Mercedes W114

Mercedes W114: which version to buy

Buy by power first, then gearbox, then front suspension. Names repeat; distinguish them by horsepower.

Buy by power first, then gearbox, then front suspension. Names repeat; distinguish them by horsepower.

If you want the highest speed in this catalogue: take 2.8 MT 185 hp (2746 cm³, Distributed injection (multi-point)). 0–100 is 9.9 s; top speed is 200 km/h. That is 71 hp more than 2.5 MT 114 hp (114 → 185, +62%), 2.9 s quicker than that 2.5 MT (12.8 → 9.9), and 20 km/h faster (180 → 200). Versus 2.8 MT 160 hp it is +25 hp, 0.7 s quicker (10.6 → 9.9) and +10 km/h (190 → 200). Versus 2.8 MT 130 hp (2800 cm³, Carburetor) it is +55 hp, 1.6 s quicker (11.5 → 9.9) and +20 km/h (180 → 200). Specific output is 185 / 2.746 ≈ 67.4 hp per litre — the densest in the table. The same 185 hp engine as 2.8 AT costs 0.9 s and 5 km/h (10.8 s, 195 km/h). There is no 185 hp Automatic on the dependent-spring rows; if you want 185 hp and Automatic you must take Independent, spring front and rear.

If you want a 2.8 without injection listed: 2.8 MT 160 hp (2746 cm³; fuel system not measured) does 10.6 s and 190 km/h. That is still 46 hp and 2.2 s ahead of 2.5 MT 114 hp, and 10 km/h faster. Pair 2.8 AT 160 hp if you want Automatic: 11.3 s and 185 km/h — 0.7 s and 5 km/h behind its Manual twin.

Do not buy a 2.8 by name alone. Three Manuals share 2.8 MT: 185 hp, 160 hp, and 130 hp. Three Automatics share 2.8 AT: 185 hp, 160 hp, and 130 hp. The 130 hp cars use 2800 cm³ and Carburetor, not 2746 cm³. 2.8 MT 130 hp: 11.5 s, 180 km/h, kerb 1395 kg (the only 2.8 with a measured kerb). 2.8 AT 130 hp: 12.4 s, 175 km/h, kerb not measured. Specific output of the 130 hp 2.8 is 130 / 2.8 ≈ 46.4 hp/L — almost the same as the 2.5 (114 / 2.5 = 45.6 hp/L) despite 300 cm³ more. Weight per horsepower on 2.8 MT 130 hp is 1395 / 130 ≈ 10.7 kg/hp. That 130 hp Manual matches 2.5 MT 114 hp on top speed (both 180 km/h) and beats it by 1.3 s to 100 km/h.

If you want the smallest engine: 2.3 MT 120 hp (2292 cm³, Carburetor). It is the only 2.3. Kerb 1355 kg — 40 kg lighter than 2.8 MT 130 hp (1395 kg). Specific output 120 / 2.292 ≈ 52.4 hp/L, better than the 114 hp 2.5 and the 130 hp 2.8, worse than the 160 and 185 hp 2.8s. 0–100 is 13.3 s (slowest) and top speed 175 km/h (tied for lowest with the Automatics at 114 and 130 hp). Weight per horsepower 1355 / 120 ≈ 11.3 kg/hp, heavier per hp than the 1395 kg / 130 hp 2.8. Front and rear suspension: Independent, spring. No Automatic 2.3 is listed.

If you want the cheapest-feeling spec on paper (least hp): 2.5 MT 114 hp (2500 cm³). 12.8 s, 180 km/h. Two rows exist: one with Dependent, spring front (rear not measured) and Carburetor; one with Independent, spring front and rear (fuel system not measured). Performance numbers are identical. 2.5 AT 114 hp is Independent, spring both ends: 12.9 s (+0.1 s vs Manual) and 175 km/h (−5 km/h). Specific output 45.6 hp/L — lowest of the set.

Automatic vs Manual, same power, is a 5 km/h top-speed cut on every pair that exists, and 0.1–0.9 s slower to 100 km/h. The Automatic penalty grows with power: +0.1 s on 114 hp, +0.7 s on 160 hp, +0.9 s on 185 hp, +0.9 s on 130 hp.

Dependent, spring versus Independent, spring does not change the measured 0–100 or top speed where both exist (114 hp MT, 160 hp MT, 185 hp MT). Choose Independent, spring if you want a measured rear suspension (Independent, spring) and access to Automatic rows; the dependent-front group has no Automatic in this list.

