I like them, but early W124s didn't have those Sacco-Bretter ("Sacco planks", after Bruno Sacco, the designer of the W126, W124, the 190 and the R129 SL). They are very sensitive to colour and a bit of maintenance, though.

Needs more 2CV

W123? Nahhhhhh W124

Good point about getting rid of the value category, because it is fully dependent on all the parts. But I don't think it's because price can be separated from the intrinsic qualities of the car, but rather the opposite: you can not judge any of the other categories without thinking of the price.

Hmmm.

2nd - Well, the people in Ann Arbor and Newport Beach did a good job. It's an understated but handsome and tight design. Everything that modern Buicks or Lincolns should be, but aren't.

Heh, if I'd get a W124, I'd definitely get a pre-facelift one in any case, but thanks for the engine tip. I know there's quite a difference between them, but I didn't know which is good.

It's an interesting - if likely expensive - way of smearing yourself all over the scenery.

Trying to decide whether I should buy a Citroën 2CV, Méhari, Traction Avant, or a Volvo 144, PV544, 7/900 series, or Ford Model A, 1950 Ford Club Coupe, 23d Series Packard 8, 1950 Lincoln Cosmopolitan, Mercedes W124, '40s Buick or Cadillac Sedanette, etc. and never deal with the consequences of owning any of them.

... and, more importantly, why should we care?

Thanks for the Motor Trend link- I didn't know that there was a publication left that was willing and able to discuss the actual technology of cars in detail. I thought that died out in the '60s. Great stuff.

Renault and Smart have solved that problem with a simple stroke of genius: you lease their batteries.

Always glad to hear I'm not the only Jalopnik who has a lot of time for the little guys.

So, after the service, it'll do 0-62 in 3.4 secs and 202 mph, no?

You know, the man has some talent.

3d gear: Why?

a) There's a reason petrol is called PETROL

Somewhat off-topic, but why do all new cars seem to have headrests built into the seatshell itself now? No-one seems to design adjustable headrests on sticks anymore.

256 miles range from an EV, verified by an independent agency.

"...making Rick Santorum angry and aroused..."