I know these two have different nibs (steel and gold, respectively), and are made of different materials (regular plastics and celluloid). What about the innards, though? Is there any difference in the piston mechanisms, or are they the same?
Is the difference in nib and plastic enough to justify the increase in price between these two models (the M400 costing about three times as a 200).

regards,
Rique

far as I know, there's no difference at all WRT the innards.

As far as the price difference being justified. I'd say from a purely functional POV - no. The steel nibs are great, the gold nibs are great. If you are of the group that insists that gold nibs are "better" in some way, then you could probably justify it. I do love the celluloid material, but is it "better" than other plastics? Not really. The only 200s that I think have inferior plastic are the translucents and that's only because they seem to show scratches more readily.

Now... from an aesthetic POV, I love my 400s and my 600 (also no difference in innards but a slightly larger nib) and feel they are "worth" the cost. But... if I were to buy any more 400s that were not in some way special, I would go to the Penmarket and PT Greenboard and put out a WTB notice for a second hand in good condition because I do think Pelikan charges too much for anything above a 200. Frankly, even the 200s could be considered overpriced in terms of materials - but the piston-filler is a very good quality and for that i think it's worth the price seen in most places (not the $60+ seen in some shops).

my .02 of course

Thanks KCat, that´s exactly what I wanted to know! I´ve decided my Christmas gift to myself is going to be (another) Pel, and I was wondering whether I should go to a 400, or get a 200 or a 250 (which are both the same price at a dealer I found). BTW, I´ve already got one, an old style M200, the ones with two rings at the cap mouth and marbled body - a wonderful pen, which needs some company ...

Rique

is it blue? Wanna sell it? Then you can get one of the new blue marbled 200s - much prettier and more stylish. :ph34r:

just kidding. I'm badgering anyone with a blue marbled old-style 200. It's one of those that I someday hope to add to my collection. But yours definitely needs a companion. I have several here that it would probably be happy with.

Hi,

I have a black old M200. I got it with a broken cap jewel, so I am sending it to Chartpak with the instructions, "Please replace the cap with either the Older M200 cap or the newer M400 cap if you are out of the older caps."

Dillon

Sorry, it is marbled grey Its companion is a pencil in the same colour (I think it is called a D200).
BTW, why are you after the old style 200? Don´t you like the new style? Or is it you have a collection that needs a blue 200 to be complete?

Rique

the new is okay - but I prefer the look of the old style and the engraved logo instead of the screened logo on the cap. The old style just seems to give a more streamlined look to my eye. I have one in grey and one in grey-magenta (Telekom) so I'd like someday to have one in the blue. My green marble 200 is new style but I see no reason to have two green marble M200s (one old style, the other new)

I've had both of these models apart and can say that there is no difference between the innards of these two models.