Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate (86-)
  • Economy

    Value

    5 out of 5 5.0

    Bought for £1200, with 104K & History. £2k is better entry level. Can be a risk if you don't know what you're buying into…

    Costs

    3 out of 5 3.0

    Use German & Swedish for parts. Can be as cheap as a VW Passat to run. Do your research first. 300's can be juicy. Main Dealer prices are v. high! Not much goes wrong. service history is a must for peace of mind.

  • On the road

    Driving

    4 out of 5 4.0

    Not that involving, but laid back cruiser. Eats miles. Not the 'old mans' car many would think.

    Performance

    4 out of 5 4.0

    1400kgs 136bhp 31+Mpg 122mph 0-60 10.4sec = OK for the real world.

  • Living with it

    Reliability

    5 out of 5 5.0

    TLC is all if you are to avoid big bills. Have to spend £600 to bring this car up to scratch That's a major service, tailgate struts, new set of tyres and a propshaft donut. Worth it, books at £3000. Will do 500k miles if looked after.

    Image

    5 out of 5 5.0

    Inverted POSH. Why spend £37K??? Reliable. Bulletproof if cared for. Better than BMW. M-B The ultimate owners car, if not to drive.

    Comfort

    5 out of 5 5.0

    Make sure self-levelling is topped up for magic carpet ride and less roll. Also propshaft can vibe if not checked. Very quiet car.

  • Security and Service

    Security

    3 out of 5 3.0

    Not that good. Has floor locker in mine, not 7 seats. Needs decent Alarm/Immobiliser.

    Service

    4 out of 5 4.0

    Rarely see anything this old but still a warm welcome...

  • Problems and Ownership

    Problems

    Engine

    Smooth and quiet, use Optimax for best results.

    Other

    ABS to be sorted, and misc. minor electrical problems all easily sorted. Low tech 14 year old car, hewn from granite.

    Ownership

    Did you buy the car new?

    Used

    Would you buy the same model again?

    Yes

    Did you buy from the same manufacturer again?

    Yes