did NOTHING! (Exept for normal maintenance) 😀It´s always good to know some one who´s good with a welder.... I was pulled over by the cops once, and i asked "anything wrong?", No we just wanted to look at Your car, that´s how good it came out🙂

[@Weiseorgelspieler]

Nice content!

[@camtoufan3704]

You need to replace the thermostat man!

[@robertamoyaw8812]

For parts , ask Jay Leno . He knows everything about Mercedes

[@user-vx7vi3vq1c]

I’ll take the ‘72 any day.

[@michaelmartin9877]

A comment on your opening - the availability of parts for this car is better than most American cars, contact the Classic Center and you can get anything, albeit at a price. Americans with their constant changes have many cars where you can get any parts. Also highly reliable and very simple to work at. Some models are worth less, because maintenance is expensive and few cars have been kept properly (if you find one of those prices are very high)

[@Rom3_29]

I’d take old simple Benz panzer. Very easy to maintain and parts are easy to find. Only weak points are hvac potmetal levers and heater valves under the dash.

[@karpo63]

I owned that car in the mid 80's, for sure one of the best I've ever owned. Mine was white with the beige interior {I think they called it bisque ). I would eagerly choose a well running one of those over the vast majority of what's out there today. Matter of fact we had a salesperson with a brand new 280Z, the cool new rebranded one at the time, also white, she loved to let me drive to customer sites and would always offer her car BUT after some initial excitement anyone would have over the newness of the Z, I never chose her car again, it was fun ONCE and rode like crap compared to the Benz. It was an era when Mercedes was still leading and innovating and mine was 10 years old at time kicking butt against the new stuff of the era. And don't get me wrong, I like a lot of new stuff but the phrase "the don't build them like they used to" absolutely applies here (which I've been hearing for 55 years and I'm 60 so poor build quality is not a new issue, but it sure is extra prevalent these days). This old Benz was built to last AND withstand a crash. Not just withstand a crash and rattle apart for 4-5 years until the motor blows because it's over turbo charged etc. etc. Also they respond WONDERFULLY to maintenance that's why the interior still loots so good, beware the horse hair though the "Palmetto Bugs" in FLA LOVE it, have to keep "motels" under the seats!

[@Bigbillyrayfan]

There’s a slight possibility that they’re not identical.

[@alexsystems2001]

Delicious… I’m not talking about the cars though… keep doing these videos lol

[@lovetoride9646]

I recently had the fun of selecting a new work car and the choice came down to the CLE 450 and a BMW 440i. I really liked the external appearance of the Mercedes and found the interior very stylish, much more so than the BMW interior. I did not however like the quality of the Mercedes interior. Everything seemed lightweight and didn't have a nice haptic. Compared to a friend's 1993 W124 my impression was that the modern Mercedes interior is, from a quality standpoint, inferior to the older Benz. The BMW interior didn't appear as modern as the new Mercedes but everything felt much better, the ergonomics were superior and the dials were easier to read. In the Mercedes I had to put on my reading glasses to recognise the symbols on the steering wheel and to read a lot of the information on the display. In a nutshell, I found the new car's appearance to be initially very impressive but the beauty, particularly the interior, was only skin deep.

[@taylorj959a]

my grandmother had one of those, and the thing was geared so low that it felt like you could pull a house off its foundation. at freeway speeds it sounded like a sewing machine

[@_shreyash_anand]

That car is absolutely beautiful. I'd happily own one

[@michaelrice6729]

What exceptional Old Ride. Love them both but the 72 ROCKS!

[@Bulldog2833]

Now thats a real well maintained classic. What a car!! Congrats on the ownership.

[@Yanmak13]

The w114/w115 were the precursors of the E-Class. W115 -> w123 -> w124 (first officially named E-class). There is no direct lineage between the 2 vehicles. Anyway, that 250c is gorgeous!

[@marcom2248]

Back in 1972 there where no young people who wanted to "have fun" with a Mercedes, because it was way too expensive. This car was made for older and rich man.

[@palebeachbum]

That classic Mercedes is so sweet! Totally my vibe. Just a chill, classy, dignified ride with amazing build quality. That 6cyl sounds so smooth and pleasant. I could listen to it for the rest of my life. Today's Mercedes are tacky, angry-looking computers on wheels. I don't care if they're fast. If I wanted a fast car I'd buy a sports car. Mercedes slowly started losing their mojo in the 1990s as far as I'm concerned. The gearing on my 1987 MB 300E was similar. The engine revs were really high at interstate speed. A lot of cars were like that back then though. MB Tex is simply vinyl upholstery. A good quality vinyl upholstery will last a lot longer than real leather. My 1989 Lebaron had perforated blue vinyl that still looked brand new in 2006, and my 2007 GMC Canyon has vinyl that still looks new today. Unlike real leather, it doesn't require special care to make it last.

[@notroll1279]

The 250 engine had the reputation of being pretty thirsty - so most people who wanted 6 cylinders went straight for the 280 to get some more performance.

[@mbd501]

Engines have come a long ways in efficiency. 12.5 mpg out of a 143-hp engine would of course be atrocious nowadays.

[@sunahamanagai9039]

What?! $14k is like 3 times more than what I had in mind. That's a lot of money.

[@jeremyashford2145]

Thumbnail explained. Left is a classic car. Right is a shapeless blob.

[@Dankmangolion]

The older one is better by far.. It doesn't have to be modern. Less to go wrong.

[@gtir300hp]

If you get rid of those air cleaners, put the stock air cleaner on it. It will go better. Those little air cleaners on it are very restrictive.

[@warringtonfaust1088]

Don't let the 4 speed transmission fool you, the fourth gear i not overdrive like a modern 4 speed.

[@joshuadoliveiro]

The PERCEIVED quality of the C236 CLE interior is high... but the software and manufacturing consistency is horrendous... it’s something you notice when you work at an MB dealership...

[@allwinds3786]

Mercedes Benz hasn't made a decent car since 1985 when the W123 was discontinued.