1971 Buick Riviera vs. 1976 Pontiac Trans Am
To start off, 1976 Pontiac Trans Am is newer by 5 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.
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) has 183 more torque (in Nm) than 1976 Pontiac Trans Am. (434 Nm). This means 1971 Buick Riviera will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1976 Pontiac Trans Am. 1971 Buick Riviera has automatic transmission and 1976 Pontiac Trans Am has manual transmission. 1976 Pontiac Trans Am 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 | 1976 Pontiac Trans Am | |
| Make | Buick | Pontiac |
| Model | Riviera | Trans Am |
| Year Released | 1971 | 1976 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 7468 cc | 6556 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | V |
| Horse Power | 311 HP | 0 HP |
| Torque | 617 Nm | 434 Nm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.3:1 | 8.1:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Length | 5560 mm | 5040 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 2040 mm | 1860 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1380 mm | 1260 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 3110 mm | 2750 mm |
