I've found my car to be an excellent handler... I push my car daily, and I find it quite satisfying. Though some my differ, the w123 was hailed as one of the fineset handeling machines of its day, though the 123 is very conservative about it. There are no frills, or engineered sensations (BMW) when pushing a 123. I've had to run away from many a villan in my car, and the biggest thing this car has is its on road prowess, not speed. BTW, there is a 123 in that new Brad Pitt movie, a white one. I think its in a chase....