Well my mother has owned a 86 420 SEL since the early 90's and I can tell you that that car does not handle(turn or stop) as crisply as mine does....as for the doors maybe I feel the reason they are thicker is because of the dual pane glass...one thing is for sure there is considerably more head room in the 140 car than 126 and the car(although I have not measured not looked at a spec sheet) feels significantly wider while sitting in the front seat and looking across than the 126 body car
That being said the 140 is no competitor to the newer 220 in the handling department...that car can out manuever the 140 any day

and probably outrun it also
with similiar sized comparable engines

Warren
1992 300SD 169K
Columbus Ohio

W140

----------------------------

Exterior Dimensions

Wheelbase 123.6 in/3,140 mm

Overall length 205.2 in/5,213 mm

Overall height 58.5 in/1,486 mm

Overall width 74.3 in/1,886 mm

Front track 63.2 in/1,606 mm

Rear track 62.2 in/1,579 mm

Turning circle curb-to-curb 41 ft/12.5 m

Coefficient of drag 0.32 Cd

Curb weight 4,500 lb/2,030 kg

Interior Dimensions

Front headroom 38.0 in/965 mm

Rear headroom 37.8 in/960 mm

Front legroom 41.3 in/1,049 mm

Rear legroom 39.6 in/917 mm

Front hiproom 57.1 in/1,450 mm

Rear hiproom 57.6 in/1,462 mm

Front shoulder room 61.7 in/1,568 mm

Rear shoulder room 61.3 in/1,556 mm

Cabin capacity 108.1 cu ft/3,061 liters

Trunk capacity 15.6 cu ft/444 liters

W126

--------------------

Overall vehicle length 208.1in/5285mm

Overall vehicle width 71.7in/1820mm

Overall height 56.7in/1441mm

Wheelbase 121.1in/3075mm

Track front 61.2in/1555mm

Track rear 60.1in/1527mm

Legroom rear 39.6cu in

Front legroom 41.9 cu in

Turning radius 40.6 ft

Curb weight 3990lbs / 1810kg

(W126 according to 300SDL owner's manual and vehicle data card).

__________________
1987 300SDL (324000)

1986 Porsche 951 (944 Turbo) (166000)

1978 Porsche 924 (99000)

1996 Nissan Pathfinder R50 (201000)

I do agree about the headroom. I think because you sit so high up in the W140, it makes it feel so much bigger and wider. But the W140 isn't THAT much bigger than the W126. Just a lot heavier.

The W140 isn't bad, its just not my cup-of-tea. To each his own, right?:p

__________________
1987 300SDL (324000)

1986 Porsche 951 (944 Turbo) (166000)

1978 Porsche 924 (99000)

1996 Nissan Pathfinder R50 (201000)

For some reason the dimensions I have are different(and remember mine is the short wheelbase model also

per my owners manual

Overall length 201.3 inches

Overal width 74.3
Overall height 58.7
Wheel base 119.7
Track,front 63.1
track,rear 62

by the way as I recall the weight factor from 140 to 126 was about 700 pounds more on the 140....why would you say the car weighed so much more?


Warren
1992 300SD 169K
Columbus Ohio

Nothing improves reliability like a second chance. If you own two cars that are exactly the same you will be as calm as a Buddhist monk when your repairman starts talking about parts that come from Germany.