And then there is the ride...

Drive a economy car for a while then get back in the 123. Notice how you can actually do the posted speed limit over the speedbumps and the car just soaks them up? Isn't that SLS beautiful?

I think for what the car is the handling is great. If you purchased it thinking you were getting a Porsche 914 then you may be a little disappointed.

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Currently driving a very clean 1985 300SD from the West Coast.

both my cars do that with out SLS too.

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1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine

I have often wondered if the 123 would respond to a 25-30% increase in sway bar diameter, as well as actually having a bar in the rear? Every time I've messed with springs in other cars the results were harsh ride and/or unacceptable loss of ground clearance. Sway bar upgrades however always seemed to work better for the money with less downsides. Of course, actually getting a new front bar into a 123 would be a project in itself..... RT

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When all else fails, vote from the rooftops!
84' Mercedes Benz 300D Anthracite/black, 171K
03' Volkswagen Jetta TDI blue/black, 93K
93' Chevrolet C2500HD ExCab 6.5TD, Two-tone blue, 252K

It already has a rear bar....unless its been removed. Let me know if you can find a larger bar for the front of a 123.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Yes, though such a tiny rear bar.

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1985 CA 300D Turbo , 213K mi

But if you have ever had a broken link, you know it does a job.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

It does nicely with a larger bar in the rear.

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1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine

I had help from my Garmin to push mine a tad.. My best friend and I were using my 300TDT 123 chassis this summer going all over. We routinely pushed it faster and faster. While the speedo only goes up to 85, Garmin confirmed 101mph with more pedal left.

We found it's handling capabilities on the back mountain roads near his home in WV and near my home in Sussex County NJ. Love the car, and for a 26 year old wagon.. it's great.

One time I was driving along on 421 north of here, at night in my 82 300TD, back when it was a fairly new car, with my wife and three or four kids with the car loaded for a holiday trip.

There used to be a iron trestle bridge which had these huge iron sides which wrapped up and over the top. The sides were right on the edge of the pavement so there was just enough room to meet a car or truck coming from the opposite direction. It was fine to drive through at cruising speed without slowing down but no extra room.

When we were perhaps an eighth of a mile away, there was a car ahead of us going the same direction which entered the bridge. As I approached the bridge, just as I was about to enter it I realized to my horror that the car ahead was barely moving and was stopped or nearly stopped in the bridge and I was running sixty five and was about fifty feet from the back of it.

It as way too late to stop and the only thing possible was a lane change. Now changing lanes at 65 in the confines of the bridge with a stationary car in it is nothing I would ever choose to do if I didn't have to, much less with my entire family in the car, but change lanes I did. I just steered quickly and precisely around the car and never lost a beat.

The little wagon just did exactly what I asked it to with no muss or fuss. I would not want to try that in any other wagon in the world.

Since I have been driving benzes mostly since about 1973 I can tell you there are a good many other instances in which I found myself in a tight spot and the handling of the benz allowed me to avoid disaster. This is just one example.

They are fine handling cars for what they are. They are not a Ferrari but then they will do a lot of things a Ferrari won't do too.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

I definitly agree with you. Not condoning dangerous driving or stree racing, but not too long after getting my 280ce a guy in a monte carlo tried to race me going up 31 late one night. So we would get to a light and he would rev his motor and take off when it turned green. The banter went on for a few lights and then I said what the hell I am going to see what the 123 will do, and I let the guy have it. We hung pretty even until we got to about 65-70mph then the 280 murdered him. This is where it gets scarry. The road is very straight with the exception of one turn that can reasonably be taken at 40-50mph. Well I was going dubble that and when I entered the turn. I breaked as much as I could before I started the turn and just when I thought I was going to be on the morning news the car did something absolutly amazing. The whole rear end of the car hunkered down and stuck to the pavement like glue and I was able to make the turn. I never expected a car that size to handle like that and I felt in control of the car the whole time. I can honestly say that I feel like I owe my well-being on that particular night to the quality design and construction of the w123, and definately also to the man upstairs who made mbz possible. Needless to say I never had the urge to try that again but if I ever have to face another scarry situation on the road again I hope I am behind the wheel of an mbz.

I've taken a standard left turn at an intersection at around 40mph in my W126.....tires were squealing in pain, but it still went through the turn without losing its stance or tracking. Amazing. LOTS of body roll though, I was practically clinging to the steering wheel!!


Now the W124.....thats a a fun car.

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

A well sorted W123 is very fun to drive. Just need to make sure you are at optimal RPMs or certain maneuvers.


Now the W124.... Mines like a gokart compared to the W123.

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-Justin

91 560 SEC AMG - other dogs dd
01 Honda S2000 - dogs dd
07 MB ML320 CDI - dd
16 Lexus IS250 - wifes dd

it's automatic.

I've owned everything from 60's muscle cars to Korean econo-boxes, air-cooled VWs to pickup trucks, mini-vans to all-out sports cars. The W123 is definitely in the upper half of the gaumut of handling for cars up to and including its day. Probably somewhere in the upper quarter.

It isn't a sports car, and yes the body rolls a bit, and yes it understeers at the limit. BUT as others have said, its handling is very controlled and predictable. It isn't absolutely THE best for carving up a twisty road, or driving at 9/10ths - but then it was never meant to be.

It is a sedan (or in my case a coupe) and for regular to semi-spirited driving - up to around 7/10ths - it is a pretty darned good choice. The steering and suspension are more than up to anything its drivetrain can throw at it as long as you stay out of snowy or icy conditions.

Once the roads get slick all bets are off though. I got caught away from home in about a 1" snowfall a month or so ago. NOT FUN AT ALL! The torque of the diesel, the rear wheel drive, and the weight bias towards the front wheels combine to make a vehicle that is positively scary without snow chains. I've only had a couple of vehicles that were worse in the snow.

Two that come immediately to mind were a 280Z, and a Olds 442. Both of them had the same problems as the W123 - only more so! They both have 60/40 (or worse) front/rear weight distribution and an engine with way WAY more than enough torque to break the rear wheels loose...

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1984 300 Coupe TurboDiesel
Silver blue paint over navy blue interior
2nd owner & 2nd engine in an otherwise
99% original unmolested car
~210k miles on the clock

1986 Ford F250 4x4 Supercab
Charcoal & blue two tone paint over burgundy interior
Banks turbo, DRW, ZF-5 & SMF conversion
152k on the clock - actual mileage unknown

If your 123 was scary on snow you have a tire problem, imho. They are very well balanced. Add a hundred pounds in the trunk and only 4x4s will beat you off the line.

IN snow, of course skinny tires with good tread work the best and those low profile very wide tires which grip so well on dry pavement? They are the worst on snow or water.

Weight over the drive wheels and good tread are the keys.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

I drove my S123 300 TD Turbo into a 90* corner, icy road, stock tires(Winter), chopped 1,5 round without rubber-tops in the front, 120 km/t.
Was pretty shure it would go to hell, but the car got around the corner almost without trouble...