1965 Riley Kestrel vs. 1971 Riley 4

To start off, 1971 Riley 4 is newer by 6 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1965 Riley Kestrel. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1965 Riley Kestrel would be higher. At 1,622 cc (4 cylinders), 1971 Riley 4 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1971 Riley 4 (67 HP @ 5000 RPM) has 14 more horse power than 1965 Riley Kestrel. (53 HP @ 5500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1971 Riley 4 should accelerate faster than 1965 Riley Kestrel. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1971 Riley 4 weights approximately 263 kg more than 1965 Riley Kestrel. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.

Because 1971 Riley 4 is rear wheel drive (RWD), it offers better handling in dry conditions; in addition, if you are looking to drift, it will be much easier to do with 1971 Riley 4. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 1965 Riley Kestrel, being front wheel drive (FWD), will offer much better control with better grip. 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, 1971 Riley 4 (121 Nm @ 2500 RPM) has 37 more torque (in Nm) than 1965 Riley Kestrel. (84 Nm @ 2500 RPM). This means 1971 Riley 4 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1965 Riley Kestrel.

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