1971 Buick Riviera vs. 1972 Reliant Scimitar
To start off, 1972 Reliant Scimitar is newer by 1 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1971 Buick Riviera. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1971 Buick Riviera would be higher. At 7,468 cc (8 cylinders), 1971 Buick Riviera is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1971 Buick Riviera (311 HP @ 4200 RPM) has 188 more horse power than 1972 Reliant Scimitar. (123 HP @ 4750 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1971 Buick Riviera should accelerate faster than 1972 Reliant Scimitar. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1971 Buick Riviera weights approximately 850 kg more than 1972 Reliant Scimitar. 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 Buick Riviera (617 Nm @ 2600 RPM) has 351 more torque (in Nm) than 1972 Reliant Scimitar. (266 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1971 Buick Riviera will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1972 Reliant Scimitar. 1971 Buick Riviera has automatic transmission and 1972 Reliant Scimitar has manual transmission. 1972 Reliant Scimitar will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1971 Buick Riviera will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1971 Buick Riviera | 1972 Reliant Scimitar | |
| Make | Buick | Reliant |
| Model | Riviera | Scimitar |
| Year Released | 1971 | 1972 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 7468 cc | 2994 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 311 HP | 123 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4200 RPM | 4750 RPM |
| Torque | 617 Nm | 266 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2600 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 3 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 2040 kg | 1190 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5560 mm | 4350 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 2040 mm | 1640 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1380 mm | 1330 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 3110 mm | 2520 mm |
