1971 Fiat 850 vs. 1980 Mercedes-Benz 380
To start off, 1980 Mercedes-Benz 380 is newer by 9 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1971 Fiat 850. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1971 Fiat 850 would be higher. At 3,818 cc (8 cylinders), 1980 Mercedes-Benz 380 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1980 Mercedes-Benz 380 (218 HP @ 5500 RPM) has 167 more horse power than 1971 Fiat 850. (51 HP @ 5800 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1980 Mercedes-Benz 380 should accelerate faster than 1971 Fiat 850.
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, 1980 Mercedes-Benz 380 (305 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 236 more torque (in Nm) than 1971 Fiat 850. (69 Nm @ 4500 RPM). This means 1980 Mercedes-Benz 380 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1971 Fiat 850.
Compare all specifications:
| 1971 Fiat 850 | 1980 Mercedes-Benz 380 | |
| Make | Fiat | Mercedes-Benz |
| Model | 850 | 380 |
| Year Released | 1971 | 1980 |
| Engine Position | Rear | Front |
| Engine Size | 847 cc | 3818 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Horse Power | 51 HP | 218 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5800 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Torque | 69 Nm | 305 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4500 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.2:1 | 9.0:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Length | 3660 mm | 4760 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1510 mm | 1800 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1310 mm | 1340 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2040 mm | 2820 mm |
