1987 Mercedes-Benz 190 E review from North America

The insturment cluster, the tachometer and odometer in particular have developed a touchy attitude toward their duty. At first the tachometer died, and the first attempted repair resulted in a four hour adventure through the inner workings of the dash board, however the the repair became routine by the third time. The next to fall was the odometer a minor inconvenience after learning the routine.

A particularly menacing issue is the lack of cup holders. There is one for the driver quite nicely fitted to the door and that is it. All passengers on their own for drinks and storage.

Overall this Mercedes-Benz lives up to its

hood ornament, reliability, acceptable performance, and the impressive entry-level luxury expected from "the Baby Benz". During four years of ownership I have developed a intimate understanding of the motor vehicle. Manufacturing quality is present, the materials used meet expectations of the car. Performance is lovely until about 110 miles per hour, where the steering gets buttery. Navigating parking lots, and tight parallel parking spaces is considerably easier than bigger E-classes, yet the 190 maintains the standards of luxury for era. Its four-cylinder provides a smooth balance of reliability, performance, and economy.

In wet conditions, or while gunning it, the tail end will become unstable and make handling at high speed sometimes very difficult, or on winding roads after a good rain.