This summary of the video was created by an AI. It might contain some inaccuracies.
00:00:00 – 00:17:33
The video comprehensively reviews a metallic red 1990s Mercedes-Benz 190E owned by Tim from Cambrian Classics Limited, examining its design, engineering, and driving dynamics. The car's distinct 1990s Mercedes-Benz features reflect designer Bruno Sacco's influence, showcasing its mono wiper, ribbed indicator clusters, and gold trim. The host highlights its compact size, engine variety, and safety elements like the three-pointed star emblem.
Under the hood, the car features the M102 four-cylinder engine, with other available configurations including diesel and six-cylinder petrol engines. The video notes Mercedes-Benz's successful collaboration with Cosworth for performance versions. Inside, the beige interior with wood-like trim provides user-friendly instrumentation and amenities such as a four-speed automatic transmission and electric windows. Despite a somewhat cramped back seat, the trunk offers substantial space and practical design details like a warning triangle.
The driving experience is described as smooth and relaxing, with the transmission designed to start in second gear and prevent jumpy acceleration. While not suited for sporty driving, the car's handling is competent, with a focus on comfort and stability. The video emphasizes the car's engineering advancements and build quality, noting its lasting impact and the eventual transition to the C-Class in 1994.
Overall, the Mercedes-Benz 190E is praised for its solid build, pleasant drive, and engineering finesse, especially on narrow country roads. Despite minor complaints about the gearbox's responsiveness, the car remains a testament to Mercedes-Benz's design and engineering prowess of the era.
00:00:00
In this part of the video, the host drives a 1990s metallic red Mercedes-Benz 190E, comparing it to a previously tested 220CE. This 190E, owned by Tim from Cambrian Classics Limited, serves as his daily driver and his vehicle for local breakdowns. The video highlights the unique engineering and stylistic identity of 1990s Mercedes-Benz models, particularly noting designer Bruno Sacco’s influence. Distinct features of the car such as the mono wiper, ribbed indicator clusters, and gold trim are mentioned. Additionally, the host discusses the car’s compact size, engine options, and the safety feature of the three-pointed star emblem designed to minimize injury in case of an accident.
00:03:00
In this segment, the video covers the process of accessing the engine bay by releasing the bonnet, which is supported by a telescopic strut. The vehicle in focus features the M102 four-cylinder single overhead cam petrol engine, though other engine options like a five-cylinder diesel or a six-cylinder petrol were also available. The video notes that Mercedes-Benz, in collaboration with Cosworth, developed performance versions for touring car racing, achieving considerable success.
Moving on to the vehicle’s interior, the presenter highlights the prevalent beige color scheme, contrasting it with the typical black plastic found in other models. Key interior features include a four-speed automatic transmission, four electric windows, and a handbrake positioned for convenience. The dashboard includes a variety of gauges and knobs, with notable attention to detail in areas like the wood-like trim and the large steering wheel. The interior design reflects an evolution of earlier Mercedes-Benz models, with user-friendly instrumentation and a clear layout that maintains a connection to the brand’s design heritage.
00:06:00
In this part of the video, the reviewer discusses the interior and storage features of a 1992 Mercedes-Benz. They describe the back seat as cozy but a bit cramped, noting that while there’s enough headroom and a center armrest, the space is more suitable for children. The trunk is highlighted for its rectangular shape and significant boot space, despite the high lip. A notable feature is a visible warning triangle for safety when the trunk is open. They also mention the car’s multi-link rear suspension and rear-wheel drive, which enhance handling but reduce space. Additionally, the reviewer talks about the self-cleaning rear window, attributed to its aerodynamic design, and tests the impressive performance of the windscreen wiper. They then start the engine, adjust the ventilation, and prepare to drive the car.
00:09:00
In this segment of the video, the host describes the driving experience of a car with a transmission that starts in second gear, emphasizing its smooth and relaxing nature. The throttle has a long travel to prevent jumpy acceleration, common in German cars. Despite not feeling like a car meant for fast driving, the host takes it for a drive to test its capabilities. The four-speed gearbox, commonly seen in older Mercedes-Benz models, uses three gears to maintain low revs for a more relaxing experience, although it can get a bit revvy at higher speeds. The car exudes competence and confidence, despite having less sharp steering and noticeable roll in bends. The host notes that fully pressing the throttle engages all four gears, though the engine sounds coarse compared to the car’s overall refinement. Sporty driving isn’t its forte; it’s better suited for a relaxed drive. The automatic transmission has standard and economy modes, with ‘S’ standing for standard mode. For optimal refinement, the 260 model with a 2.6L 6-cylinder engine is recommended.
00:12:00
In this segment, the speaker discusses the significance of the car’s engine, noting the extensive time and financial investment in its development. They reflect on the car’s advanced chassis, mentioning its influence on the larger 124 model and its longevity until around 2000. The 190 model itself was replaced by the C-Class around 1994, which marked a shift towards cost-saving measures that somewhat reduced build quality. Despite the car being 30 years old with 112,000 miles, it still feels solid and well-built, offering a pleasant driving experience with good ride quality and supportive seats. One minor complaint is the sometimes unresponsive gearbox, particularly in kick-down situations with the two-liter four-cylinder engine. However, the manual gear selection is praised for its intuitiveness, making gear changes easy without needing to look at the selector, particularly useful on winding roads.
00:15:00
In this segment of the video, the speaker discusses their driving experience with a Mercedes-Benz 190, emphasizing its nimbleness and fun factor on narrow Welsh roads compared to the 124. They mention the car’s slightly soft but reassuring brakes and note the thoughtful positioning of controls for left-hand drive models. The speaker praises the 190 for its exceptional German engineering and driving comfort, particularly suited for countryside cruising, contrasting it with BMW’s different driving experience. The segment concludes with a promotion for their store and support links, followed by a humorous remark about being left in a field in Wales.