FIVE TRIALS

We enjoy the Mercedes-Benz 500 E and put it fully to the test

1 DAILY DRIVING

If we were attempting to use, say, a Lotus Carlton daily, we’d soon either give up, or have a left leg like Dave Bautista’s. As the 500 E slurs through its own ratios, there’s no such need for a workout. The entire purpose of the 500 E is to cover huge amounts of ground on a regular basis. It’s genuinely as refined and comfortable as a Bentley and about as well-built. The W124 model is regarded as an automotive cockroach for good reason, but one hand-built by Porsche raises the bar further still. Fuel economy and maintenance costs are likely to be your only real sticking points here.

2 IN THE SERVICE BAY

These are some of the best put-together and thought-out cars in the classic era. The M119 engine is a tight fit however, restricting maintenance access somewhat, leading to higher labour costs than with lesser W124s. Though components tend to last, when the do fail they’re usually expensive but the good news is that specialists, and even MercedesBenz, will usually have the parts you need. The biodegradable engine loom wiring is the costliest problem with these cars. Chances are though, it will have either been fixed or isn’t an issue if it hasn’t caused any problems by now.

3 ON THE SHOW CIRCUIT

There’s plenty of love for the 500 E/E500 (crossover year was the 1994 model year) but outside of classic Mercedes-Benz circles there’s also a little apathy. Many simply see them as fast W124s rather than handbuilt Porsche saloons. The same can’t be said of the conceptually similar Audi RS2, oddly. Then again, this harks back to the car’s deliberate subtlety. Do you really want one of these to be noticed? There are a lot of other classics that will make you stand out, if that’s your thing. Having said all this however, the wider old car movement is finally recognising the many talents of the W124 range.

4 THE LONG WEEKEND

This is a big Mercedes-Benz with plenty of room, though the substantial rear differential – needed to tame all that power – means that there’s no room for a middle seat in the back. Even as a four-seater there’s still plenty of space, plus a generous boot for all the luggage you could possibly need for a weekend away. As these are such usable classics, we’d suggest a trip back to its homeland to sample some of the de-restricted autobahns that this car was built to annihilate. Perhaps a rather appropriate way to take in the Mercedes-Benz and Porsche museums in Stuttgart?

5 THE B-ROAD BLAST

We’re not admitting that this phenomenal machine has a weakness, but if we did, this is probably as close as it gets. Unlike some of its rivals, the 500 E doesn’t shrink around you on a B-road, quite the opposite in fact. It’s a large car and always feels like it. That solidity and scale is a benefit on an open A-road, but it can turn into a bit of a liability on a tight rural route. It’s by no means hopeless, in fact it can be hustled along nicely, but rapid deviations in direction can catch it out. Just don’t expect it to handle like a hot hatch, okay?