MERCEDES 230CE 1988
DIPSTICK DAVE SHIMMEL
Introduced in 1985 and produced until 1992. It is 8.5cm shorter than the sedan, 3.4cm lower but 240kg heavier. It’s 2.3 litre 4-cylinder engine delivers 100 kw of power and 190 N-m torque which apparently can propel it to 200 km/h; which I haven’t tried.
Why I chose the 230CE
I had owned a 1990 W124 200TE manual estate for 14 years covering over 200,000km in the UK and here after migrating in 1998. Its condition on sale could be compared to a 5-year-old car: it still had the original clutch and an immaculate interior except for a small area of wear to the side of the driver’s seat.
Following the ‘wagon’ I had two Jaguars – good cars but I could never quite get the driver’s seats in the right position and they just weren’t built as well as the 200TE.
So, in 2010 I decided it was time for a change. With the kids about to start driving I didn’t need anything large but still wanted to be able to carry their friends and the occasional hockey goalie bag. I’d always liked the style of the W124 coupe and looked at one in Perth and another in Sydney but they weren’t in the condition I like and didn’t inspire me so I decided to have another look for a Bristol, something I’d been hankering over for 20+ years.
Bristols are hand built quirky cars, in the Rolls Royce price bracket when new, and I looked at 70s and 80s models priced between GBP 15,000 and 30,000 in London, Wales and the Midlands. I didn’t find what I hoped for and, while in the Midlands, I decided to have a quick look at a 124 coupe I’d seen advertised on the web by specialist used Mercedes dealer, Tristar.
On arrival at Tristar the coupe was outside ready for inspection and I was immediately struck by how well everything fitted together on the Mercedes in comparison to the Bristols. I got in, adjusted the driving seat once (and haven’t moved it since) and went for a drive.
Everything about it immediately felt just right: steering was perfectly weighted with a fantastic turning circle; suspension was not too soft but not too firm; engine was responsive and the car felt nimble; no fumbling for controls; interior as new with original radio/cassette; exterior virtually unmarked. I even liked the smoke silver colour which looked silver in the failing light but champagne under showroom lights.
Included in the coupe’s documents were registration documents, MOT certificates and service records to support its 43,000 miles 2 owner history, plus the original purchase invoice for GBP30,949 (equating to around 3 times the average salary in the UK in 1988).
The invoice lists the various manufacturer’s extras ordered; metallic paint, electric sunroof, automatic gearbox, cruise control, front arm rest, air-conditioning (thankfully!), electric windows, alloy wheel hubs and Blaupunkt radio/cassette.
Back in the showroom I did a thorough inspection and was particularly enthralled with the pillar-less windows which I correctly anticipated would be perfect for spring and autumn motoring in Perth. Also, the car has a cloth interior, which I prefer: warm in winter and not sticky in summer when I like to drive with windows down and not use the air-conditioning.
So I wrote the dealer a cheque (which subsequently my bank rejected because they didn’t recognize my signature 30 years after I had originally opened the account as a teenager in the UK) and drove away in my very ordinary hire car.
On arrival I had to replace some rubbers that had perished and do the usual compliance stuff and in the 10 years since I’ve covered approximately 130,000 km.
Fuel consumption has averaged 9.7 litres per 100 km which I think is amazing for a 32-year-old car.
I’ve had a fitted cover made to keep the dust off in summer and so the cat doesn’t mark the bonnet when he jumps on it, although I’ve scared him off enough times now he seems to have found more relaxing bonnets to sit on.
I enjoy every drive I take the coupe on, even more so when all the windows are down and the sunroof open. Alasdair Smith has been replacing various rubbers and other bits underneath that have worn over the years and I look forward to many more happy km’s.
The pictures are from when I bought the car, but I don’t think it looks much different now.
D Shimell