1971 Buick Riviera vs. 1990 Pontiac Trans Am
To start off, 1990 Pontiac Trans Am is newer by 19 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) has 76 more horse power than 1990 Pontiac Trans Am. (235 HP). In normal driving conditions, 1971 Buick Riviera should accelerate faster than 1990 Pontiac Trans Am. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1971 Buick Riviera weights approximately 359 kg more than 1990 Pontiac Trans Am. 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) has 170 more torque (in Nm) than 1990 Pontiac Trans Am. (447 Nm). This means 1971 Buick Riviera will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1990 Pontiac Trans Am.
Compare all specifications:
| 1971 Buick Riviera | 1990 Pontiac Trans Am | |
| Make | Buick | Pontiac |
| Model | Riviera | Trans Am |
| Year Released | 1971 | 1990 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 7468 cc | 5733 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | V |
| Horse Power | 311 HP | 235 HP |
| Torque | 617 Nm | 447 Nm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.3:1 | 8.5:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Automatic |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 2040 kg | 1681 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5560 mm | 4840 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 2040 mm | 1850 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1380 mm | 1270 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 3110 mm | 2570 mm |
