From Mercedes 124 to Citroen Picasso

[Timster]

So, while working in the A and E dept in Lerwick, Shetland, I was asked if I'd go over to Foula for a few days as they needed medical cover immediately as the resident medic had to leave the island in a hurry.

The flight over was awesome, the pilot let me sit in the co-pilots seat, and fly the "islander" all the way, other than take off and landing.

However I arrived on the island (pop of 26!) to find the medics car is a citroen picasso. I'd forgotten how much I liked my E reg W124, having driven nothing else since June. This car is a year old, compared to mine which is 21 and it's horrible.

God Bless Mercedes!!

However - Foula is a spectacular place, apparently the most remote inhabited Island in the British Isles, it's a tremendous privilege to be paid for being here, so I'm going to enjoy it, despite the Citroen!

 

[coupe deville]

In the words of Monty Python- " You were lucky "

I drive a Vauxhall Astra 1.3 turdo diesel [not a typo] 40 hours a week

 

[The G.F.P]

ive not driven my w124 e320 coupe for almost 3 weeks !

but ill take it out tommorow for a spin

 

[Timster]

Amazing how quickly you get used to nice things!

I'll have even more respect for my car when I'm back on the mainland!

 

[215m3]

I do some chauffeuring for a company when Citreon supply cars to drive the celebrities to and from the events. I have been fortunate enough to have had the C Crosser, C5 and C6. Everyone who has had the picasso has hated it as it has no steering feel and the brakes are awful. It makes it very hard to chauffuer smoothly in.

 

[The G.F.P]

id rather have no car than a new car

thats one of the reasons i did not buy the CLK 55 AMG recently as its not a patch on the w124 in the way it was built on the inside as it was all plasticky and rattley and just crap where as my w124 is still soild and well made

 

[Adam230K]

you'd be surprised at how solid late w208's are actually... I definately was when i first sat in 1 (clk430, not a 55)

 

[KillerHERTZ]

you'd be surprised at how solid late w208's are actually... I definately was when i first sat in 1 (clk430, not a 55)

I would disagree - dont get me wrong, I wouldnt mind a W208, but the interior quality is lame. The dash is cheap and to easy to damage, the inside of the glovebox is the same material that Ferrio roche are packaged in & dont get me started on the trim between the rear seats! - this is from me installing a stereo in my brothers old facelift 320.

 

[coupe deville]

ive not driven my w124 e320 coupe for almost 3 weeks !

same here, been in the garage tonight to have a look/see, the garage is bone dry but no heating and the underside of car was covered in condensation with big drops of water hanging off the entire length of the exhaust. As I closed the door I,m sure she said
why don't you take me out and warm me up you lazy git
edit- just remembered I washed it before putting in garage, obviousley it was still wet underneath, going for a spin now to blow the cobwebs off

 

[Sp!ke]

I would disagree - dont get me wrong, I wouldnt mind a W208, but the interior quality is lame. The dash is cheap and to easy to damage, the inside of the glovebox is the same material that Ferrio roche are packaged in & dont get me started on the trim between the rear seats! - this is from me installing a stereo in my brothers old facelift 320.

You should try a W123, they are even more solidly made than a W124.

 

[James Rothwell]

In the words of Monty Python- " You were lucky "

I drive a Vauxhall Astra 1.3 turdo diesel [not a typo] 40 hours a week

I managed to get a 1.3CDTi Club around the Nurburgring in 10minutes and 8 seconds. Sounds terrible until you remember just how slow that Ashtray is!

 

[Pringles]

My wife regularly threatens to trade my W124 in for a Citroen Picasso !
Needless to say I made a special effort on Valentines Day.

 

[st4]

My wife regularly threatens to trade my W124 in for a Citroen Picasso !
Needless to say I made a special effort on Valentines Day.

Divorce would be easier

I recall going on holiday once and leaving behind my beloved BMW X5, and getting in to a 6month Fiat Panda was awful. It was slow, cheap and light feeling with flimsy controls and a clutch that was so light the accelerator was heavier, and the steering was so light I wondered if it were connected to the front wheels. Getting back into the BMW made me appreciate it all the more.

 

[RoseTattoo]

Personalyl I always thought teh Citroen's namesake was a bit of a fraud. He had teh look of someone who was taking the Michael, taking your money and taking your wife at teh same time. Hence I find these comments, teh negative ones, taht is, most appropriate.
Perhaps the 124 shoudl be renamed the Mercedes Wagner

 

[Adam230K]

I would disagree - dont get me wrong, I wouldnt mind a W208, but the interior quality is lame. The dash is cheap and to easy to damage, the inside of the glovebox is the same material that Ferrio roche are packaged in & dont get me started on the trim between the rear seats! - this is from me installing a stereo in my brothers old facelift 320.

Hasn't it (almost) got the same interior as a w202?

 

[KillerHERTZ]

Hasn't it (almost) got the same interior as a w202?

Not at all! I know im baised towards the W202 as an owner , but the W208 has a Chrylser quality dash where is W202 is very solid.

Completely different interiors in every way.

 

[SilverSaloon]

I drive a 1994 E300D W124 estate.

My wife has a 2001 Citroen Picasso 2.0HDI SX

....


i'd take (and do every time) the W124 over the picasso. and if we go out as a family and the W124 is there, its the W124 everytimes aswell.

i dont like the thing at all and find it quite irritating. It has however (up until recent months) been absolutly trouble free.

 

[coupe deville]

I managed to get a 1.3CDTi Club around the Nurburgring in 10minutes and 8 seconds. Sounds terrible until you remember just how slow that Ashtray is!

Thats pretty decent, isn't it close to Clarkson in a diesel jag ?
really odd engine the astra, below about 1700 revs it couldn't pull a sailor off me sister, get caught in too high a gear and you're going nowhere, when the turbo comes to life its different again, theres no inbetween, its all or nowt. Its due for change and can't come soon enough, I want my Focus back

 

[Adam230K]

Not at all! I know im baised towards the W202 as an owner , but the W208 has a Chrylser quality dash where is W202 is very solid.

Completely different interiors in every way.

I love 202's too but... you do know that W208 = W202 with a W210 front right ? (and they are exactly the same chassis)

 

[KillerHERTZ]

I love 202's too but... you do know that W208 = W202 with a W210 front right ? (and they are exactly the same chassis)

Yes I do know, so is the R170 aswell. as I said in my previous post, the interiors are completely different.

They may share the same chassis, thats where the similarities end.