►Follow us on Instagram @autogefuehl and @thomas.letsgo ►Subscribe here: czcams.com/users/autogefuehl ►Compare the first Mercedes S-Class W116: czcams.com/video/q3YSiKvxJCU/video.html ►Compare the all-new Mercedes C-Class W206: czcams.com/video/72DgomxgHt8/video.html 00:00 Mercedes 190 introduction 00:20 Baby-Benz design 00:40 Length of today’s A-Class! 01:21 Ripped tail lamps 02:05 Engine 02:23 Key fob W201 vs W206 02:40 Interior W201 04:08 Cockpit comparison old vs new 04:21 Rear seating 04:30 Trunk 04:57 Driving the Baby Benz 12:51 Old vs new C-Class #Mercedes #MercedesCClass Transparency note: Autogefühl videos are independent and free from editorial influence on opinion and rating. But since manufacturers enable us to do the reviews in the first place, for legal reasons this video is marked as _advertisement_.
My parents bought a black metallic 190E 2.0 Automatic in 1985. They drove it for well over 300.000 km and 15 years, and it was the first car I ever rode in. A great car it is!
Stunning 190. It was my fist car and I still own it 30 years later. Got an eclass cabriolet now, but still prefer the looks and classic lines of the 190. Iconic
hey mate, just a couple of questions about your experience with the ownership of this model. How many km on the chassis? and is the engine been replaced? Is it easy to maintain yourself? thanks
I came from a middle class family, I remember when my uncle (who owns a successful restaurant) got one of this beautiful car. I was 7 when I first git into this car, I was blown away by the interior and the 15 inch rims. At the time, regular cars had 12 - 13 inch rims
I don’t know about you but I would still take this over the modern Mercedes. Just add a modern touchscreen for navigation if you wanted and Bluetooth speakers for music. This vehicle is just a classic. You can also run this vehicle forever and take care of everything yourself. Thanks Thomas for showing this gem!
I drive a 90's C class as a daily, smartphone and cassette to aux is literally enough to make it a great comfortable car. and they are so reliable it is insane.
190, a great car in every sense. Design and engineering in a perfect harmony. The new C-class looks like a cheap Hyundai vs. the timeless elegance of 190. MB should be ashamed.
My brother had a brand new 190E 2.0 in 1993 and I only drove it once. That was enough, so I bought the facelift 190E 2.6 in 2000. What a lovely drive it was. Fully loaded with A/C, front electric seats and an upgraded steering wheel with the airbag. I added the alloys afterwards. Looked stunning, drove incredibly well. So… I bought another two recently! One as a backup 😆. I would pick the 190E 2.6 any day. German engineering at its best. I will keep one of them forever!
I can't stand the thin can metal sound when opening or closing doors. Some brands don't seem to care about this. A bit of damping in the doors would resolve this and would even benefit noise insulation.
The designs of Bruno Sacco were revolutionary and the epitome of restrained elegance. I’d take the old over the new.. I had an obsession with Mercedes from this era as a 9-year-old, and I think the design cues from this time period were ahead of their time. Bravo and thank you Autogefühl!
@@kktomm .. +1. "The Best or Nothing" .. Our MY94 E-320 C124 Coupe @ 57,000 miles is like new.. Gotta luv those engineers. .. Shame on those accountants......
I would take the old version. I have always loved the rugged simplicity of the 190. Great video Thomas, I would love to see more great classic reviews occasionally.
My 190e 2.6 has been a daily workhorse for me since Oct. 2009. Have done almost all of my own maintenance for 140,000 miles...I have the highest praise for the engineering & materials. Thank you for this enjoyable vid!
These cars are very well engineered. When you purchased a Mercedes Benz back in the day, the cars as standard were fairly basic when it came to luxuries. You had to pay quite a lot of money to get the luxuries that other brands had as standard. But what you did get as standard and were paying the extra for when purchasing a Mercedes was the best engineered cars in the world and good customer service. Sadly today this is no longer the case. Mercedes cars are no longer well built and reliable and in some models do not install their own engines and use 1.3 litre Renault engines. Thanks for reviewing a great car.
I drove a few 190's over the years.I still remember the huge steering wheel and the most complicated front wiper ever!It looks so clean and modern even now,todays Benz look as if theyve been melted with a blowtorch!
Which one would i take home? The 190e every time! Peak Mercedes in my opinion. As others have said, it was reliable, over engineered and you really felt the car was built like a tank and would out live you. It was also an era where the higher cost for the 3 pointed star was justified over the competition. Perception wise, if you owned this back in the day, you had done well in life and this car was a symbol of wealth and discreet elegance. Modern mercedes no longer offers anything above competition and is all show/bling over engineering and the perception now is that you must have got a good lease deal or you are a salesman if you are seen in one.
@@bobinpune Horrible??? Mine 190 still feel solid without any creak or rattle interior after 30 years. My mom new 2019 GLC250d, door panels start creaking after a few months.
