1956 Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire vs. 1978 Mercedes-Benz 280
To start off, 1978 Mercedes-Benz 280 is newer by 22 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1956 Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1956 Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire would be higher. At 2,746 cc (6 cylinders), 1978 Mercedes-Benz 280 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1978 Mercedes-Benz 280 (182 HP @ 5800 RPM) has 64 more horse power than 1956 Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire. (118 HP @ 5000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1978 Mercedes-Benz 280 should accelerate faster than 1956 Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1956 Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire weights approximately 175 kg more than 1978 Mercedes-Benz 280.
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, 1978 Mercedes-Benz 280 (240 Nm @ 4500 RPM) has 51 more torque (in Nm) than 1956 Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire. (189 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1978 Mercedes-Benz 280 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1956 Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire. 1978 Mercedes-Benz 280 has automatic transmission and 1956 Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire has manual transmission. 1956 Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1978 Mercedes-Benz 280 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1956 Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire | 1978 Mercedes-Benz 280 | |
| Make | Armstrong Siddeley | Mercedes-Benz |
| Model | Sapphire | 280 |
| Year Released | 1956 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2290 cc | 2746 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 118 HP | 182 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5000 RPM | 5800 RPM |
| Torque | 189 Nm | 240 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3500 RPM | 4500 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1650 kg | 1475 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4910 mm | 4730 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1840 mm | 1790 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1670 mm | 1440 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2900 mm | 2800 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 72 L | 65 L |
