JamE55

Hey guys!

Just wanted to make an observation to which of these 2 bodystyles do you prefer better.

Thanks!

Kassav

I prefer the W211 bodystyle to that of the W210. For some reason, I just could not stand the old style. It was just not for me. On another note, my dad has got the W210 and prefers it to the W211. So to me, it is just a matter of personal taste. The W210 has got that conservative bodystyle and the W211 has got that all-round bodystyle that attracts the younger generation.

Mercedes101

I saw the W211 and W210 side by side at Mercedes of San Francisco. The exterior looks more similar than the 00/01 C-Class and 99/00 S-Class models did when they went to the new corporate look. The interior of the W211 is far superior though - like night and day. The W210 is a rolling antique compared to the look of the New E.

Tezta

James, are you thinking of trading in the 55 for a W211 500 Those HRE's would look killer on the W211. My vote would be the W211, i just saw the 211 and 210 parked next to one another at a hotel today, and i must say the 210 looks so outdated, i couldn't believe my eyes and that was a standard 211 E240, the AMG package on the 211 makes it look soo much better.

Fuzzo

don't you think this poll would be kinda biased since it's in the W211 section...

jhb

I have seen the 210 side by side with the 211. Actually, it is amazing what subtle changes like "raking" the angles can do to update a vehicle. How will they sell any E wagons for the next year (or, for that matter any CLK cabrios)?

So, on the 210 versus the 211, I voted for the 211. As to the 211 versus Fuzzo (Mr. "Hotornot"), well, as he says, I am, after all on the 211 forum, so, I'd rather not say!!!!

BenzE

I will flat out say that I prefer the 124 hands down over either 210 or 211. Yesterday, on my way out of NYC, I had a 1993 or 1994 black pearl 500E, PA tags. Dude smoked me in my 2000 E430 4matic, and looked damn cooler doing so, imo.

In terms of interior, I loved how the 124s had black dashboards. I really don't care too much for the interior of the W211. Very 21st century, I recognize. Very blue glowing in effect.

And, I prefer the 210 to the 211.

suginami

I prefer the W124 over the W210 and W211, too. The body style looks better today than it did back then.

About the W124 500E - these were very limited edition cars that were hand built by Porsche for Mercedes. They are now considered to be one of the most collectible Mercedes ever. Frank Barret, in his book "Illustrated Buyer's Guide to Mercedes Benz", gives the 92-94 500E / E500 4 stars out of 5 stars for collectibility. There are only a handful of cars that have 5 stars (i.e. Gullwings), and about 10 cars in the history of Mercedes Benz have been awarded 4 stars. This puts the W124 500E / E500's in a very exclusive group.

I still think I would chose a 500E / E500 over any other Mercedes vehicle as a daily driver.

Much has been said of the lack of quality in the W210's, about how they were engineered to a specific price point, instead of a specific quality standard, like Mercedes' used to be. And it makes sense. Last year, you could buy a brand new 2001 model E320 for about $46k. Right now, they are blowing out 2002 E320's for about $44k.

My 1993 300E 3.2 (correctly rebadged as an E320 in 1994 by Mercedes) was sold for full sticker price in 1993 for $49,600! If you adjust for inflation, that would be $74,400 in today's dollars (assuming a 3% rate of inflation).

The only good thing about the W210's was the beautiful front hood and headlight design, along with the updated center console with the digital radio / HVAC controls.

I sure hope the W211 is a better car. If so, I'll wait about 5 years for them to depreciate to a level where I can afford to pick one up for about $25k.

Until then, I'm going to continue to enjoy driving my '93 E320 with 138,000 miles. It still looks and drives like it came off the showroom floor, and I feel like a million bucks driving it.