I came out of hospital when I was born, in 1996, in a 1994 190. This was a time when Mercedes were obsessed with quality and durability and genuinely years ahead of everyone else. The staunch Teutonic, minimalist and function design is timeless. Shame they never carried this into the new millennia. These old Mercs represent the "everything you need and nothing you don't". When stripped back, this car proves that actually, this gets you from A to B in more or less the same refinement as a modern £45k car.
Bruno Sacco's masterpiece. I can still recall the launch in late 1982. The UK's 'Car' magazine called it 'the best small car in the world'. They were right. W201 remains, for me, the definitive compact Mercedes-Benz.
@@kristians2704 If you want something you can maintain without wasting lots of money, its better. Then you also have some things that actually are better. The interior quality for example. The gauges and instruments are easier and more clear to read and operate. Also the suspension is better under some circumstances.
The old ones are 3x more solid. You feel that in everything. The new ones consist of a block of plastic. When you put my 300ce next to a new model, you see a world of difference in build quality and real style.. That's why a new one is worth nothing after 5 years and my 300ce is worth 25,000 dollars more in 10 years.
Thank you Thomas, I always enjoy your videos. Your analysis is spot on as regards this W201. I still have my wife’s 1993 190e as a ‘keeper’. Bruno Sacco designs were so clean but with low cd’s. Today’s vehicles are anonymous as regards their copy cat ‘design’. Too much unnecessary technology compared to older classics. Yes, I understand that they larger and heavier due to crash performance but the fun is lacking. Easier to drive the 190 on country back roads compared to the larger vehicles of today. I don’t like taking the E class estate on narrow lanes. Unlike today’s version it will still be around in another 28 years as there is no built in electronic obsolescence!. 🏴 So an easy choice. No constant sensor problems that require replacement. Truly‘bulletproof’ and truly‘Built to last’ from the time when the cars were over-engineered’ and unlike later when the accountants were in charge and not as then the engineers.
I have a 1992 2.6 Sportline that I've been restoring for 10 years. Yes, absolutely one of the most profound creations of MB. Back when Mercedes were masters in combining elegant with pedestrian, sophistication with simplicity, all engineered with integrity and truly built to last. And just plain fun to drive.
One of the greatest cars ever made, just bought a 2.6 which just pulls like a train, love these 190's reminds me of my childhood,beats most modern cars to be honest in many aspects after all these years!, great review and hope you do a few more on 123s 124s and 126s.....
My mom, while living in England (we are Americans) ordered a LHD 1984 190E 2.3 to take back to the states after bravely driving it for months there. Her next station was in Colorado and I drove with her from California through Nevada and Wyoming, great, solid car even as its power was modest. She was so proud of that car and kept it for 20+ years.
What a fabulous C class. If it were brought back with minor updates I would still buy this shape. Well proportioned and looks tank-like. It has character, unlike the majority of cars today.
I owned a 1989 2.6. I loved it then, and it’s still one of my favorite cars. The layout and usefulness of controls was perfect. I’d gladly swap my modern M-B for one of these, if I could get it new again!
190 it is for me, I love the analogue feel of older cars that let you build a connection with the car whereas newer cars only provide an experience which at times can be superficial. Plus with how in demand young timers are right now, you probably won't lose too much money owning it.
The 190 is a living dream of Mercedes Nostalgia ...just imagine this Baby Benz with a modern electric EQS Powertrain and Hyperscreen...and everything feels restomod RIGHT !
This specific limited edition special model is the 2.3 8v and also the very first introduction to Avantgarde, the beauty named Avantgarde sportsline “Azurro”. Only made 950!!! in total all in 1992. I have one of them 😀 solid with minimal rust but a running project that is also my daily driver! Absolutely love it! What a car for its age that still holds op pretty well; no cutting corners. Almost 15 years after my last 190, I’m back in hopefully will turn out just as restored as my E30 325i previous daily over 5 years… both are simply timeless designs and amazing engineering, each in their own way! This 190E is a lifetime keeper for me, no doubt. Great content👍
I recall when my father had a white 190E when I was a young kid & it was bulletproof. It had a red interior & felt as if it would last forever & was a smooth as silk on every road for the decade we had it. Absent a collison with a drunk driver, we would still have it today. I hope that this car's standard of quality comes back to MB some day.
Why? I don't see why the newer ones shouldn't last. 30 years ago they said the C-class wasn't a real Mercedes. The 190 was really knocked down by some in its early years (but it wasn't as good as the C class that followed in overall refinement).
