1970 Ford Escort vs. 1971 Mercedes-Benz 350
To start off, 1971 Mercedes-Benz 350 is newer by 1 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1970 Ford Escort. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1970 Ford Escort would be higher. At 3,499 cc (8 cylinders), 1971 Mercedes-Benz 350 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1971 Mercedes-Benz 350 (200 HP @ 5800 RPM) has 102 more horse power than 1970 Ford Escort. (98 HP @ 6000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1971 Mercedes-Benz 350 should accelerate faster than 1970 Ford Escort. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1971 Mercedes-Benz 350 weights approximately 744 kg more than 1970 Ford Escort. 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, 1971 Mercedes-Benz 350 (286 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 161 more torque (in Nm) than 1970 Ford Escort. (125 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1971 Mercedes-Benz 350 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1970 Ford Escort. 1971 Mercedes-Benz 350 has automatic transmission and 1970 Ford Escort has manual transmission. 1970 Ford Escort will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1971 Mercedes-Benz 350 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1970 Ford Escort | 1971 Mercedes-Benz 350 | |
| Make | Ford | Mercedes-Benz |
| Model | Escort | 350 |
| Year Released | 1970 | 1971 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1599 cc | 3499 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Horse Power | 98 HP | 200 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 5800 RPM |
| Torque | 125 Nm | 286 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.0:1 | 9.5:1 |
| Top Speed | 156 km/hour | 195 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 4 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 851 kg | 1595 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3980 mm | 4750 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1570 mm | 1800 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1350 mm | 1340 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2410 mm | 2830 mm |
