1971 Alpine A 310 vs. 1990 Mercedes-Benz 260
To start off, 1990 Mercedes-Benz 260 is newer by 19 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 2,599 cc (6 cylinders), 1990 Mercedes-Benz 260 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1990 Mercedes-Benz 260 (168 HP @ 5800 RPM) has 44 more horse power than 1971 Alpine A 310. (124 HP @ 6250 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1990 Mercedes-Benz 260 should accelerate faster than 1971 Alpine A 310. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1990 Mercedes-Benz 260 weights approximately 699 kg more than 1971 Alpine A 310. 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, 1990 Mercedes-Benz 260 (228 Nm @ 4600 RPM) has 78 more torque (in Nm) than 1971 Alpine A 310. (150 Nm @ 5000 RPM). This means 1990 Mercedes-Benz 260 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1971 Alpine A 310. 1990 Mercedes-Benz 260 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. 1990 Mercedes-Benz 260 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1971 Alpine A 310 | 1990 Mercedes-Benz 260 | |
| Make | Alpine | Mercedes-Benz |
| Model | A 310 | 260 |
| Year Released | 1971 | 1990 |
| Engine Position | Rear | Front |
| Engine Size | 1605 cc | 2599 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 124 HP | 168 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6250 RPM | 5800 RPM |
| Torque | 150 Nm | 228 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 5000 RPM | 4600 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 78 mm | 82.9 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 84 mm | 80.3 mm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 825 kg | 1524 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4190 mm | 5030 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1630 mm | 1830 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1160 mm | 1440 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2280 mm | 2940 mm |