@@benjaminsmith2287 I think the newer Mercedes will follow the path of some of the early 2000's ones. I see more w201's then I see w202's, and the main reason for that is because electronics. Like the w210's and w202's that are plagued by rust, electronics, and high maintenance costs, once the newer A, C and E classes get to be around 20 years old, all the electronics will start showing age, however, instead of headed seats not working and your back up camera being broke, the whole engine will suffer, which will make it mechanically totaled. It will reach the point where when you take it to a shop, it would be cheaper to buy a new one, like todays w202's and w210's. One of my friends just had his 2017 c300 blow up at 55k miles, and it just got out of warranty, with all these turbo 4 cyl's cars aren't meant to last, they are made to make it out of warranty. Mercedes changed there saying from "A car that will last a life time" and "Engineered like no other car in the world" to" The best or nothing", which is honest. Now Mercedes has teamed up with Nissan, a company that NOW makes some of the worst junk, so the new cars are nice, but nothing like the old ones.
Between 2009 and 2019 I drove a 190e: 6 of them, restored to daily drivers back to back. 2.3's, 2.6's and finally the 1993 2.6 LE They do everything better than you'd imagine and are a joy to drive. Built like a brick "s haus" and generally happy trouble-free cars....looking to buy another!
Despite the C-class being a great new car, it’s not that special - let alone timeless. I would take the 190 any day of the week. Such an icon! Love the design language. And the sound when you open and close the door😍
Thomas, absolutely love the door opening and esp closing sounds. its great you do on all cars!! The various older mercedes and bmw are the best sounding...
Wonderful! Reminds me of a trip to Italy in 1993 driving a friend’s 190… at the time it seemed a very grown up car for a young person but the quality was amazing. I was driving a Mk.2 Polo at the time…
Rumour has it.... Mercedes Benz introduced the baby Benz to celebrate the birth of Thomas.😲😁👍 Seriously. Really enjoyed that, like the older car reviews.
Great video, really enjoyed it. My father bought a 190E in 1989. I remember the front wiper and the side mirrors of a different size. And the hard rear seats!!
I own a W202 and it’s my first car. I have a buddy who owns a W201 and we hang out a lot. We like comparing each other’s car and try to prove which one is better. Long live these Benz’s.
Thomas, I've been watching your videos for years, but only now discover you've done those young-timer reviews videos! Amazing! In the market for MB124 or w201,so this is really helpful!
For the W201 1992 model year Mercedes made three special editions. They were called the Rosso (Red), the Verde (Green) and the Azzurro (this car - Blue). The Rosso was a 1.8-liter, the Verde used the 2.5-liter five-cylinder diesel and the Azzurro used the 2.3-liter.
I have a "92 190E 2.6 that I bought on a whim 3 years ago. Needed a bit of sorting out, but once done, what a joy to drive! The straight 6 really brings this chassis to life! Not exactly a 2.3-16, but zippy enough for me.
The W201 is definitely one of my bucket list cars, I'm always on-and-off looking for an inline 6 (the 2.5) and one day I'm sure I'll spring for it. Great to see a Thomas review of it, I'm always happy when someone gives this great classic the attention I think it deserves! Of course for everyday driving the modern car is simply better in almost every way, but it will never have the "specialness" factor of the w201, the first "mass-market" benz. Even so, I think the only reason I'd take the modern C-Class would be to sell and buy a w201 with money to spare :D
Woow Thomas, this video brought back some childhood memories to me. My grandad had the exact same car, until 2005/2006 if I remember correctly. Then he bought the new C class and still has it today. 😃 And trust me, I know exactly how it sounds and how it feels when you press it, just like at 4:36😂 because I've done it as a kid so much times... Not only that, another detail that is kept in my mind from that period is this eye-catching, orange analog gauges which really stand out in a cockpit and give something special to the interior. And of course, this Mercedes star in the front I remember I played with it as a kid.. 😂 Overall very nice video👍 und liebe grüße aus Kroatien!😁
I thoroughly enjoyed this review Thomas! 😃 I loved this Mercedes and given the choice, I think that I would take the old 190! 😎 I think that if you have the time and can get your hands on fine copies of older cars from the 1970s, 80s and 90s, doing similar reviews would be fantastic.
Fantastic car. Superb build quality an no touch buttons :-) had mine for 13 years until the rust took him away from me. I bought it used with 13 years on the clock. Best car I have ever had.
My mom got one of these in 1985 when she lived England, left hand drive, and shipped it back to the states and I drove the shit out of it for years - several 1000 mile plus road trips - and it really was a solid little car. Not super powerful or sports car handling but stable, quiet and easy to drive and operate.
i was lucky on 90´s, i had 2.5d, later 2.6 and finally 2.5-16. the best was 2.6, very smooth and quit fast on that time. very easy to drive, only smaller steering wheel its a must have.
The 190e for me please. I love the visibility, the distinctive style (they're not so common now) the comfort and simplicity. The new C-class? Well, I suppose the back-seats fold down? That's one of the few real advantages I'm envious of!
Had one brand new in 1987. $103,000 nzd back then . Such a beautiful car. Strong and stable Quality sums it up . Now I have a 2017 w205 c class and it’s no where as strong and solid .
