Mercedes 190E Cosworth - Forgotten E30 M3 alternative?

[andrewbaran]

I was doing my usual classifieds browse, dreaming of E30 M3's as usual. Then I stumbled across pictures of this beast.
With E30 M3's so far out of reach today, is this the new target purchase? With an awesome boxy retro shape, same dogleg gearbox and a very decent motor, surely it's only a matter of time before they start heading in the same direction?! I've overlooked them for years, but now I want one very much!

[THE_Liam]

I've recently sold a 1.8 and even that was a brilliant car, Cosworths are even better. I'm looking for a second car just now and they are very high on the list. To be honest I'd say better than an M3 in every way except steering (190 steering is slow, over light and doesn't have much feel), the E30 is very overrated in my opinion.

[retroade]

I'm a BMW man and I'd take one of these over an M3. Roughly about half the price of an M3, about £10k compared to £20k for a decent car with history.

I do like my Mercs, and always had a soft spot for the 190E.

[Hoppum]

Having owned both at the same time, I preferred the M3. I found the 190e Cosworth to be more of a GT car than road racer the M3 is.

That's not to say the 190e wasn't good but I just didn't find it as fun to drive and in stock form it didn't feel as capable.

[bababoom]

4 or 5 years ago you could pick these up for around £2500 I think there already shooting up in price.
Anther couple of years and I doubt you,l get a good one for under 10k

[thechef]

I'd love either, couldn't imagine having one of each - at the same time  lucky you Hoppum !

The one in the pics here is obviously the Evo, they are way off the scale in price ! whereas a 2.3 or 2.5 (non Evo) can probably be picked up for 3 - 4K, but it'll probably have galactic miles and "need some tlc !"

There's a really nice silver one for sale just now, a 2.5, with just over 80k miles for 9 and half K. I think.

Retroade; are you saying an E30 M3 is around £20K ? - for a "not so good" one I'd say, more like mid thirty to mid 40 K, for a really good one.

I've had 2 190 E's. first was a cooking model, a 1.8 manual in silver, was a really good car, no racing car, but a great car all the same, then I had a 2.0 auto in smoke silver, even better than the 1.8, these cars were made from girders, solid, as all Mercs of that era, I had a C 200 sport in between, - not nearly as good - and made from tin foil cheap tin foil at that lol .

[Smiler]

I do keep finding myself being drawn towards them during idle ebay browsing sessions. I believe prices are already climbing though.

[swampy76]

Oh yes Id have one of these over the bmw any day

[DarrenW]

I'm a BMW man through and through but I did look at 190s for a good while before I realised that I needed an E36 in my life.

The Cosworth 190s are fantastic, special cars from a special era


Black Mercedes Benz W201 190E 2.5-16 Evolution by Retro-Motoring & WoertherseePics, on Flickr

[tdk]

Oh yes! I'm a massive fan. Did you know of the Senna connection? We made this video about it; www.motorpunk.co.uk/video/ayrton-senna-where-the-legend-started/

[ChasR]

Mar 30, 2015 13:07:24 GMT Hoppum said:

Having owned both at the same time, I preferred the M3. I found the 190e Cosworth to be more of a GT car than road racer the M3 is.

That's not to say the 190e wasn't good but I just didn't find it as fun to drive and in stock form it didn't feel as capable.

IMO this is what counts, someone who has owned both, and it is something I hear constantly about how some cars seem 'cheap' when compared to pricier alternatives which look the same or better on papaer. Some cars I have been despite looking similar to others on paper have disappointed truth be told.

From the drivers who have experienced both that is what I have heard as well. Upon driving one myself they certainly have more of an air of luxury about them, with the steering being Mercedes(ish) but not all that sporty, possibly a trait of the steering box design.

I'd love to sample an E30 M3 one of these days .

[chrissyb]

and the enormous steering wheel! good cars though

[welshpug]

As a rally car, m3 I think, but as a circuit racer I think the Mercedes takes it, spawned the DTM eventually, though id much prefered if they had stuck to steel monocoque as per btcc/wtcc