1981 Mercedes-Benz W123 240D review from North America

One of the vacuum-powered door locks developed a leak and caused a quirk such that the engine would not turn off unless the passenger door was locked. This went from being initially humorous to annoying, but was easily remedied by plugging off the appropriate vacuum line under the hood. The vacuum locks are a persistent and common problem.

The car has a few oil leaks.

After owning an abused Alfa Romeo Spider, I now own an abused 240D :) The difference in quality is immediately apparent with the Benz. The car still feels rock solid and straight despite the rather huge front bash the previous owners have bestowed upon it. Additionally, all the car's switches and functions work perfectly and feel good in contrast with the Alfa.

I got the car for free, so the price was certainly right, but even pristine examples are normally dirt cheap.

The low comfort score is due to the noise and high gearing of the engine. The seats are actually very comfortable and one sits nice and high with an upright chair-like position, which is a refreshing change from your typical modern sedan. The windshield is also at a nice tall angle and the car feels very roomy and airy, despite it's relatively small size.

Interior comfort and durability get high marks. The car also has a great sense of style and is perfect for the hippie type or anyone who can appreciate old-school chromeyness over modern anonymity. Another positive point is that the body panels feel like they're an inch thick, which, in addition to the large mouldings on the side, means you can park anywhere worry-free.

The turning radius is good and you can squeeze around tight angles pretty well, even on the crowded streets of Boston, which is the car's initial and present stomping grounds (as evidenced by the large amount of ancient "back bay" parking stickers in the rear window).

The fuel economy of the diesel is outstanding as is the durability. The odometer is broken and the estimated mileage is probably around twice the indicated number, certainly over 200k. This is on an abused car and there are in essence no problems to speak of!

It is the perfect beater due to its dependability and super minimal costs to run, however I wouldn't recommend it for long trips only, because the engine noise and low speed would get to you.