My Biggest Car Regret Was Selling My Mercedes 190E 2.3-16

A fair few of us petrolheads can look back at our car history and pick out one motor we miss. One we'd give anything to have back. For me, that distinction goes to my old Mercedes 190E 2.3-16.

I was a student at the time, and had a little bit of cash from a part time job to drop on a car. I was adamant that car was going to be an Alfa 156, but then I spotted this 'Cosworth' Merc in the classifieds. I'd lusted after these before but had never seen one in my budget, until this one appeared. Sure, it wasn't perfect; the rear arches were rotten and while it had loads of receipts, it didn't have a full service history.

A depressingly common sight during my 190E ownership

I overlooked those things, but soon discovered just why it was so cheap. It was plagued with fuelling issues, and a long succession of garages I thought would be up to the task of fixing it had no idea what they were doing with the old Bosch KE system. As a result, for the three years I owned it, the thing was probably only working for the space of a year.

When it did work, though, it was sublime. With 185bhp the 2.3-litre 16-valve four-pot doesn't sound up to much on paper, but it's such a punchy engine, with a delectably brawny intake roar when you floor it. The car was so well balanced and drivable, too. I recall one epic thrash across the A537 'Cat and Fiddle' road in the Peak District, one of the country's best roads. It remains the most entertaining driving experience of my life; eating up each corner with the occasional kick from the back-end of the car.

Eventually, circumstances meant that the other half and I only needed one car. At the time, the 190 still wasn't running right; it needed to be thoroughly warmed up before it would even idle. I'd already spent more than I dare add up just trying to keep it going, and I exhausted every possible avenue to get it running right. My frustration got the better of me, and I sold it. Several years later I can't help but think I should have persisted, got it working and kept hold of it.

With all the money it cost me and all the heartache the car caused, non car people usually ask me if I regret buying it. The reality is the opposite, I regret ever letting it go.