FIVE TRIALS
We enjoy the Mercedes-benz 190E 2.3-16 and put it fully to the test
1 DAILY DRIVING
Few 1980s sports saloons get close to matching the 2.3-16’s day-to-day practicality. There’s a caveat here – namely its dogleg transmission. Some will get used to it in the first five miles, while others never will. If you’re the kind of driver who fears a steering wheel placed on the ‘wrong’ side, you’ll likely struggle with a dogleg. Having said that, we still occasionally find ourselves double checking that first gear location even after years of driving them. This is pretty much the only cross on this Merc’s scorecard and its reliability, comfort, build quality and ease of use in all other areas more than make up for it.
2 IN THE SERVICE BAY
There’s a good reason why fans of the brand look back at the 1980s with misty eyes. It’s said over and over again, but this era really was a high-water mark. The engineering attention that has clearly been focused upon every facet of this machine defies belief. You’ll know what we mean once you’ve taken one apart. Not that you’ll have to do that too often – with the right maintenance, these Mercs can (and do) rack up 250k+ miles on original engines and transmissions. The downside of this near-peerless reliability is that when something does break, it’s usually quite expensive to fix.
3 ON THE SHOW CIRCUIT
The W201 has been viewed as a modern classic for a while, with the twin-cam models spearheading that appreciation. That’s beginning to trickle down to the Sportline and 2.6 190Es as well and its parent firm hasn’t forgotten them, with a few getting modern running gear fitted by M-B engineers, just for the hell of it. Ironically, the main thing standing in the way of the 190E’s wider acceptance is its success in period. Nearly 1.9 million 190Es were made between 1983 and 1992 (circa 20k 16vs) and thousands remain taxed today. That figure drops sharply for the 2.3- and 2.5-16s and sought-after Evolution models.
4 THE LONG WEEKEND
Despite being classed as a ‘compact’ saloon, the 190 only really compromises its rear passenger space. Those back seats are fine for a short hop but you’ll prefer the roomier confines of the front pews if you’re tall. The back is more than adequate for kids and young teens but Cossies have two bolstered rear seats, so are strict four-seaters. If you needed more room, Mercedes-benz was happy to sell you a mechanically near-identical W124. Boot space is very good, despite also enclosing the fuel tank, which sits upright against a rear bulkhead. The modest engine means good economy, too – you’ll easily see mid-30s mpg.
5 THE B-ROAD BLAST
A 190E is a great driver’s car in almost any form. The 2.3’s soundtrack might lack the character of its six-cylinder cousin but it thrives on revs. You need to work the gearbox hard but changes are neat and swift – but only if you let the stick self-centre. Handling is progressive and forgiving with an unexpectedly high level of grip. Braking is similarly confidence-inspiring, only starting to struggle under fast circuit conditions. Steering is via a box rather than a rack, but should still be accurate. It not, there’s likely wear in the box or worn ball joints in the drag links – of which there are six.
ENGINE 2299cc/4-cyl/dohc POWER 182bhp@6200rpm TORQUE 173lb ft@4500rpm MAXIMUM SPEED 146mph 0-60MPH 7.8sec FUEL CONSUMPTION 25-34mpg TRANSMISSION RWD, five-speed manual ENGINE OIL Castrol GTX Ultraclean 10w40 A3/B4 5.0 litres AXLE OIL Castrol Transmax Universal LL 80w90 1.1 litres