W124 vs W210 Vote

[E55BOF]

The W124 looks old, and square. I like the looks of the W210 estate much more than the saloon, just as I did with the SAAB 9-5.

 

[Scott_F]

The W140 looks like an enlarged W124 which itself looks like an enlarged W201.

Which in turn looks looks like a reduced W126.

And so it goes on.....

 

[jamesfuller]

Which in turn looks looks like a reduced W126.

And so it goes on.....

I don't see that, I see the 201, 124 and 140 as the 80's look. To me the 126 is in the same era of looks as the 123 and 107 of the 70's.

I agree the 123 is superior to the 124 as far as quality goes. Too nice and special to be a workhorse now though.

 

[SL300-24]

I have owned many W124's and a couple of W211's giving the W210's a wide berth.

If the list included W211's they would get my vote by a mile, but I had to go for the W124.

 

[Scott_F]

I don't see that, I see the 201, 124 and 140 as the 80's look. To me the 126 is in the same era of looks as the 123 and 107 of the 70's.

Whilst there are definitely some W123 genes in the mix, the W201 and W126 share a lot of obvious design cues:

 

[RKC-benz]

W124 wins. Easy. W210 was smitten from kak by someone wielding the ugly stick. I don't know too much about driving difference; it is just the wrong assembly of mass, glass, lines, etc.

In the long run I think the convertible 124 and coupe 124 are going to do well in the classic market. Saloon and estate noble beasts too.

 

[V12]

In the USA the W210 is considered far from the "superior" vehicle in any aspect...in fact it is overall "inferior" in quality.

Only have to look while driving and see how many 124's versus 210's are still on the street.

The 210 in the eyes of most USA Merc enthusiasts was the beginning of the decline of Merc build quality, reliability and durability.

Ed A.

Take a trip to Europe some time. There are probably 20 W210s to every W124 on the road...

The list above is a pretty good start on why the W210 is technically a better car.
The change from steering box to steering rack alone makes the world of difference to the handling feel.

I could go on and on but I fear it will fall on deaf ears. I love the W124, but I don't see how any informed person can really think it superior technically to the W210.

 

[developer]

I know nothing about either, though I prefer the more balanced look of a W124.


Not on my purchase radar I'm afraid.

 

[RBYCC]

Take a trip to Europe some time. There are probably 20 W210s to every W124 on the road...

The list above is a pretty good start on why the W210 is technically a better car.
The change from steering box to steering rack alone makes the world of difference to the handling feel.

I could go on and on but I fear it will fall on deaf ears. I love the W124, but I don't see how any informed person can really think it superior technically to the W210.

Interesting 20:1 in Europe as not so in the USA.
My guess is mostly diesels in Europe

210 in USA had rust problems that the 124 didn't have.

124 global production was 1M more than global 210 production

 

[Will]

Interesting 20:1 in Europe as not so in the USA.
My guess is mostly diesels in Europe

210 in USA had rust problems that the 124 didn't have.

124 global production was 1M more than global 210 production

That's hardly surprising if you consider the 124 chassis was sold as a coupé, cabriolet, saloon and an estate/wagon.

Also, wasn't the 124 'life cycle' quite a bit longer than the 210? 124 started in around 1985/86 IIRC (C-plate in the UK), and was generally sold until around 1996 - so easy 10+ years. W210 came out around the same time as 124 sales ended, and was sold until the launch of the W211 - 2002/2003? So about 7 or maybe 8 years.

I imagine if you adjusted those figures to include sales of say the '202-based' W208 CLK cabriolet and coupés and the shorter sale period the W210 sold pretty well in it's own right.

I like both 124s and 210s. The 210 is technically the better car, rust aside. But tbh this can't be overlooked!

I think people will always have a fondness for the 124 model. You don't seem to get that with a 210. They're just a car.

The 210 is from an era of new technology. When cars started to become obsolete quicker and were not built for such a long haul.

Yep they might cover great mileages and be durable/reliable, but I don't get the feeling Mercedes intended the W210 to be around forever. The electronics and rust will see to that.

So it's a pre-facelift 124 that wins the ultimate 'quality' award for me, but if I was looking for a cheap usable E-class nowadays I'd look for a sub-£1k W210

The W210 really is tremendous value these days

 

[poormansporsche]

Im not a fan of either truth be told but the W124 wins for me just because the 210 has no "Soul" whilst the W124 has bucket loads

Same principle as W126 - v - W140 - The W140 is probably the best car technically MB have ever made but it just so joyless that I would never have one but a W126 yes please

 

[poormansporsche]

Im not blaming the W210 though - Its just progress !

 

[speedyw124]

The square lights are better than the frogeyes.
Just my old fashioned opinion, missus say's I'm always wrong.

 

[davidjpowell]

I'd not consider a W124 due to the engines. I do like a good 3.2 cylinder straight 6 diesel......

 

[shorty]

Ive always preferred the 210 to the 124 , and have owned 2 of them .

I still think a facelift 210 in Avantgarde sec with the 17inch five spoke wheels is a contemporary looking car .

Though it would seem im in the minority judging by other responses

 

[coupe addict]

After about 13 years of driving 124 coupes I bought a 210 saloon expecting it to be a step up.
When I found myself wiping away the tears every time I saw a C124 I gave up and bought another C124.
The petrol V6 I thought was really rather good, and fuel economy was much improved, but the driving experience was merely good: the driving experience in the C124 is (IMHO) fabulous.
That's a pretty subjective difference (especially when set against the very clear economy advantage of the 210), but I drive for pleasure, not of necessity, so for me it's 124 every time.
I seem to remember some years back finding a Polish web site that rated cars by their 'haptic experience' quality. The only cars rating higher than the 124 were in the £100k plus supercar bracket.

 

[BruLan]

I've had 3 W124's in various guises - never even considered a 210
Everytime I open a Classic Car magazine I look at 124 Cabs !
Love them all !!

 

[grober]

If you compare a W124 E320 petrol and a W210 E320 petrol you find that the W210 is approx 600lbs heavier- that's the effect of having 3/4 extra people on board all the time despite an all alloy engine . There is also the difference in feel [ how it revs] between a straight iron block six cylinder engine and an inherently unbalanced 90 degree alloy block V6 requiring a crankshaft damper and balance shaft to smooth things out . This is not to say one is better/more reliable than the other its a more subtle thing than that. I reckon the W124 offers a more raw agile/light driving feel where you are more in touch with the car and road. The W210 offers a more powerful/ sophisticated but slightly inert driving experience instead. Sure the rack and pinion steering may be more direct than the recirculating ball but half the enjoyment of driving comes from overcoming a car's shortcomings-you soon learn to steer a w124 into a corner that millesecond before you have to, just to overcome the inherent slack in the system. Iron out all a car's wrinkles and it becomes easily forgettable-- its the little shortcomings that give a car its character.
Summing up---- owning the W210 will offer you superior technology but the W124 is the one you will remember.

 

[Dieselman]

owning the W210 will offer you superior technology but the W124 is the one you will remember.

Like sailing and America's cup yacht...

 

[Sp!ke]

Would you say the same of the w201 that has the same steering setup?