Mercedes-Benz played a big part in creating the aspirational estate with its W123. Volvo’s entry in that market was a status symbol for people who professed not to like status symbols, while Citroën’s was for the blue-sky thinker. The W123 wagon said of its owner ‘I may be a family man, but I’m successful’. They had to be, too, because the W123 was a reassuringly expensive car in the UK.
There was much more money about by the mid-1980s. If you wanted something solid and subtly imposing, you still needed an E Class Merc: a Beemer was too flash, a Jag too retro. The W124, along with the 190E, moved Mercedes-Benz away from the W123’s conservatism and into new, more aerodynamic territory.
It’s still elegant today. The W124 might not have quite the same following as the 190E, but designer Bruno Sacco judged every element perfectly, with no wastage or crass design over-indulgence. It epitomised the expensively over-engineered ‘less is more’ approach of Patek Philippe watches or Parker pens.
The same applies inside. It’s more spartan than a Jaguar that would dazzle you with wood and leather, but you can feel the inherent goodness in every part of the interior. Its honesty might come across as meanness for those expecting more in the way of luxury appointments but there’s nothing bargain basement about the way it drives. The 3.0-litre straight six pulls robustly, if not particularly tunefully. This is a machine with effortless motorway mileage in mind.
It’s still remarkably adept at that, too. Cabin ergonomics and sound insulation have come on a long way in the past 30 years but it’s remarkable just how refined the W124 still is at speed. There are no squeaks, rattles or much wind noise. Historically, the boombox amphitheatre of an estate’s back section amplifies every rattle and clatter of suspension and road. The W124 rear door is electronically pulled in, sealing it shut, cutting out the outside world and endearing you to your neighbours because there was no need to slam the door.
There was more innovation in the back. The seats are 10cm higher than the saloon’s, allowing the rear boot section to lie flat when the seats are folded down; commonplace now, but novel for the time. The same goes for the W124 estate’s self-levelling rear suspension, using struts, gas spheres and coil springs. The ride comfort is exemplary and it doesn’t wallow in the corners unless you’re trying to make the Labradors sick in the back.
You pay for that with very light, remote steering – but then you want that in a motorway muncher. The steering does firm up under tighter cornering but don’t go expecting the nuance of the Beemer. Instead, settle back into the enormous cabin and let the big six take the strain, ticking along at 2000rpm.
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