1971 Chevrolet Corvette vs. 1981 Jaguar XJS
To start off, 1981 Jaguar XJS is newer by 10 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1971 Chevrolet Corvette. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1971 Chevrolet Corvette would be higher. At 5,733 cc (8 cylinders), 1971 Chevrolet Corvette is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1971 Chevrolet Corvette (330 HP @ 5600 RPM) has 31 more horse power than 1981 Jaguar XJS. (299 HP @ 5500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1971 Chevrolet Corvette should accelerate faster than 1981 Jaguar XJS. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1981 Jaguar XJS weights approximately 178 kg more than 1971 Chevrolet Corvette.
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 Chevrolet Corvette (488 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 57 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Jaguar XJS. (431 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1971 Chevrolet Corvette will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Jaguar XJS. 1981 Jaguar XJS has automatic transmission and 1971 Chevrolet Corvette has manual transmission. 1971 Chevrolet Corvette will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1981 Jaguar XJS will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1971 Chevrolet Corvette | 1981 Jaguar XJS | |
| Make | Chevrolet | Jaguar |
| Model | Corvette | XJS |
| Year Released | 1971 | 1981 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 5733 cc | 5344 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 12 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | V |
| Horse Power | 330 HP | 299 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5600 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Torque | 488 Nm | 431 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.0:1 | 12.5:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 4 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1529 kg | 1707 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4640 mm | 4880 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1760 mm | 1780 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1220 mm | 1270 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2500 mm | 2600 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 68 L | 90 L |
