1971 Alpine A 310 vs. 1970 Reliant Bug
To start off, 1971 Alpine A 310 is newer by 1 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1970 Reliant Bug. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1970 Reliant Bug would be higher. At 1,646 cc (4 cylinders), 1971 Alpine A 310 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1971 Alpine A 310 (93 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 62 more horse power than 1970 Reliant Bug. (31 HP @ 5000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1971 Alpine A 310 should accelerate faster than 1970 Reliant Bug. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1971 Alpine A 310 weights approximately 432 kg more than 1970 Reliant Bug. 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 Alpine A 310 (128 Nm @ 3000 RPM) has 76 more torque (in Nm) than 1970 Reliant Bug. (52 Nm @ 2500 RPM). This means 1971 Alpine A 310 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1970 Reliant Bug.
Compare all specifications:
| 1971 Alpine A 310 | 1970 Reliant Bug | |
| Make | Alpine | Reliant |
| Model | A 310 | Bug |
| Year Released | 1971 | 1970 |
| Engine Position | Rear | Front |
| Engine Size | 1646 cc | 701 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 93 HP | 31 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Torque | 128 Nm | 52 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 2500 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 79 mm | 60.5 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 84 mm | 61 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.3:1 | 8.4:1 |
| Top Speed | 192 km/hour | 121 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 840 kg | 408 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4190 mm | 2800 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1650 mm | 1400 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1160 mm | 1280 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2280 mm | 1960 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 55 L | 23 L |