I've had two W201s. A 190E 2.0 from 1984 that I bought in 1985 and a 190E 2.3 (facelift with so-called Sacco Bretter) that I bought new in 1989. Fantastic nice cars. The W201 was objectively a better and more expensive car than the BMW E30 (which was technically very similar to the older E21), but then there was the fantastic M20 in-line six as well as the absolutely ingenious steering feel of the BMW. I chose the W201 because at that time I often visited southern Germany from Norway. The W201 was unsurpassed on long journeys on the Autobahn.
This reminds me of my 2nd car. OPEL Vectra 1990...such a massive difference in quality and comfort after my 1st car Škoda Estelle... That Vectra never let me down driving me and another 4 school mates everyday in Czech winters back then -15 was normal with snow everywhere...in Summer no aircon but sunroof and light cloth interior was enough to keep us cool🥶🤣 That car solid...
i love mine, also got sportline edition in automat, best for summer cruise. When u pop the skyroof, its awesome But i think fabric interier that i got is much better looking than leather.
Excellent Avantgarde Azzuro limited edition specimen. Very rare Sportline and Avantgarde editions came at the end of the release between 1992 and 1993 as a goodbye to welcome the new then W202 There were also diesel 2.5 liter engined Rosso Avantgarde limited edition and Verde Avantgarde limited edition. Thanks for showing this specimen
True, Portugal is 190 heaven. Also used for taxis, but I would be very interested in why there are still so many on the road there? Because new cars are relatively expensive there it makes sense to keep reliable older cars? But it is only the 190 that are so common of all the cars of that era... Proof they are the most reliable of all cars of the era?
I would like to see some more classic cars reviews like this. Bringing back the feeling of the era is so satisfying! *isn’t this color a Thomas blue? 😉😉
Awesome to see you doing classic car reviews too Thomas as the new car reviews are just more shiny plastic & LED screens & over sized wheels. Old cars have character..New do not or maybe I’m showing my age…..😂
The W203 facelift was the best C Class. They still felt very very solid, they looked great and still have modern features to this day. We have a 2006 C220 cdi with 310,000kms and it's perfect still. Bulletproof.
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00:00 Mercedes 190 introduction
00:20 Baby-Benz design
00:40 Length of today’s A-Class!
01:21 Ripped tail lamps
02:05 Engine
02:23 Key fob W201 vs W206
02:40 Interior W201
04:08 Cockpit comparison old vs new
04:21 Rear seating
04:30 Trunk
04:57 Driving the Baby Benz
12:51 Old vs new C-Class
#Mercedes #MercedesCClass
Transparency note: Autogefühl videos are independent and free from editorial influence on opinion and rating. But since manufacturers enable us to do the reviews in the first place, for legal reasons this video is marked as _advertisement_.
My parents bought a black metallic 190E 2.0 Automatic in 1985. They drove it for well over 300.000 km and 15 years, and it was the first car I ever rode in. A great car it is!
awesome!
Stunning 190. It was my fist car and I still own it 30 years later. Got an eclass cabriolet now, but still prefer the looks and classic lines of the 190. Iconic
Wow that's cool. My 88 190e was my frist car also I'm still driving it to this day.
John Doe perfect. The Bruno Sacco design is in my opinion his best :-)
Glad your still driving it today :-)
hey mate, just a couple of questions about your experience with the ownership of this model. How many km on the chassis? and is the engine been replaced? Is it easy to maintain yourself? thanks
that era of Mercedes are the best built, I would love one
I came from a middle class family, I remember when my uncle (who owns a successful restaurant) got one of this beautiful car. I was 7 when I first git into this car, I was blown away by the interior and the 15 inch rims. At the time, regular cars had 12 - 13 inch rims
I don’t know about you but I would still take this over the modern Mercedes. Just add a modern touchscreen for navigation if you wanted and Bluetooth speakers for music. This vehicle is just a classic.
You can also run this vehicle forever and take care of everything yourself. Thanks Thomas for showing this gem!
Plus it is easy to maintain and less will go wrong with it
Yup, that is why half of Albania drives it.
appreciated, keep tuning in !
@@autogefuehl please do review of GLS63s
I drive a 90's C class as a daily, smartphone and cassette to aux is literally enough to make it a great comfortable car. and they are so reliable it is insane.
190, a great car in every sense. Design and engineering in a perfect harmony. The new C-class looks like a cheap Hyundai vs. the timeless elegance of 190. MB should be ashamed.
Can’t agree with you more..:(
I agree I own a w205 and at 40.000 km’s it creaks and rattles like hell.. and I take care of it.
@@NotoriousBig888 у меня 190-й 1984г.Владею им с 1996г.Нечего не скрипит, нечего не стучит.
My brother had a brand new 190E 2.0 in 1993 and I only drove it once. That was enough, so I bought the facelift 190E 2.6 in 2000. What a lovely drive it was. Fully loaded with A/C, front electric seats and an upgraded steering wheel with the airbag. I added the alloys afterwards. Looked stunning, drove incredibly well. So… I bought another two recently! One as a backup 😆. I would pick the 190E 2.6 any day. German engineering at its best. I will keep one of them forever!
