The others have hit on the main points - the B230F is low friction, designed for better mileage. Might lead to more quiet running, too (as long as you don't develop piston slap from the short piston skirts!) Computer controls also improved in that time (the B23 uses the earliest form of knock control, while the later models were a bit more sophisticated.)

The rear end ratio has a lot to do with how a car's acceleration feels. My wife's old '83 B23F w/autobox and 3.73 rear-end felt like it could launch harder than my '83 B23F w/M46 and 3.31 rear.