There is only 1 generation, so there is no later generation that added power, cut weight, or changed drive. All 12 shown versions (catalogue count 14, 12 displayed) share 1968-01-01–1977-12-31 for the version dates, Coupe, RWD, 4 gears, disc front brakes labelled Disc, boost No, fuel 80.

Generations (what actually changed)

1 generation (1967-01-01–1977-12-31), Coupe, 14 versions (12 shown). No restyle is listed as a separate generation. What “changes” inside the generation is not a facelift year but the engine/gearbox/suspension matrix: 2292 / 2500 / 2746 / 2800 cm³; 114 / 120 / 130 / 160 / 185 hp; Manual or Automatic; Carburetor, Distributed injection (multi-point), or fuel system not measured; Dependent, spring front or Independent, spring both ends.

Engine and specs

All engines: Gasoline, 6, Inline, boost No, fuel 80. Valves per cylinder, compression, bore/stroke, engine location: not measured. Torque: not measured on every version.

Drive is RWD on all. Rear brakes: not measured. Front brakes: Disc.

Power-per-litre ranking: 2.8 MT/2.8 AT 185 hp ≈ 67.4 hp/L; 2.8 MT/2.8 AT 160 hp ≈ 58.3 hp/L; 2.3 MT ≈ 52.4 hp/L; 2.8 MT/2.8 AT 130 hp ≈ 46.4 hp/L; 2.5 MT/2.5 AT 114 hp = 45.6 hp/L.

The 2800 cm³ Carburetor 2.8 is not the strongest 2.8: it is 55 hp below the 2746 cm³ injected 185 hp cars. Extra cubic centimetres here do not buy extra horsepower.

Performance and mpg

Spread of 0–100: 9.9 s (2.8 MT 185 hp) to 13.3 s (2.3 MT) = 3.4 s. Spread of top speed: 200 km/h to 175 km/h = 25 km/h.

City, highway and combined consumption: not measured on all 12 versions. CO2: not measured. Eco class: not measured. You cannot rank mpg from this catalogue.

Dimensions and weight

Ground clearance is 165 mm on every version. Tank: not measured. Wheels: not measured. Gross weight: not measured.

Measured kerb only: 2.3 MT 1355 kg; 2.8 MT 130 hp 1395 kg. The 40 kg gap is 3% of 1355. Per horsepower the heavier 2.8 is still the lighter load (10.7 vs 11.3 kg/hp) because it has 10 more hp. All other kerbs: not measured — so you cannot compute kg/hp for 114, 160 or 185 hp cars.

Rear suspension: Independent, spring where listed; not measured on the four dependent-front rows.

Problems and reliability

This dataset has no failure rates, no service intervals and no known-fault list. Reliability is not measured here. What is measured and shared: Gasoline, no boost, 4-speed Manual or Automatic, RWD, Disc front brakes, 165 mm clearance, fuel 80. Fuel system is Carburetor on the 114 hp dependent 2.5 MT, the 130 hp 2.8s and the 2.3 MT; Distributed injection (multi-point) only on the 185 hp 2.8s; not measured on the 114 hp independent 2.5s and the 160 hp 2.8s.

Short buy map

• Fastest: 2.8 MT 185 hp (either suspension row) — 9.9 s, 200 km/h, 67.4 hp/L.
• Fastest Automatic: 2.8 AT 185 hp — 10.8 s, 195 km/h.
• Middle 2.8 without listed injection: 2.8 MT 160 hp — 10.6 s, 190 km/h.
• 2.8 that is barely denser than a 2.5: 2.8 MT 130 hp — 11.5 s, 180 km/h, 1395 kg.
• Smallest and lightest measured: 2.3 MT 120 hp — 1355 kg, 13.3 s, 175 km/h.
• Least hp: 2.5 MT 114 hp — 12.8 s, 180 km/h; 2.5 AT if you need Automatic — 12.9 s, 175 km/h.

No prices are in the data, so “what the extra money buys” is only what the extra horsepower and gearbox buy: from 114 hp Manual to 185 hp Manual you gain 71 hp, 2.9 s and 20 km/h; from any Manual to its Automatic twin you give up 5 km/h and 0.1–0.9 s. One generation, Coupe only.