hhhm..
I really wouldn't think of the W123 as a potent handler..

I just love it as a classic that doesn't look flashy yet it's something i really like.

My mum enjoyed driving the W123 more than the W124..
They are both manuals.. the W123 had a 4-speed stick and the W124 has a 5-speed stick.

She doesn't know much about power, engines, etc..
but to her the W123 had more grunt and she loved driving it more than the W124..
she also loved it because people were more scared of the W123 as it looked like it was going to the junkyard... (though it was a perfectly nice sample i thought...)

The W123 was a 280E
the W124 was a 230E .... yeah.. i think it has the same engine as the W123 230E... so maybe it explains the power deficit.

Both are Euro spec engines.. so that 2.8L I-6 was quite something hehehe..if only my dad hadn't sold it..

Both rode on 16" wheels and some 55 profile tires.
205/55/16