1971 Buick Riviera vs. 1981 Reliant Scimitar
To start off, 1981 Reliant Scimitar is newer by 10 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 178 more horse power than 1981 Reliant Scimitar. (133 HP @ 5200 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1971 Buick Riviera should accelerate faster than 1981 Reliant Scimitar. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1971 Buick Riviera weights approximately 740 kg more than 1981 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 411 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Reliant Scimitar. (206 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1971 Buick Riviera will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Reliant Scimitar. 1971 Buick Riviera has automatic transmission and 1981 Reliant Scimitar has manual transmission. 1981 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 | 1981 Reliant Scimitar | |
| Make | Buick | Reliant |
| Model | Riviera | Scimitar |
| Year Released | 1971 | 1981 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 7468 cc | 2790 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 311 HP | 133 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4200 RPM | 5200 RPM |
| Torque | 617 Nm | 206 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2600 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Vehicle Weight | 2040 kg | 1300 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5560 mm | 4450 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 2040 mm | 1720 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1380 mm | 1330 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 3110 mm | 2640 mm |
