1952 Austin Princess vs. 1978 Mercedes-Benz S
To start off, 1978 Mercedes-Benz S is newer by 26 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1952 Austin Princess. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1952 Austin Princess would be higher. At 3,993 cc (6 cylinders), 1952 Austin Princess is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1952 Austin Princess (118 HP @ 4000 RPM) has 4 more horse power than 1978 Mercedes-Benz S. (114 HP @ 4200 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1952 Austin Princess should accelerate faster than 1978 Mercedes-Benz S. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Mercedes-Benz S weights approximately 35 kg more than 1952 Austin Princess.
Both vehicles are rear wheel drive (RWD) - it offers better handling in dry conditions; in addition, if you are looking to drift, both vehicles do the job better than front wheel drive vehicles. With that said, do keep in mind that many other factors such as speed and the wear on your tires can also have significant impact on traction and control. Let's talk about torque, 1952 Austin Princess (251 Nm @ 2000 RPM) has 20 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Mercedes-Benz S. (231 Nm @ 2400 RPM). This means 1952 Austin Princess will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Mercedes-Benz S.
Compare all specifications:
| 1952 Austin Princess | 1978 Mercedes-Benz S | |
| Make | Austin | Mercedes-Benz |
| Model | Princess | S |
| Year Released | 1952 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 3993 cc | 2998 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 5 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 118 HP | 114 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 4200 RPM |
| Torque | 251 Nm | 231 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2000 RPM | 2400 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Diesel |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Vehicle Weight | 2180 kg | 2215 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5470 mm | 4970 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1900 mm | 1880 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1780 mm | 1430 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 3360 mm | 2870 mm |
