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1986 Mercedes-Benz 190 2.3 Cosworth.
I am sure some of us will remember this one. One which made me dream, despite the fact it is a 4 doors.
Typically austere interior and dashboard.
Typically austere interior and dashboard.
Best,
Nicolas
How could I forget!
My father had one and it was a neat little thing. Remember some long road trips in it and lots of overtaking 😁
And the dogleg manual gearbox, if I remember correctly (didn’t even know these came as automatics) 🦾
In many ways as fine as the E30 M3, especially in the later Evo versions, even if approached from a different perspective.
And one of the first German cars with a properly advanced rear axle suspension design 👌🏻👍🏻
Oh yes!! I do remember...
...gone are the days with analog dials and real switches and knobs on the interior....sadly!! (I hate those smugdy screens full of finger prints and flashy but unnecessary gimmicks to adjust very basic functions! (like AC, radio, etc etc)
Whether we like it or not…
Buttons will not make a full return for two reasons - cost and the most relevant automotive markets. The cost reason will remove most of them for good, even if some more buttons will now return for one intermediate generation before disappearing for good. Both the development and production cost of physical buttons is higher and no OEM wants this.
As for the customers, in the key markets customers are so thoroughly used to touch screens in all walks of life that they don’t want or need buttons.
Many here still appreciate the tactile feedback and the ability to control things ‘blind’ while driving. Sadly the majority of traffic nowadays doesn’t happen on unrestricted highways or fun mountain passes but with a distance adjusted cruise control at just above walking speeds, where there’s all the time in the world to operate the touchscreen 🤷🏻♂️
As for the customers, in the key markets customers are so thoroughly used to touch screens in all walks of life that they don’t want or need buttons.
Many here still appreciate the tactile feedback and the ability to control things ‘blind’ while driving. Sadly the majority of traffic nowadays doesn’t happen on unrestricted highways or fun mountain passes but with a distance adjusted cruise control at just above walking speeds, where there’s all the time in the world to operate the touchscreen 🤷🏻♂️
Not to return, sadly…
Even for players like Bentley and Rolls Royce the OEMs need to fo ce suppliers to make stuff for them by packaging the projects together with mainline BMW and VE ones, otherwise no one would want to do it 🤷🏻♂️
I thought I read this week or last that VW and MB are in fact bringing buttons back. To some degree.
I had a decision a little while back on more modern or slightly older. I will not lie, the slightly older car that had a flight deck of buttons was way more appealing. There were some other factors, but the buttons were not an insignificant one!
As you said…
To some degree for one intermediate generation. A last hurrah, if you wish to please some European markets. And don’t get me wrong - I like buttons but they are destined for the dustbin of history irrespective 🤷🏻♂️
Another classic wolf in sheep's clothing from my past a beautiful 1986 Mercedes-Benz 190 2.3 Cosworth.
Whilst this is no E500 but then what is it was still a real surprise of a car and not least of all as it used a Cosworth engine.
Marc
I remember it fondly !
Was an awesome drive , and great for gathering friends with its four doors
Unlike the one pictured above , mine was a manual.
190E 2.3-16 valve
saw that pic and instantly I remembered a smell - not a bad one, but unique
MB's were not common where I grew up so I guess memorable when encountered.
Wonderful car..
When i was a teenage boy in 1990, my dream car was this version: MB 190E 2.5-15 EVO II