The door sounding of the 190! See why in the 80s the Merc chairman said their cars were over engineered
=)
80s Mercedes were the best. My mom still talks about how much she misses her 1992 300 e.
I can't stand the thin can metal sound when opening or closing doors. Some brands don't seem to care about this. A bit of damping in the doors would resolve this and would even benefit noise insulation.
Sadly underengineered now. No "thunk" sound today. 😔
The designs of Bruno Sacco were revolutionary and the epitome of restrained elegance. I’d take the old over the new.. I had an obsession with Mercedes from this era as a 9-year-old, and I think the design cues from this time period were ahead of their time. Bravo and thank you Autogefühl!
When engineers made the decisions not the accountants
Yep. That's why my 1979 w116 still runs
@@ofirs5830. My 88 w201 is stock and still runs great.
Wow. Original comment
My 2018 still runs 😤😤😤😂
@@kktomm .. +1. "The Best or Nothing" .. Our MY94 E-320 C124 Coupe @ 57,000 miles is like new.. Gotta luv those engineers. .. Shame on those accountants......
I would take the old version. I have always loved the rugged simplicity of the 190. Great video Thomas, I would love to see more great classic reviews occasionally.
sure if you guys like it!
My 190e 2.6 has been a daily workhorse for me since Oct. 2009. Have done almost all of my own maintenance for 140,000 miles...I have the highest praise for the engineering & materials. Thank you for this enjoyable vid!
@Lawrence Unger .. +1. Agreed. .. A very nice 190 the 190 2.6 inline 6 cly model. Cheers, Vail, Colorado
These cars are very well engineered. When you purchased a Mercedes Benz back in the day, the cars as standard were fairly basic when it came to luxuries. You had to pay quite a lot of money to get the luxuries that other brands had as standard. But what you did get as standard and were paying the extra for when purchasing a Mercedes was the best engineered cars in the world and good customer service. Sadly today this is no longer the case. Mercedes cars are no longer well built and reliable and in some models do not install their own engines and use 1.3 litre Renault engines. Thanks for reviewing a great car.
My mother had one new in ‘89 and I took it on in ‘09 with less than 30k kms. Probably the best built car I’ve ever had.
I drove a few 190's over the years.I still remember the huge steering wheel and the most complicated front wiper ever!It looks so clean and modern even now,todays Benz look as if theyve been melted with a blowtorch!
Which one would i take home? The 190e every time! Peak Mercedes in my opinion. As others have said, it was reliable, over engineered and you really felt the car was built like a tank and would out live you. It was also an era where the higher cost for the 3 pointed star was justified over the competition.
Perception wise, if you owned this back in the day, you had done well in life and this car was a symbol of wealth and discreet elegance. Modern mercedes no longer offers anything above competition and is all show/bling over engineering and the perception now is that you must have got a good lease deal or you are a salesman if you are seen in one.
I drive a 1993 190E. It's one of the last produced, at the Bremen plant. Reliable and good looking, it never fails to make me smile when driving it!
😎
Same as mine, 1993 from Bremen, it's still my daily driver. I wouldn't trade it for anything else.
Small and chunky. Nice functional look and well engineered. The old days of Benz.
Back when Mercs were head and shoulders above everyone else.
They were not. Build quality was horrible!
@@bobinpune Horrible??? Mine 190 still feel solid without any creak or rattle interior after 30 years.
My mom new 2019 GLC250d, door panels start creaking after a few months.
@@bobinpune they were the best at build quality. You are diluted
@@bobinpune why are you describing yourself, tell us why they weren’t
You clearly never owned one
I came out of hospital when I was born, in 1996, in a 1994 190. This was a time when Mercedes were obsessed with quality and durability and genuinely years ahead of everyone else. The staunch Teutonic, minimalist and function design is timeless. Shame they never carried this into the new millennia. These old Mercs represent the "everything you need and nothing you don't". When stripped back, this car proves that actually, this gets you from A to B in more or less the same refinement as a modern £45k car.
Bruno Sacco's masterpiece. I can still recall the launch in late 1982. The UK's 'Car' magazine called it 'the best small car in the world'. They were right. W201 remains, for me, the definitive compact Mercedes-Benz.
The old one is way better than todays model...
no it’s not
@@kristians2704 If you want something you can maintain without wasting lots of money, its better. Then you also have some things that actually are better. The interior quality for example. The gauges and instruments are easier and more clear to read and operate.
Also the suspension is better under some circumstances.
@@kristians2704 well it is
No
The old ones are 3x more solid. You feel that in everything. The new ones consist of a block of plastic. When you put my 300ce next to a new model, you see a world of difference in build quality and real style.. That's why a new one is worth nothing after 5 years and my 300ce is worth 25,000 dollars more in 10 years.
Thank you Thomas, I always enjoy your videos.
Your analysis is spot on as regards this W201.
I still have my wife’s 1993 190e as a ‘keeper’.
Bruno Sacco designs were so clean but with low cd’s.
