Generations (Mercedes E-class)

[Vinsanity]

Apologies to 2o6 for stealing his thread idea. I was bored. 

W123


W124


W210


W211


W212

[Cookie Monster]

124

[CALL_911]

I think my favorite E-Class to date is the W124 500E. So I'll vote for that.

[cawimmer430]

You forgot two other generations of 'E-Class' cars.

W121


and

W114/W115



My choices:
1) W123  
2) W114/W115
3) W212
4) W210
5) W121
6) W211
7) W124

[2o6]

W210, to me, it's the epitome of what a luxury car of that era should be and look like.

[S204STi]

W124, particularly that Black Edition one or whatever it was called that looked like pure sex on wheels.

[Rupert]

W124. I actually like the new model a lot, too.

[Laconian]

I think the 210 was successful in launching Mercedes forward into the next millenium. The 124 was classy but really dated looking by the end of its run. I'm glad Mercedes didn't pull a Jaguar with that model by trapping themselves in the past.

[the Teuton]

I think the 211 was the ultimate evolution of the neo Mercedes. It may not be as sophisticated as the new car, but it's stately. The new one is just kinda garish.

[Colin]

I can't warm to the looks of the W212. Like most current designs it is simply too fussy with too many lines and angles.

All the earlier cars have a purity of line that makes them look quite attractive. Hard to pick a favourite. The only one I've driven is a W210, and I liked that. I do rather like the old Pontons, though, but probably the Neue Klasse (W114/115) are the best of the lot, in my mind. A W123 T would be good, though.   

[sportyaccordy]

God damn this is tough. I love the solidarity + reliability of the W124, but I love the look in and out of the W210. I think the W210 might be the most beautiful Benz sedan of all time. Plus it had the 5 spd AT, that 5.5 V8... I would seriously consider an E430 wagon

I'm going with the W210 even w/its quality issues. I just love its design

[omicron]

Ooh, good question. I'm going to say W211 for its overall competence. The W124 and 210 are lovely, too, but don't quite achieve the same range-wide ability as the 211. With that said, there are individual 124 and 210 models for which I'd sell a limb or two - the E55, for example, or 300CE-24.

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

Easy choice! 211

[Vinsanity]

I think the 210 was successful in launching Mercedes forward into the next millenium. The 124 was classy but really dated looking by the end of its run. I'm glad Mercedes didn't pull a Jaguar with that model by trapping themselves in the past.

God damn this is tough. I love the solidarity + reliability of the W124, but I love the look in and out of the W210. I think the W210 might be the most beautiful Benz sedan of all time.

I agree with both of these. The W123 and W124 had the legendary durability and solid construction, but the W210 ushered in a new era of Mercedes-Benz styling elegance; it will probably be remembered as a quintessential design of the 1990's, and of Mercedes-Benz's overall history.

It was a very tough choice, but I ended up going with the W210 because the other E-classes that followed were evolutions that stemmed from that design (though the new one has some of that chiseled W124 feel)

[hotrodalex]

124, followed by the 211