Siena: Personally, I would go for the 190E 2.5-16. This was a Cosworth-tuned car, with a Cosworth-cast 16 valve cylinder. I have been fortunate enough to drive an Evo I version, and it was blistering quick. At the time, I owned a 1990 BMW E30 M3 Cabrio, with 200 hp (CAT delete and remap). It was a fast car, but the Mercedes-Benz made it seem slow. My BMW had the edge on handling, but not by a huge margin.

I've never driven a Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evo II, but I can only imagine what it would be like. It produced 250 hp, so 20 hp more than the Evo I version I drove. It's one of the cars on my "someday" list.

The Mercedes-benz 190E 2.6 is not rare in standard form, the Sportline is however, not common. It's an I6 engine, producing 160/164 hp (depending on if it was Catalyzed or not). Sportline is just a trim level, and doesn't give any more power advantage over the regular 2.6E. This is one of the rare occasions I would pick the 2.5-16 4 cylinder over the 6 cylinder version, as power is more important to me. The 2.3/2.5-16 "Cosworth" models still command high prices despite production ending 20 years ago.

ninz:
Yes, so i've noticed ( The high prices), u see the 2.3-16 is a '83 ride by Cosworth but I think Benz alone produced the 2.5-16 of '88/89.
My fantasy is majorly with the build and suspension of Evo2 and Sportline, plus leather interior and other specs they come with. can the standard Cosworth models be had with these accessories?

Siena:

Yes, some Cosworth owners specified a mixture of Cosworth and Sportline accessories, sort of mix-and-match. Harder to find though.