1957 Austin Princess vs. 1978 Volvo 343
To start off, 1978 Volvo 343 is newer by 21 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1957 Austin Princess. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1957 Austin Princess would be higher. At 3,992 cc (6 cylinders), 1957 Austin Princess is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1957 Austin Princess (118 HP @ 4000 RPM) has 48 more horse power than 1978 Volvo 343. (70 HP @ 5500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1957 Austin Princess should accelerate faster than 1978 Volvo 343. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1957 Austin Princess weights approximately 1190 kg more than 1978 Volvo 343. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
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, 1957 Austin Princess (251 Nm @ 2000 RPM) has 142 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Volvo 343. (109 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1957 Austin Princess will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Volvo 343. 1978 Volvo 343 has automatic transmission and 1957 Austin Princess has manual transmission. 1957 Austin Princess will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1978 Volvo 343 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1957 Austin Princess | 1978 Volvo 343 | |
| Make | Austin | Volvo |
| Model | Princess | 343 |
| Year Released | 1957 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 3992 cc | 1397 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 118 HP | 70 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Torque | 251 Nm | 109 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2000 RPM | 3500 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Vehicle Weight | 2180 kg | 990 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5470 mm | 4210 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1900 mm | 1670 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1780 mm | 1400 mm |
