1971 Buick Riviera vs. 1973 Mercedes-Benz 250
To start off, 1973 Mercedes-Benz 250 is newer by 2 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 181 more horse power than 1973 Mercedes-Benz 250. (130 HP @ 5500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1971 Buick Riviera should accelerate faster than 1973 Mercedes-Benz 250. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1971 Buick Riviera weights approximately 500 kg more than 1973 Mercedes-Benz 250. 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 422 more torque (in Nm) than 1973 Mercedes-Benz 250. (195 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1971 Buick Riviera will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1973 Mercedes-Benz 250. 1971 Buick Riviera has automatic transmission and 1973 Mercedes-Benz 250 has manual transmission. 1973 Mercedes-Benz 250 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 | 1973 Mercedes-Benz 250 | |
| Make | Buick | Mercedes-Benz |
| Model | Riviera | 250 |
| Year Released | 1971 | 1973 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 7468 cc | 2523 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 311 HP | 130 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4200 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Torque | 617 Nm | 195 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2600 RPM | 3500 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.3:1 | 8.7:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 2040 kg | 1540 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5560 mm | 5360 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 2040 mm | 1790 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1380 mm | 1490 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 3110 mm | 3430 mm |
