1976 Mazda 818 vs. 1980 Mercedes-Benz 380
To start off, 1980 Mercedes-Benz 380 is newer by 4 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1976 Mazda 818. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1976 Mazda 818 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 150 more horse power than 1976 Mazda 818. (68 HP @ 6200 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1980 Mercedes-Benz 380 should accelerate faster than 1976 Mazda 818. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1980 Mercedes-Benz 380 weights approximately 678 kg more than 1976 Mazda 818. 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, 1980 Mercedes-Benz 380 (305 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 213 more torque (in Nm) than 1976 Mazda 818. (92 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1980 Mercedes-Benz 380 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1976 Mazda 818. 1980 Mercedes-Benz 380 has automatic transmission and 1976 Mazda 818 has manual transmission. 1976 Mazda 818 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1980 Mercedes-Benz 380 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1976 Mazda 818 | 1980 Mercedes-Benz 380 | |
| Make | Mazda | Mercedes-Benz |
| Model | 818 | 380 |
| Year Released | 1976 | 1980 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1272 cc | 3818 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Horse Power | 68 HP | 218 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6200 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Torque | 92 Nm | 305 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 4 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 882 kg | 1560 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4080 mm | 4760 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1600 mm | 1800 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1390 mm | 1340 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2320 mm | 2820 mm |
