A collegue has a 2.0 and a friend had a flipper-gear 2.0 TS, they never failed. Now Alfa makes the best sounding vee-sixes since the early eighties, so what keeps me from considering a late 90's 4K 156 I dunno.

Nice read.

Indeed, but they share the same V12 (OK, milder cams, 5mm smaller Webers, other ignition), there's room for 4 (spacious!), vision is excellent, looks are . . . don't get me started ;) I've learned there are only a few Spada-lovers out there.

The pedigree that rings through at start up and at idle is dazzling. Along the way the climbing of the revs - let her warm up in respect for the beautifull machinery - there's a breaking point at about 4 - 4.5k that clearly indicates: do you want to get into the next phase?

Well, yes!

Stepping hard with enough tarmac layed out in front, the mill begins to sing like nothing else. With a turbine-like thrust the Spada pulls and pulls . . . switching gears at 6 - 6.5 feels comfy . . . but this beasty can go all the way through 8000 rpm. Who dares?

In the meantime the backseat is a perfect place to watch and listen . . . Frontseats offer the better soundbyte though.

Great write-up indeed! As a fellow and proud owner of a 1992 500E (in the exactly the same exterior/interior color combo) I very much share your exact feeling towards this king of cars. I just wish I had access to the open motorways in Europe to habitually open up this monster. You'll be surprised how hard you can drive this car (many people have taken it to the track and use it daily - testament to its Porsche pedigree) and how well it will maintain its poise and performance well into the high mileage potential of the built proof M 119.974 engine, probably the best engine Mercedes ever build which then Porsche tuned.

The Porsche involvement from the get go is what set this car apart from all Mercedes cars ever build past present and future, including AMG. And having this steel unibody masterpiece of a car designed, engineered, tuned, road tested (where it was claimed to be the first Benz that handled like a Porsche by a Porsche test driver) completely hand build and hand welded by Porsche engineers in the same plant where the magnificent 959 was conceived, permanently chiseled a grin on my face, which only widens more when the WOT kicks in!

Enjoy this limited production and rare work of perfection - no other new Benz comes close to the timeless 124 chassis design and proven durability and this 500E child is icing on the cake!

I had the chance to own a 93 E500 from Jan 04 to Oct 05. The best car I ever owned - you really cant go wrong with these big benzes.

See my website http://www.e500.org which is dedicated to these wonderful cars.

Any more information on the car would be fantastic thanks, your email can be retrieved off the site so no need to post it on here.

Yes, it is rather a nice toy so is nice to find yet another owner!!

i currently own a 200sx s14a nissan and am thinking of the gtr upgrade, so its great to read all your day to day running in your report.

lee,

After reading the H4 headlamp reviews on www.autoexpress.co.uk I settled on their highest scorer - Halfords Super Brilliance - the 50% plus ones. They scored even higher than the 'blue' ones and don't have the annoying feature of blinding on coming cars, even on dip, like most of them.

Anyway, they've made a big difference and helped make me much safer at night... (and faster too). Last month when I bought them they were 2 for the price of one at £13.99 each so a definate bargain, especially when compared to similar bulbs (that scored less highly) on the autoexpress test.

A great little introduction to your GT Four. Look forward to meeting up and seeing her in the flesh when mine is rebuilt.

regards