IMHO, you will never find another diesel as "cast-iron" as a W123. The bigger diesels i.e., 300SD, 300SDL, 350SDL, are nice but the chassis just seem too big for the car. Sure after you get some speed up you can just sit back and cruise. But I always liked the acceleration (
from a diesel?) of the W123 '85 300D I had. It was just the right size that on the freeway I could dart in and out between cars with no problem whatsoever. I miss that ol' thing.