w202 has to be a classic

[pingping]

ive asked this question before but cant get passed the thinking that the w202 should be thought of as a modern classic or a pure classic,the design,mechanics and build of these cars to me is as good as it got for the time in which they were built,they drive superbly,you can fix things without the need for a bank loan,you can change a bulb without the need for spanners and scratching your head, or shouting expletives.
mine is 16 years old,never once let me down,and to me has everything a car should have without technological claptrap cluttering the driving experience and we all know that the more toys a car has,the more you have to fix,or a dealer visit to reset some digital switch at daft prices,im not saying the w202 is perfect,but for a car of its type,its damn close.

young clarkson on the w202
[YOUTUBE]g7UOvsLqlzU[/YOUTUBE]

 

[trapperjohn]

ive asked this question before but cant get passed the thinking that the w202 should be thought of as a modern classic or a pure classic,the design,mechanics and build of these cars to me is as good as it got for the time in which they were built,they drive superbly,you can fix things without the need for a bank loan,you can change a bulb without the need for spanners and scratching your head, or shouting expletives.
mine is 16 years old,never once let me down,and to me has everything a car should have without technological claptrap cluttering the driving experience and we all know that the more toys a car has,the more you have to fix,or a dealer visit to reset some digital switch at daft prices,im not saying the w202 is perfect,but for a car of its type,its damn close.

Is the above why yours is not for sale any more ping ping? Just prying is all.

 

[pigSTi]

I love the older style Mercedes, exterior styling is much nicer than anything current. They did go a bit Euro-boxy when they introduced those triangular rear lights in the late 90s but still nice looking.

 

[neilz]

It sounds like you're talking about the W124. I had a W202 as well, and as much as I wanted to like it I just couldn't! Design/build quality was far from that of the W124 and if you go on eBay you'll see just how cheap they are

 

[Dieselman]

How is a super slow Vauxhall Belmont with wind down windows ever going to be a classic...?

 

[MercFanUk]

I think the only w202's that'll become real classics are the AMG variants.

I do love the 202 (Well, the facelifted ones), but the general garden variety ones I doubt will ever be classed as a classic.

 

[pingping]

Is the above why yours is not for sale any more ping ping? Just prying is all.[/QUOTE]

just couldnt do it at the end of the day,its something in the way these motors were so obviously thought about a lot in the design process rather than rushed through.if i can im gonna restore it and make it gleam like it deserves,also think the people who designed these cars back then had the right approach.

 

[pingping]

How is a super slow Vauxhall Belmont with wind down windows ever going to be a classic...?

there not slow ,the acceleration isnt world beating with the 1.8 engine ill give you that, however it will do a ton easy and unlike many modern cars wont shake apart at 70.

dont see many vauxhall belmonts on the roads these days,in fact ive not seen one in 5 years at least.
however i see the w202,s every day, proves they are a classic design,they still work !

some w202s ive seen recently are getting on to 20 years old and are used as taxis in the uk ,i think that speaks for itself.

 

[renault12ts]

there not slow ,the acceleration isnt world beating with the 1.8 engine ill give you that, however it will do a ton easy and unlike many modern cars wont shake apart at 70.

dont see many vauxhall belmonts on the roads these days,in fact ive not seen one in 5 years at least.
however i see the w202,s every day, proves they are a classic design,they still work !

some w202s ive seen recently are getting on to 20 years old and are used as taxis in the uk ,i think that speaks for itself.

It's slow..I don't have a problem with that...but it's slow. The ability to do 70 doesn't mean much...I had a Morris Minor which could sit all day at 70 and get up to 85 with a trailing wind...you would agree that's a slow car?

No car has the slightest problem doing 70 these days.

It may be a Classic, but ironically you wouldn't want that version.

 

[MercFanUk]

^ I kind of agree - I've had 2 C180's, and while they are fine when there's just you and maybe one passenger, stick 4 people in it and it's a dog

 

[pingping]

well im sticking to my guns,while i respect your opinions i still believe it to be a classic,its design,ease of use and mechanical stability put it there.

remember these cars are getting up to 20 years old and are used all over the world today as personal runabouts and taxis

name me another car built in 1993 or before, that you can say has this amount of range and continued usage in 2011 ?

 

[renault12ts]

It may be a classic, time will tell...but it's still a slow classic.

 

[MercFanUk]

name me another car built in 1993 or before, that you can say has this amount of range and continued usage in 2011 ?

Vauxhall Corsa - you still see many early models around that are in remarkably good nick.

E36 BMW - as above.

Vectra (Not quite as young) - as above.

While I'm an open fan of the 202, the regular cars well never be a classic (in my opinion of course, only time will tell!). On top of that, the pre facelift are few and far between (in good condition) these days. Most have rusted through

True, the engines are tough, and the car is generally well built (rust issues aside), but that can be said for nearly every Merc - not just the C class.

Just look at the 190 - the C's predecessor. Barring the powerful versions, thats in the same boat. It's tough, reliable (for the most part), but not beautiful. Functional yes, but great to look at? I don't think so. Not ugly, just... plain.

 

[pingping]

Vauxhall Corsa - you still see many early models around that are in remarkably good nick.

E36 BMW - as above.

Vectra (Not quite as young) - as above.

While I'm an open fan of the 202, the regular cars well never be a classic (in my opinion of course, only time will tell!). On top of that, the pre facelift are few and far between (in good condition) these days. Most have rusted through

True, the engines are tough, and the car is generally well built (rust issues aside), but that can be said for nearly every Merc - not just the C class.

Just look at the 190 - the C's predecessor. Barring the powerful versions, thats in the same boat. It's tough, reliable (for the most part), but not beautiful. Functional yes, but great to look at? I don't think so. Not ugly, just... plain.

corsa no,never seen one of them as a taxi lol
vectra no way
and the bmw not sure

 

[BillyW124]

I like w202's,

would have to be the facelifted ones, and a C43!

 

[Dieselman]

name me another car built in 1993 or before, that you can say has this amount of range and continued usage in 2011 ?

Surely no W202 were built before 1993, that was the W201 range.

I cant remember the last time I saw a 1993 W202.

Got some bad news for you Sunshine. Both my older cars are older than yours, more advanced and quicker...even though they are diesel...;

They are now considered appreciating classics too, something the standard W202 will never achieve.

 

[MercFanUk]

corsa no,never seen one of them as a taxi lol
vectra no way
and the bmw not sure

Corsa taxi, ok maybe not, but daily drivers in really good condition? Sure. I have been in a vectra taxi and a bmw taxi lately. Around here, they're both not that rare.

 

[pingping]

Surely no W202 were built before 1993, that was the W201 range.

I cant remember the last time I saw a 1993 W202.

Got some bad news for you Sunshine. Both my older cars are older than yours, more advanced and quicker...even though they are diesel...;

They are now considered appreciating classics too, something the standard W202 will never achieve.

so your basis for saying the w202 will never be a classic is because its not advanced,its slow,and its not older than your diesel lol

try telling that to the owners of mercedes pagoda,s

 

[neilz]

name me another car built in 1993 or before, that you can say has this amount of range and continued usage in 2011 ?

Ford Escort
Ford Mondeo
Ford Granada
Mercedes W124 E320
Mercedes W126 SE
BMW 7-series (old ones)
Renault 5
Volkswagen Golf
Nissan Micra
Old Rover/Honda models

 

[neilz]

so your basis for saying the w202 will never be a classic is because its not advanced,its slow,and its not older than your diesel lol

try telling that to the owners of mercedes pagoda,s

Pagodas have style, these have none. This is coming from someone who has owned both and wanted to like both. I got rid of the Pagoda because it was too unreliable.