The day my 190E did me proud

[Scudetto]

today, i arranged to meet my bessie mate circa: 25 years at his/his family home, for a catch up over lunch.

I got there on time, but at the last minute he'd been called to collect his sister (who I've not seen for maybe three years) from the train station. So, meantime, I popped inside and had a nice cup of tea with my mate's lovely mum. (An aside; when you and your mates move out from the family home, your mums no longer get to chat with the friends their kiddies grew up with, nor do you get to chat or meet your mate's folks that you've known for all those formative years. My mum summed it up nicely; 'g, when you left home, I lost you being at home, but I also lost all of your lifelong friends calling for you, and me having a bit of chit chat with them on the phone. You finally moving out hurt; but now the phone no longer rings with your friends calling and chatting with me, just rubs it in. I lost you, and your friends I've known for years calling home, too").

Fast forward:

My mate's sister comes through the door and gives me the biggest hug, ever. She follows this with another hug. Unexpected - but no less welcome - she says: "I love your car. It is beautiful. It looks [her words] immaculately tailored." (this is ok - I can live with this!)

Later that day...my mate has done two red-eye flights this week, driven from London at the crack of dawn to get home, and he's bushed. I can see it, sense it. Even his Audi Q7 looks jaded. "Mate", he says, "do you mind driving us to lunch?". Seeing his fatigue, I say no problemo...

En route to lunch, we chat about this, we chat about that, we laugh about this, and while laughing about that, he suddenly interrupts with..."...i have to say, this is a lovely car. The smooth ride, it is so quiet, and it's so comfy. Why aren't current Mercedes comfy like this? This car is so right" [although our careers are different, my mate and I have spent a lot of time traveling as business passengers in the most recent two generations of E-Klasse...I know where he's coming from, NVH-wise...]

In a nutshell; the looks of the 190 were loved. The hushed, smooth ride and limo-serenity and calm were lapped up, too.

Not bad for a 20 year old version of a 30 year old concept.

I've got to say...i'm so impressed with this little Merc. It is such a nice wee car

[Happy Man]

Nice to hear you're still enjoying it mate

[Green Cloverleaf]

My dad had a 190E, and sold it for a C-class. He regretted that decision from the moment he got the C-class home . It was a catelogue of minor issues and disappointments, whereas the 190E never missed a beat, and always felt special.

The 190E has a real feel of quality - always felt heavy, precise and built like a tank. They don't make them like that any more .

G - this one's a keeper .

[MalcQV]

I always wanted a 190E. I was going to add some aftermarket alloys (t'was the mid 80's).
I couldn't afford it and when I could my then wife had other ideas.