1971 Alpine A 310 vs. 1979 Volvo 343
To start off, 1979 Volvo 343 is newer by 8 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1971 Alpine A 310. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1971 Alpine A 310 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 23 more horse power than 1979 Volvo 343. (70 HP @ 5500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1971 Alpine A 310 should accelerate faster than 1979 Volvo 343. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1979 Volvo 343 weights approximately 150 kg more than 1971 Alpine A 310.
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 20 more torque (in Nm) than 1979 Volvo 343. (108 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1971 Alpine A 310 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1979 Volvo 343. 1979 Volvo 343 has automatic transmission and 1971 Alpine A 310 has manual transmission. 1971 Alpine A 310 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1979 Volvo 343 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1971 Alpine A 310 | 1979 Volvo 343 | |
| Make | Alpine | Volvo |
| Model | A 310 | 343 |
| Year Released | 1971 | 1979 |
| Engine Position | Rear | Front |
| Engine Size | 1646 cc | 1397 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 93 HP | 70 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Torque | 128 Nm | 108 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 3500 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 840 kg | 990 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4190 mm | 4210 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1650 mm | 1670 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1160 mm | 1400 mm |
