I realize that the pre-'85 617 engines are 5 cylindar compared to the '87 603 6-cylindar, but is there an appreciable power difference in acceleration and hill climbing ability?

Also, is the aluminum head of the 603 significantly worse than the iron head of 617's?

It is seems that gas mileage is very similar +/- 10%.

The '87's seem much harder to find and sell for significantly more than the more abundant pre-85 123 bodies. Just trying to figure out if it is worth the extra money mechanically. I suppose the '87's have newer bells and whistles, but I mostly interested in gas mileage, durability, and accelaration/hill climbing. Obviously, neither is a sports car, but I do go the mountains occasionally, so long hill climbing is a small factor.

Anybody got one out here on the West Coast/Southern Calif area?

 

Thanks for the info, FI.

That extra 20% of power would come in handy, sometimes. Of course, it will probably cost me >20% more to get it.

I still haven't decided which body style I like more - the 123 just has those classic lines that never look outdated. Although, the 124 is a lot more sleek. Elegance or Sexy, that's the question.

 

Thanks for making this important point, I hadn't taken it into consideration. Seven years of production versus one year and exponentially more sales makes replacement parts a hell of a lot more available and cheaper for the W123. Not to mention hands-on experience to tap into. That problem comes in handy when the it's time for a fix.