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The manual tranny is the preferred choice here for it offers much better efficiency than the energy-sapping automatic. If the car has been maintained by a particular dealer, approach him for full documented service history which should be easily available. Service costs, like the Corolla, are on the lower side, but accident parts can be a tad expensive. Nevertheless, parts are easily available, both in the open market and at authorised service stations.
W124 & W210 MERCEDES-BENZ E-CLASS (1995-99)
Affordable star treatment
Most people in India yearn to own a three-pointed star at least once in their lives and at Rs 5 lakh, the opportunity to own one has now increased. The W124 Mercedes-Benz E220 and E250D have over the years stayed under Rs 5 lakh and now the W210 is slowly beginning to make a mark in this sector. The W124 was the first Mercedes-Benz to be officially sold in India and was assembled at the then Tata-Mercedes plant in Pimpri. Solidly built, this E-Class has always been regarded as a 'battle tank' and still soldiers on as a taxi in many world markets for its no-nonsense instrumentation and reliability. Since it has the least number of electronics it is less prone to trouble, unlike the W210. The first of the twin-eyed Mercs, the W210 was available as the E250D diesel and E230 V6 petrol and E200 configurations prior to its facelift. The W210 was more powerful and had high equipment levels. Comfort was even better here, though its high level of electronics mean complications do tend to arise. If efficiency along with luxury is your priority, go for the E250D with its strong yet efficient five-cylinder diesel engine. Finding well maintained examples should not be difficult, but it is a bit more so for the older W124. Parts prices for both cars are a bit on the higher side, especially the W210. The smart thing to do is to find out a specialist in your city to maintain your car to keep the cost of maintenance within reasonable limits. Service history of dealer-maintained cars should also be easy to find and it’s an indicator of whether to finally take that plunge into the three-pointed star world or not.
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