My opinion:

I've never driven a car with 123 fitted. My D*lly has Luminition (which is still available from ecas) which I believe is 'electronic assited' or something so my car still has the points fitted. In 4 years the only thing that's caused her not to start is when the starter motor died. Aside from that, she starts first time, everytime... even after I drove her into a 'puddle' that came in through the doors, much to the amazement of everyone watching.

Eventually I'll get an ecas yellow one, but at the moment the original type one I bought 3 years ago seems fine. I can't justify the cost at the moment.

Aren't you a student james? and if so don't you get one of those 'tax payers help me re-build my car' grants....

Lumie replaces the points & condenser. The only real difference between 123 & Lumie is that Lumie retains the mechanical advance weights, whilst 123 maps the advance in software.

aha now I had always wondered that Cheers for that. And I'd rather keep sotware as far away from my car as possible!

To add some stats James, I'll say that on Luinition, my car does 60mpg and sits at 75mph on a run. The 0-60 test came in at around 30 seconds.

A rev counter isn't essential, depends what you want it for, the speedo has three little 'change gear now' lines painted onto it, indicating the maximum engine speed in that gear. Simples.

Assuming, of course, you can't hear or feel when the engine's telling you to change gear.

i can feel and hear when to change, just fancy looking at a rev gauge when im doing 70mph,
not sure why

im going to get one of those ecas yellow jobs soon ish, and i ordered from roy this morning new points and condenser.

and to clear this one up sam,

i wish, in my dreams !!

well i dont really intend driving my car through a puddle that deep and im amazed you didnt stall in the middle!!

I doubt very much that James either wants or needs the rev counter in order to know when to change gear. Like 99.9999998% of rev counters in existence, it would be there just to - look cooooool

These painted bars on the speedo, they must surely be at the effective 'red line'? 'Cos I ain't ever got anywhere near mine... Poor engine.

Oh, and if you want 123 ignition, James, then go for it!

Pros: Never need to worry about changing/setting points again. Always knowing that the ignition is 'spot on'. Fatter, probably more reliable, spark. Possibly slightly improved fuel consumption and emissions.

Cons: You'll be 100 squid worse off. Might get fried if voltage regulator malfunctions.

(Have I missed out anything obvious such as 'some on here will diss you...'? )

If money were no object, I'd get one myself. As it is, I'll probably settle for an electronic assisted ignition unit which keeps, but takes the load off, the existing points.

Hmmmm, maybe I've missed something on this thread (I've not read it all) but I'm guessing that James has asked for peoples opinions? I've given my opinion as have many other people including yourself.

Certainly the bits of this thread I've read have been valid points although I would (in my experience) argue about 123 giving better emission and economy, let alone being more reliable!

The only thing I would really stress about 123 (and others have mentioned it too) is that it may well be a (practically) fit and forget ignition system but there's still a cooling fan that can sieze on and an oil cooler that quite likes being checked and cleaned at regular intervals!

As for "dissing" him if he buys 123, wy on earth would we do that? If that's what James feels is right, then so be it-if it's going to help keep another A-series on the road then that's bloody great!