Today’s vehicles are anonymous as regards their copy cat ‘design’.
Too much unnecessary technology compared to older classics.
Yes, I understand that they larger and heavier due to crash performance but the fun is lacking.
Easier to drive the 190 on country back roads compared to the larger vehicles of today.
I don’t like taking the E class estate on narrow lanes.
Unlike today’s version it will still be around in another 28 years as there is no built in electronic obsolescence!.
🏴
So an easy choice. No constant sensor problems that require replacement.
Truly‘bulletproof’ and truly‘Built to last’ from the time when the cars were over-engineered’ and unlike later when the accountants were in charge and not as then the engineers.
Cool stuff
I'm the proud custodian of a 1992 190e 2.6 . Absolutely one of the best offers ever from Mercedes Benz.
I have a 1992 2.6 Sportline that I've been restoring for 10 years. Yes, absolutely one of the most profound creations of MB. Back when Mercedes were masters in combining elegant with pedestrian, sophistication with simplicity, all engineered with integrity and truly built to last. And just plain fun to drive.
Thanks Thomas! The 190 still looks neat and sharp today. I’d really like to have a 2.3-16
190E look clean and tidy compare to new car.
One of the greatest cars ever made, just bought a 2.6 which just pulls like a train, love these 190's reminds me of my childhood,beats most modern cars to be honest in many aspects after all these years!, great review and hope you do a few more on 123s 124s and 126s.....
My mom, while living in England (we are Americans) ordered a LHD 1984 190E 2.3 to take back to the states after bravely driving it for months there. Her next station was in Colorado and I drove with her from California through Nevada and Wyoming, great, solid car even as its power was modest. She was so proud of that car and kept it for 20+ years.
What a fabulous C class. If it were brought back with minor updates I would still buy this shape. Well proportioned and looks tank-like. It has character, unlike the majority of cars today.
I owned a 1989 2.6. I loved it then, and it’s still one of my favorite cars. The layout and usefulness of controls was perfect. I’d gladly swap my modern M-B for one of these, if I could get it new again!
This generation was the last of the truly exceptional, now legendary, Mercedes Benzes. Who better to review this great old car than Thomas!
👍😎
190 it is for me, I love the analogue feel of older cars that let you build a connection with the car whereas newer cars only provide an experience which at times can be superficial. Plus with how in demand young timers are right now, you probably won't lose too much money owning it.
The 190 is a living dream of Mercedes Nostalgia ...just imagine this Baby Benz with a modern electric EQS Powertrain and Hyperscreen...and everything feels restomod RIGHT !
This specific limited edition special model is the 2.3 8v and also the very first introduction to Avantgarde,
the beauty named Avantgarde sportsline “Azurro”.
Only made 950!!! in total all in 1992. I have one of them 😀 solid with minimal rust but a running project that is also my daily driver! Absolutely love it! What a car for its age that still holds op pretty well; no cutting corners. Almost 15 years after my last 190, I’m back in hopefully will turn out just as restored as my E30 325i previous daily over 5 years… both are simply timeless designs and amazing engineering, each in their own way!
This 190E is a lifetime keeper for me, no doubt.
Great content👍
Love these youngtimer car test drives :) Older cars had great visibility and in a way, easier to drive and use, compared to modern cars.
I recall when my father had a white 190E when I was a young kid & it was bulletproof. It had a red interior & felt as if it would last forever & was a smooth as silk on every road for the decade we had it.
Absent a collison with a drunk driver, we would still have it today. I hope that this car's standard of quality comes back to MB some day.
Wow great 190 E bulletproof
Still see quite a few of these on the road, I doubt that's the case 30 years from now with the current C-class.
Why? I don't see why the newer ones shouldn't last. 30 years ago they said the C-class wasn't a real Mercedes. The 190 was really knocked down by some in its early years (but it wasn't as good as the C class that followed in overall refinement).
@@benjaminsmith2287 I think the newer Mercedes will follow the path of some of the early 2000's ones. I see more w201's then I see w202's, and the main reason for that is because electronics. Like the w210's and w202's that are plagued by rust, electronics, and high maintenance costs, once the newer A, C and E classes get to be around 20 years old, all the electronics will start showing age, however, instead of headed seats not working and your back up camera being broke, the whole engine will suffer, which will make it mechanically totaled. It will reach the point where when you take it to a shop, it would be cheaper to buy a new one, like todays w202's and w210's. One of my friends just had his 2017 c300 blow up at 55k miles, and it just got out of warranty, with all these turbo 4 cyl's cars aren't meant to last, they are made to make it out of warranty. Mercedes changed there saying from "A car that will last a life time" and "Engineered like no other car in the world" to" The best or nothing", which is honest. Now Mercedes has teamed up with Nissan, a company that NOW makes some of the worst junk, so the new cars are nice, but nothing like the old ones.
Can't believe how beautifully proportioned this car is.
