I'd say you've sampled a good range.

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DJ


84 300D Turbodiesel 190K with 4 speed manual sold in 03/2012

I drove a 2008 Rabbit with manual trans last week and was really impressed. This model didn't have ESP, but it did had the EDL and also ASR. The sales guy asked me to push it harder than I was on the on-ramp, and I did, reluctantly, and nailed the throttle coming out. Very minimal perceptible torque-steer, and what little there was didn't affect the line I was pulling around the curve. All very settled. Go check one out. The 170hp inline-5 is a hoot, but my m111 gets better MPG with an auto and 162k.

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former: 83 300D, 97 C230, 93 400E

current: 08 C300 Luxury , 92 500SL

Yup, that's exactly what they were built for and they do a very good job.

I have a few winding roads and grades on the way to and from work and it's been the best handling car that I have owned since living where I do. I haven't pushed my wife's Acura to the limits I've pushed the Civic but I imagine it would handle as well if not better since it is an AWD.

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DJ


84 300D Turbodiesel 190K with 4 speed manual sold in 03/2012

Got a 2000 Accord that has no rear sway bar and it has less body roll than a W123

I'm putting some stiffer springs on it and a rear sway bar from an Acura TL to tighten up the handling some.

They aren't the most inspiring handlers when they're stock but of course they're gonna be better than a 20 year old car (with a design from the 70s) that's at least 1000 pounds heavier than your Civic.

A civic will always be more tossable than a modern 3 Series since a new M3 now runs 3700 pounds...

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1985 CA 300D Turbo , 213K mi

Actually I was comparing FWD's of today to FWD's of "yesterday".

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DJ


84 300D Turbodiesel 190K with 4 speed manual sold in 03/2012