1971 Alpine A 310 vs. 1990 Mercedes-Benz S
To start off, 1990 Mercedes-Benz S 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 S is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1990 Mercedes-Benz S (164 HP @ 4600 RPM) has 71 more horse power than 1971 Alpine A 310. (93 HP @ 6000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1990 Mercedes-Benz S should accelerate faster than 1971 Alpine A 310. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1990 Mercedes-Benz S weights approximately 680 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 S (228 Nm @ 4600 RPM) has 100 more torque (in Nm) than 1971 Alpine A 310. (128 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1990 Mercedes-Benz S will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1971 Alpine A 310.
Compare all specifications:
| 1971 Alpine A 310 | 1990 Mercedes-Benz S | |
| Make | Alpine | Mercedes-Benz |
| Model | A 310 | S |
| Year Released | 1971 | 1990 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Sedan |
| Engine Position | Rear | Front |
| Engine Size | 1646 cc | 2599 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 93 HP | 164 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 4600 RPM |
| Torque | 128 Nm | 228 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 4600 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 79 mm | 82.9 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 84 mm | 80.3 mm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 840 kg | 1520 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4190 mm | 5030 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1650 mm | 1830 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1160 mm | 1440 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2280 mm | 2950 mm |