From every angle
Between 2009 and 2019 I drove a 190e: 6 of them, restored to daily drivers back to back. 2.3's, 2.6's and finally the 1993 2.6 LE They do everything better than you'd imagine and are a joy to drive. Built like a brick "s haus" and generally happy trouble-free cars....looking to buy another!
Despite the C-class being a great new car, it’s not that special - let alone timeless. I would take the 190 any day of the week. Such an icon! Love the design language. And the sound when you open and close the door😍
back when the car have to earn that 3-pointed star.
the new C class is still the best car in its segment
@@kristians2704 the BMW 3-Series would disagree with you
@@malekzin4788 the 2022 C class has a nicer interior, more tech but the 3 series looks better and have 6 cylinder engines so I’d say it’s close.
@@kristians2704 "has a nicer interior"???? Because of the plastic touchscreen or wdym
Thomas, absolutely love the door opening and esp closing sounds. its great you do on all cars!! The various older mercedes and bmw are the best sounding...
Wonderful! Reminds me of a trip to Italy in 1993 driving a friend’s 190… at the time it seemed a very grown up car for a young person but the quality was amazing. I was driving a Mk.2 Polo at the time…
A close-to-perfect car design. I really think this model was Sacco's most pure and well-resolved creation.
Rumour has it....
Mercedes Benz introduced the baby Benz to celebrate the birth of Thomas.😲😁👍
Seriously. Really enjoyed that, like the older car reviews.
:-)
Great video, really enjoyed it. My father bought a 190E in 1989. I remember the front wiper and the side mirrors of a different size. And the hard rear seats!!
I own a W202 and it’s my first car. I have a buddy who owns a W201 and we hang out a lot. We like comparing each other’s car and try to prove which one is better. Long live these Benz’s.
Thomas, I've been watching your videos for years, but only now discover you've done those young-timer reviews videos! Amazing! In the market for MB124 or w201,so this is really helpful!
👍👍🙌
For the W201 1992 model year Mercedes made three special editions. They were called the Rosso (Red), the Verde (Green) and the Azzurro (this car - Blue).
The Rosso was a 1.8-liter, the Verde used the 2.5-liter five-cylinder diesel and the Azzurro used the 2.3-liter.
I have a "92 190E 2.6 that I bought on a whim 3 years ago. Needed a bit of sorting out, but once done, what a joy to drive!
The straight 6 really brings this chassis to life! Not exactly a 2.3-16, but zippy enough for me.
The W201 is definitely one of my bucket list cars, I'm always on-and-off looking for an inline 6 (the 2.5) and one day I'm sure I'll spring for it. Great to see a Thomas review of it, I'm always happy when someone gives this great classic the attention I think it deserves!
Of course for everyday driving the modern car is simply better in almost every way, but it will never have the "specialness" factor of the w201, the first "mass-market" benz. Even so, I think the only reason I'd take the modern C-Class would be to sell and buy a w201 with money to spare :D
Mine was 1985.. Owned 1997. Still running until now! Best daily car ever! Large luggage too!
The 190E Masterpiece
Styling on the 190 is so beautiful compared to the new model ❤️
One of the BEST Mercedes benz of all times!! I love the 190!!! The my favorite with the W124 series! Great video
Woow Thomas, this video brought back some childhood memories to me. My grandad had the exact same car, until 2005/2006 if I remember correctly. Then he bought the new C class and still has it today. 😃 And trust me, I know exactly how it sounds and how it feels when you press it, just like at 4:36😂 because I've done it as a kid so much times... Not only that, another detail that is kept in my mind from that period is this eye-catching, orange analog gauges which really stand out in a cockpit and give something special to the interior. And of course, this Mercedes star in the front I remember I played with it as a kid.. 😂
Overall very nice video👍 und liebe grüße aus Kroatien!😁
I thoroughly enjoyed this review Thomas! 😃
I loved this Mercedes and given the choice, I think that I would take the old 190! 😎
I think that if you have the time and can get your hands on fine copies of older cars from the 1970s, 80s and 90s, doing similar reviews would be fantastic.
My first driving experience ever in a Mercedes mid-spring 1993; very vivid memory of comfort and composure.
More reviews of these beautiful vintage cars. Love that!
Fantastic car. Superb build quality an no touch buttons :-) had mine for 13 years until the rust took him away from me. I bought it used with 13 years on the clock. Best car I have ever had.
Wonderful, Thomas. Thanks. You're right, that visibility is the best safety feature there ever is and was and is missing from modern cars.
Excellent video good addition for new modern classics series.
Thanks 🙏
From the days when a Mercedes was a classy vehicle. I love the design without any bling, just quality !
So great from you guys to review older benzes, I wish you do more of that and even older BMWs such as E34 and E39 E60
👍
Excellent review! I prefer the classic design of the W201, W123, W124 and W126 to any new Mercedes design.
My mom got one of these in 1985 when she lived England, left hand drive, and shipped it back to the states and I drove the shit out of it for years - several 1000 mile plus road trips - and it really was a solid little car. Not super powerful or sports car handling but stable, quiet and easy to drive and operate.
just love it. The colour of this and also the angular design. This is the finest merc design all time I believe.
