It looks like the Cavalier takes this one, with the old repmobile pulling a handy 79-vote victory over the Metro. Frankly, I’d take the Cavalier as well. It’s no Turbo or GSi 2000, but it certainly gets the job done even if it seems a bit dodgy. Right, off to Deutschland to check out two family cars from very different eras that are both eligible for American import.
1981 Mercedes-Benz 200D – €2,950
Engine/drivetrain: Two-liter four-cylinder diesel engine, four-speed manual gearbox, rear-wheel-drive. Location: Offenbach am Main, Germany Odometer reading: 269,443 kilometers Runs/drives? Doesn’t say. Producing a whopping 59 horsepower, can you believe that this later 200D is considered the high-output model? Earlier 200Ds made just 54 horsepower which sounds positively glacial. Granted, this later model doesn’t sound much quicker, but at least it gets mediocre fuel economy by today’s standards.
Look, performance and economy aren’t exactly good reasons to buy this thing, but build quality and style are. The W123 has officially graduated from old tat to retro cool, and the positively vibrant colorway on this example is the cherry on top. Mustard yellow with a green interior would be outlandishly garish on a new E-Class yet seems perfectly cheery in this classic. Don your polyester jacket, light a Rothmans, and crank up the Faust.
Regarding build quality, the W123 is from Mercedes’ best era, a time when quality ruled over virtually everything else. As a result, many survive, and Mercedes-Benz will still supply W123 owners with a selection of spare parts. Try asking your local GM dealer for a new wheel cover for a 1981 Seville and they’ll think you’re from the past. Ask your local Mercedes dealer for a new wheel cover for a W123 and they’ll likely say “certainly, let me order that for you.”
Best of all, aftermarket spares are abundant, so you likely won’t have a terrible time keeping this cheery, low-spec W123 on the road. You may get overtaken by garbage trucks and used Schwinns, but you’ll be smiling all the way. Granted, it doesn’t say if this particular W123 runs, and the seller claims that it doesn’t have its TUV papers due to being a Serbian import. Still, obvious recent restoration work suggests that someone has really cared for this vintage Mercedes.
1995 Ford Mondeo 2.5 V6 RS – €2,000
Engine/drivetrain: 2.5-liter 24-valve V6 engine, five-speed manual gearbox, front-wheel-drive Location: Beckum, Germany Odometer reading: 292,666 km Runs/drives? Indeed. Alright, maybe 59 horsepower won’t exactly feel brilliant when merging onto an interstate. How about trading Mercedes prestige for a Ford badge and nearly tripling the horsepower in the process? Yes, it’s the car that’s attributed to a voter archetype, the Ford Mondeo.
Mind you, this isn’t just any Mk1 Ford Mondeo. For starters, it’s a wagon, which means it’s all the more practical in daily life. However, what’s practicality without a bit of speed? This Mondeo packs the 2.5-liter 170-horsepower V6 that revs past 6,500 RPM and a five-speed manual gearbox. Proper Q-car stuff by mid-’90s standards.
In addition to the zesty lump under the hood, this Mondeo comes equipped with the RS package, a visual treatment that’ll burrow into the hearts of any ‘90s touring car fan. From the deep chin spoiler to the chunky five-spoke alloy wheels, this thing means business. There aren’t any performance upgrades to go with the body kit, but V6 power should be good enough. [Editor’s Note: It’s always a treat when you find a car that has its most appealing visual element under the hood, in this case that fantastic intake manifold. – JT]
Granted, this V6 model has seen a replacement engine in its lifetime, but it’s quite similar to the U.S.-market Contour, so most parts shouldn’t be terribly hard to get in America. This Mondeo promises to be a fast, fun European import you won’t see too many of on either side of the Atlantic. So, are you going for slow and sturdy or quick and understated? The 200D is a bit of retro gleam with the added intrigue of a manual gearbox but the Mondeo offers reasonable pace even by modern standards. As ever, choose wisely.
(Photos credits: Mobile.de sellers)
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Want to write for The Autopian? Pitch us here. Or check out the stories on our homepage. Thankfully, the German taxicabs today have become more “luxurious” with automatic gearboxes, power windows, air conditioning, quieter and smoother engines, etc. Smoking in the taxicabs today is forbidden so no more gagging at the stench. My most ultimate taxicab experience was riding W222 S-Class taxicab with enormous legroom and adjustable rear seat! My days of driving in the far right lane leaving a nice mosquito killing cloud behind me were left in the 80’s, where this old former taxi belongs. That said… hell yeah give it to me. Not 2022 fast, but not slow either. Thank the variable length intake runners. I wish Ford had done a better job at rustproofing, because mine was almost 1970s era Japanese import bad. If I’d known that, I would’ve put a lot more effort into preserving it. I got my money’s worth, but I’m always very disappointed when the structure decays so much faster than the mechanical parts wear out. Why? Because I am the proud owner of an 82 300D turbo sedan and I can tell you that these cars are more than cars, they are works of engineering art. They are function and quality personified. And every single one must be lovingly preserved. I also own a Ford (well, a ’94 Mazda b4000), and this was somehow still an easy decision. Wasn’t Pendergast, was it? Now having said that, I found the Merc interesting from a novelty perspective… but not 3000-euros-interesting unless I was specifically looking for an interesting/quirky weekend car. And in the EU, an old 200D isn’t not very interesting. They made many of them for taxi use alone. It’s an 1980s diesel Mercedes-Benz and the universe has yet to reach heat death. It runs. Mondeo could be a fun hack but it’s never going to have the status of the Merc. TLDR: go with the Ford. It’s quick, manual, interesting and looks good. If you need a w123 fix, try to get a 300d. You get the bank vault construction without being a dangerous obstruction on the highway. That Mondeo wagon reminds me way too much of a 4th gen Taurus. Outside of the intake manifold and it being a 5 door, there’s nothing really calling out to me. I need something more… Like pea green interior and Taxi Yellow paint. Even without the TÜV, you better bet your sweet ass it does because W123 things. With the equivalent of only ~167,000 miles, I’ll happily give them all the Euros for this one.
