1971 Rover 3.5 Litre vs. 1961 Volkswagen Karmann-Ghia
To start off, 1971 Rover 3.5 Litre is newer by 10 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1961 Volkswagen Karmann-Ghia. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1961 Volkswagen Karmann-Ghia would be higher. At 3,532 cc (8 cylinders), 1971 Rover 3.5 Litre is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1971 Rover 3.5 Litre (148 HP @ 5000 RPM) has 114 more horse power than 1961 Volkswagen Karmann-Ghia. (34 HP @ 3600 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1971 Rover 3.5 Litre should accelerate faster than 1961 Volkswagen Karmann-Ghia. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1971 Rover 3.5 Litre weights approximately 818 kg more than 1961 Volkswagen Karmann-Ghia. 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 Rover 3.5 Litre (276 Nm @ 2600 RPM) has 192 more torque (in Nm) than 1961 Volkswagen Karmann-Ghia. (84 Nm @ 2000 RPM). This means 1971 Rover 3.5 Litre will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1961 Volkswagen Karmann-Ghia. 1971 Rover 3.5 Litre has automatic transmission and 1961 Volkswagen Karmann-Ghia has manual transmission. 1961 Volkswagen Karmann-Ghia will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1971 Rover 3.5 Litre will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1971 Rover 3.5 Litre | 1961 Volkswagen Karmann-Ghia | |
| Make | Rover | Volkswagen |
| Model | 3.5 Litre | Karmann-Ghia |
| Year Released | 1971 | 1961 |
| Engine Position | Front | Rear |
| Engine Size | 3532 cc | 1192 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 148 HP | 34 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5000 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Torque | 276 Nm | 84 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2600 RPM | 2000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 88.9 mm | 77 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 71.1 mm | 64 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 4 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1638 kg | 820 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4750 mm | 4200 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1790 mm | 1640 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1550 mm | 1340 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2820 mm | 2430 mm |
