1976 Buick Riviera vs. 1981 Nissan Leopard
To start off, 1981 Nissan Leopard is newer by 5 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1976 Buick Riviera. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1976 Buick Riviera would be higher. At 5,724 cc (6 cylinders), 1976 Buick Riviera is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1976 Buick Riviera (154 HP @ 3400 RPM) has 39 more horse power than 1981 Nissan Leopard. (115 HP @ 6000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1976 Buick Riviera should accelerate faster than 1981 Nissan Leopard. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1976 Buick Riviera weights approximately 571 kg more than 1981 Nissan Leopard. 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, 1976 Buick Riviera (380 Nm @ 1800 RPM) has 210 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Nissan Leopard. (170 Nm @ 4400 RPM). This means 1976 Buick Riviera will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Nissan Leopard. 1976 Buick Riviera has automatic transmission and 1981 Nissan Leopard has manual transmission. 1981 Nissan Leopard will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1976 Buick Riviera will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1976 Buick Riviera | 1981 Nissan Leopard | |
| Make | Buick | Nissan |
| Model | Riviera | Leopard |
| Year Released | 1976 | 1981 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 5724 cc | 1998 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 154 HP | 115 HP |
| Engine RPM | 3400 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 380 Nm | 170 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 1800 RPM | 4400 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1765 kg | 1194 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5550 mm | 4640 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1970 mm | 1700 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1410 mm | 1360 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2950 mm | 2630 mm |
