Mercedes Benz has had dominated the world of motor-sport scenes, but very rarely on the rally championship. Though it had won Safari Rally in three consecutive years from 1959 to 1960 and three top placements in 1960 Monte Carlo Rally, it had never won any WRC event let alone the WRC Round in Portugal.
The fact that any Mercedes Benz product prior to the cost cutting era in early 1990s, each carries the well known “Over engineered” tag label has not sufficiently entitled to be Over Rally Engineered. Likewise, the German brand involvements to amongst other; Brawn, McLaren, Tyrrell and recently Mercedes GP Petronas Formula One Team has not endorsed the brand to have a solid quality perceived values.
But on the contrary such perceived values have been lingering to us ever since we learn how to read at the school. This may have been applicable up to the generation who survives through the Nazi era.
Unfortunately many have found the later models do not live up to its reputation any longer in particular since the last W124 rolled out the factory floor. Due to its cost cutting measures and beginning with the introduction of the C Class, the Daimler has dropped altogether its famous “Over engineered” tag line.
To many enthusiasts W124 or even the older W123 represent a truly solid engineered classic Benz. Despite of its more than 15 years old Benz, the W124 is still a good looking car with modern ambiance interior.
The combination of excellent ergonomic driving position with firm supportive seats with unmatched driving quality; which characterize a typical Mercedes Benz’s solid feeling. Even after 100 thousand km this 1985 Mercedes Benz 300E does still have a good soft and smooth clutch feeling. Though the long shifts throw and the big steering wheel needs to get accustomed to compare to today’s modern cars.
In fact to certain extend its long shifts throw, big steering wheel and gear ratio is quite fun for cross country driving blast once a while as well as being agile but not for the typical bumper to bumper traffic jam which unfortunately hampers Jakarta on daily basis. This Mercedes Benz 300E is currently undergoing ownership change at close to US $ 5,000. Inside it is still original but outside it has been transformed into a 1995 model look alike.
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