PerfMad

Ok now you are making me scared. my relation own a W124 E200 which has a 5 cylinder diesel engine (not the 4, i guess its swapped with a 5 cylinder engine) and the engine is really smooth like a petrol (have done around 200k KMs) and it has a decent amount of power too. I really didn't realize any of those handbrake or steering issues when i drove it for like 30-40km one day. as per him it does around 12 in city limits (not quite sure how true it is though, and no he isn't doing any marketing and he has no intention in selling it either otherwise il be buying it since i know how its been used and treated for all these years ) 

My only concern is my current honda city vtec (manual) does around 10 in city with heavy traffic and it does around 15 outside. And so far it havent stranded me anywhere eventhough i have clocked 203k KM's on it its still reliable and serves me well.. 
Do you think a W124 will be that reliable knowing that car is pretty old compared to mine, am i waving at trouble?  

And as far as I know, apart from the engine other components are far cheaper than a Honda... is it true ?

And what are the YOM I should look for depending on the features ?

Handbrake is not an issue. It is where it is placed , different to other cars more like a lorry. You will get more or less what you will get with the Honda in terms of mileage. but a 2.5 5 cylinder doing 12 in traffic is kinda hard to believe. A merc maintained properly wont strand you anywhere lol. I have been all over around the country in my ancient 190E petrol and never did it give me any sort of trouble other than a fuel pump fuse once. Diesel mercs in that era is even better in terms of reliability, provided they were maintained properly. YOM I really don't know, condition matters in these old cars. 

Yah true that. What is your opinion about going for a E300 6 cylinder automatic car ? How reliable is these gearboxes and 6 cylinder engines ?

Note that i really don't have any issue with driving manual daily cz i already does and i love driving manuals as well.. Therefore, i would like to know about the AUTO version of this era as well..