Driving a vintage vehicle may be enticing, but classic car ownership isn’t always interesting for everyone. Sure, they can be stylish, but dealing with an old ignition system or a flooded carburettor can get annoying. There’s also the potential nightmare of rust.
However, if you love classic cars and are looking for affordable ones to get you into the vintage car owners world, there are some vehicles like the W124 Mercedes-Benz you should consider.
In Nigeria, aside from serving as a vintage car, they are still great vehicle options for new vehicle drivers.
The W124 Mercedes-Benz is the Best Classic Car for New Drivers
While the W123 and the W124 are durable classic luxury cars, the W123’s reputation was built on its longevity. Experts call it “the epitome of Mercedes-Benz quality,” and Road & Track lists it as one of “the…best classic cars for daily driving.” So, why suggest the W124 over the W123?
There are several reasons why the W124 Mercedes-Benz is a better choice for new classic car owners than the W123.
Yes, the W123 is a durable car, but it’s not necessarily reliable. They have relatively short maintenance schedules, and parts are getting expensive. Also, while they were reasonably rust-proof by ‘70s and ‘80s standards, they’re not immune to rust.
Meanwhile, it’s not like the W124 Mercedes-Benz is poorly built in comparison. Experts describe it as “famously bulletproof,” while another reviewer calls it “among the last of the traditionally overbuilt and over-engineered Mercedes-Benz road cars.” That ‘bank-vault’ feel old Mercs have?
It’s the first true E-Class, one of the most reliable Mercedes models. But because the last W124 was built in the mid-to-late ‘90s, it has several modern touches the W123 lacks. For example, the W124 Mercedes-Benz has independent rear suspension, automatic seatbelt tensioners, and more advanced crumple zones. It also has ABS, more airbags, a modern O2 sensor to improve fuel efficiency and emissions, and optional AWD.
Because it’s an E-Class, it has luxury features like soft-close doors, leather upholstery, electronically adjusting headrests, and, on wagon models, self-levelling rear suspension. Plus, its lone windshield wiper’s design is so effective Koenigsegg still uses it, Autocar reports.
Whether AMG-modified wagon or 500E sedan, there’s a W124 Mercedes-Benz for everyone
Speaking of wagons, that’s another reason why a W124 Mercedes-Benz is the best classic car beginners can get. Mercedes offered it with various turbodiesel and gasoline engines and in multiple body styles. You can get a W124 as a coupe, a convertible, a wagon, and a sedan. And each one has its own special touches.
When it comes to W124 sedans, arguably the most desirable is the Mercedes-Benz 500E, later renamed the E500. Although Porsche helped assemble and re-engineer it, it’s still a W124 sedan. Essentially, every sedan that’s come after the W124 has copied its design, and its drag coefficient is still impressively low by modern standards.
The W124 Mercedes-Benz also set the stage for another famous sedan: the AMG Hammer. While it wasn’t the first AMG-tuned Mercedes, the Hammer solidified the firm as a performance powerhouse. And with a 355-hp 5.5-litre V8, the AMG Hammer could out-accelerate some supercars, Car and Driver reports.
Plus, there were even some AMG-tweaked W124 Mercedes-Benz wagons. Technically, only one of these is a Hammer wagon. The rest are Japanese-market 300TEs and 320TEs (‘T’ for ‘Touring,’ ‘E’ for ‘E-Class’) fitted with body kits, new wheels, sport seats, and larger engines. But even a base 300TE could match some contemporary sports cars in acceleration, while still providing excellent cargo space and a comfortable ride.
W124 Mercedes-Benz is Durable, Easy to work on, and still Affordable
W124 Mercedes-Benz makes for a durable classic car. And it’s simple enough for a home mechanic to service; plus, parts are still plentiful. But there are a few areas to check before you get one.
Besides age-related issues like rust, worn gaskets, and old suspension bushings, arguably the biggest issue is the wiring harness. At the time, Mercedes used a biodegradable harness that often degraded, leading to electrical problems and even overheating issues or fires. And if overheating remains an issue, the engine’s cylinder head can crack. So, before you buy, check to see if the wiring harness and head gasket have been replaced.
Additionally, early four-cylinder engines had issues with stretched timing chains. But 1988-and-later W124s don’t suffer this problem, and neither do the six-cylinder models. And some later four-cylinder models had stretched head bolts, but most have been replaced by now.
Conclusion
There’s one more reason why a W124 Mercedes-Benz might be the best classic car for first-time drivers. Apart from the 500E and the rarer AMG models, W124s are still fairly affordable. W124s are still fairly affordable in Nigeria to date. If you are lucky to find it in the market, the price is likely going to be below N2 million, which is a catch for a comfortable, practical, and durable classic car.
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