1983 Mercedes-Benz W123 230CE Coupe review from UK and Ireland

When I have done a short journey from cold, I try to start it again and it doesn't want to. It does eventually start, I suppose you could call it a characteristic.

You cannot take it through a regular car wash. Due to the way the windows part in the middle, some water leaked in and left a watermark on the seats. I learnt from that and only hand wash now.

On the driver's seat the cloth has become a little worn on the lower edge of the back rest. I expect this is down to the car being 18 years old, and used regularly.

I have only had this car for a short time now and it is definitely the car for me.

It is the most comfortable ride I have had for a long time. The seats are more cushy than the ones in my lounge.

It accelerates very quickly for a heavy car and is quite good around corners, it does wallow a little but I don't mind. If I wanted good handling I would have bought a Mini.

I didn't really know much about this type of car before I owned one. It's the small things which make you realise you are driving a Mercedes, like the driver and passenger sun visors which both contain light-up Vanity Mirrors. The First Aid kit on the rear parcel shelf has never been used. The carpets are of a fine quality that even after 18 years still feel like new.

There is only one thing I'm not sure about with this car - the size of the steering wheel. It makes you think you might be driving a bus.

Something I have to mention about the car are the looks it gets. Never before had Mercedes, Audi, Jaguar and Land Rover drivers glanced at me in my old Triumph 1500, let alone let me pull out in front of them at a junction.

This car makes you feel special.

When you mess about with the windows - which puts on a good show - making the front an back slide together so smoothly looks really nice, You do hear the odd "oh look at that" which makes me even more smug!

I love this car and have only had good comments from others too.