The example in this vehicle is beautiful. That color looks great. I loved riding in this car going to school way back when.
190 surely, forever. That`s a realy true Mercedes.
Brings back memories! I love that W202 model, looks pretty even today.
i was lucky on 90´s,
i had 2.5d, later 2.6 and finally 2.5-16.
the best was 2.6, very smooth and quit fast on that time.
very easy to drive, only smaller steering wheel its a must have.
Truly loved this video. I sincerely hope more classic Benzes are following…. like the 1968 250s for example…….
have a nice week-end Thomas!
I had a 1973 220D. The simplicity, comfort and driving dynamics made it a joy to use. The lack of power was the only drawback.
Better than any latest Mercedes cars. Period 🚗🇩🇪❤️
A modern iteration to the 190 by mercedes today, would be great 🔥 i prefer the square design more...Thomas again killing it 💪🏽
The 190e for me please. I love the visibility, the distinctive style (they're not so common now) the comfort and simplicity.
The new C-class? Well, I suppose the back-seats fold down? That's one of the few real advantages I'm envious of!
Great review and great car! I prefer the classic W201 Mercedes 190. Thank you for sharing! Greetings from Brazil.
Highly appreciated! Please recommend our channel 😎
@autogefuehl Autogefühl is a great and trustful channel! Sure, of course!
🙏🙏
Had one brand new in 1987. $103,000 nzd back then . Such a beautiful car. Strong and stable
Quality sums it up . Now I have a 2017 w205 c class and it’s no where as strong and solid .
I really liked this video because you are doing older cars. Pretty cool. would love to see more content like this.
I've had two W201s. A 190E 2.0 from 1984 that I bought in 1985 and a 190E 2.3 (facelift with so-called Sacco Bretter) that I bought new in 1989. Fantastic nice cars. The W201 was objectively a better and more expensive car than the BMW E30 (which was technically very similar to the older E21), but then there was the fantastic M20 in-line six as well as the absolutely ingenious steering feel of the BMW. I chose the W201 because at that time I often visited southern Germany from Norway. The W201 was unsurpassed on long journeys on the Autobahn.
This reminds me of my 2nd car. OPEL Vectra 1990...such a massive difference in quality and comfort after my 1st car Škoda Estelle...
That Vectra never let me down driving me and another 4 school mates everyday in Czech winters back then -15 was normal with snow everywhere...in Summer no aircon but sunroof and light cloth interior was enough to keep us cool🥶🤣
That car solid...
Just bought one 190 model 1989 awesome car !
One of the legends that run well. Unfortunately, modern ones not so reliable anymore.
i love mine, also got sportline edition in automat, best for summer cruise. When u pop the skyroof, its awesome But i think fabric interier that i got is much better looking than leather.
I want analog dials back! Very tiring if you drive for a long time with these new digital ones and yes I miss the visibility of the old cars
Excellent Avantgarde Azzuro limited edition specimen.
Very rare Sportline and Avantgarde editions came at the end of the release between 1992 and 1993 as a goodbye to welcome the new then W202
There were also diesel 2.5 liter engined Rosso Avantgarde limited edition and Verde Avantgarde limited edition.
Thanks for showing this specimen
Fantastic review, Thomas. Thank you very much!
Appreciated!
It's almost an insult to compare the 190E with the new C-Class... they're just not nearly at the same level. Great review!
Even today you will find TONS of 190's in Portugal,my country of origin.🇵🇹🤜🤛🇩🇪 🤗
True, Portugal is 190 heaven. Also used for taxis, but I would be very interested in why there are still so many on the road there? Because new cars are relatively expensive there it makes sense to keep reliable older cars? But it is only the 190 that are so common of all the cars of that era... Proof they are the most reliable of all cars of the era?
The interiors look so much better with wood and regular colour schemes
W201 190D from 1988 was my first car and my dad still drives it, these cars were made to last.
190E it my first ride.Love it
I would like to see some more classic cars reviews like this. Bringing back the feeling of the era is so satisfying! *isn’t this color a Thomas blue? 😉😉
A true classic... Mercedes is the best family car in the world,, nice review Thomas,, nice Thomas blue colour.. Lol.. God bless u
way to go! All the best to you too!
Awesome to see you doing classic car reviews too Thomas as the new car reviews are just more shiny plastic & LED screens & over sized wheels. Old cars have character..New do not or maybe I’m showing my age…..😂
The W203 facelift was the best C Class. They still felt very very solid, they looked great and still have modern features to this day. We have a 2006 C220 cdi with 310,000kms and it's perfect still. Bulletproof.
I have a cypress green w201 and i love it❤
Thomas has a good point. Sometimes less is more. Thanks for the video!
I really love the Mercedes 190, cause it's not expensive and very good!
I wish the star on the hood can come back. The bigger stars are nice on the grill but I miss the classic look