1972 Ford Cortina vs. 1986 Mercedes-Benz 300
To start off, 1986 Mercedes-Benz 300 is newer by 14 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1972 Ford Cortina. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1972 Ford Cortina would be higher. At 2,960 cc (6 cylinders), 1986 Mercedes-Benz 300 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1986 Mercedes-Benz 300 (188 HP @ 5700 RPM) has 132 more horse power than 1972 Ford Cortina. (56 HP @ 5500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1986 Mercedes-Benz 300 should accelerate faster than 1972 Ford Cortina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1986 Mercedes-Benz 300 weights approximately 501 kg more than 1972 Ford Cortina. 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, 1986 Mercedes-Benz 300 (260 Nm @ 4800 RPM) has 169 more torque (in Nm) than 1972 Ford Cortina. (91 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1986 Mercedes-Benz 300 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1972 Ford Cortina. 1986 Mercedes-Benz 300 has automatic transmission and 1972 Ford Cortina has manual transmission. 1972 Ford Cortina will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1986 Mercedes-Benz 300 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1972 Ford Cortina | 1986 Mercedes-Benz 300 | |
| Make | Ford | Mercedes-Benz |
| Model | Cortina | 300 |
| Year Released | 1972 | 1986 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1298 cc | 2960 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 56 HP | 188 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 5700 RPM |
| Torque | 91 Nm | 260 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 4800 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 81 mm | 88.5 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 63 mm | 80.3 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.0:1 | 10.0:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1044 kg | 1545 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4280 mm | 5170 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 2010 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1330 mm | 1450 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2590 mm | 3080 mm |
