Hello,
The W124 is a MUCH better car than any 190E and the 1.8 is a SLUG that will need full throttle just to keep up with traffic.
Remember this, the 190 (and it's rival BMW 3 series) were *entry level* cars, so were built down to a cost.
Among the W124 in Asia, the 200 or 200E in the four cylinder range(230E blow head gaskets) and the 260E in the sixes are among the best driving and durable. Of course, if the 200E is an automatic, it will be a bit sluggish of the line, but you do not buy a 200/E to win traffic lite grand prixs
