Mercedes Benz E320 cabriolet W124

A fast-appreciating, solidly- built, full 4-seater convertible classic

Eight years later, do I still love it? More than ever. This is a car that doesn't shout 'look at me' or 'loadsamoney', it just quietly suggests good taste and an appreciation of the finer things in life, built to last. It's quiet, tough as a tank, reliable and a pleasure to cruise round town or long distance. But ask it to do something quickly, and the 3.2 V6 will oblige. Is it a family car? Of course it is! A little ingenuity, like packing your holiday clothes in plastic bags instead of soft or hard cases, and the boot space becomes sufficient. Add in the large space where the hood stows, and you can get in enough stuff for a fortnight. Of course if you're taking golf clubs, not so easy, but then you really should have your Dad's old Jag instead. Yes the head gasket sweats a bit of oil, they all do, but just ignore it - it won't get any worse. Front wings can go a bit rusty, but they're easy to replace. When new in the mid-1990s it cost £50,000 - more than a new one today. Tells you something about how it was built. There are plenty of specialist independents to keep it on the road, at half the price and twice the skillbase of an official dealer-s******. German class, admired and loved by those who know.

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