1978 Bristol 412 vs. 1993 Mercedes-Benz E
To start off, 1993 Mercedes-Benz E is newer by 15 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Bristol 412. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Bristol 412 would be higher. At 5,956 cc (8 cylinders), 1993 Mercedes-Benz E is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1993 Mercedes-Benz E (375 HP @ 5600 RPM) has 204 more horse power than 1978 Bristol 412. (171 HP @ 4000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1993 Mercedes-Benz E should accelerate faster than 1978 Bristol 412.
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, 1993 Mercedes-Benz E (470 Nm @ 3900 RPM) has 104 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Bristol 412. (366 Nm @ 2000 RPM). This means 1993 Mercedes-Benz E will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Bristol 412.
Compare all specifications:
| 1978 Bristol 412 | 1993 Mercedes-Benz E | |
| Make | Bristol | Mercedes-Benz |
| Model | 412 | E |
| Year Released | 1978 | 1993 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 5898 cc | 5956 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | V |
| Horse Power | 171 HP | 375 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 5600 RPM |
| Torque | 366 Nm | 470 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2000 RPM | 3900 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 101.6 mm | 100.1 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 90.9 mm | 94.8 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.0:1 | 10.0:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Length | 4950 mm | 4760 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1780 mm | 1800 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1450 mm | 1410 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2910 mm | 2810 mm |
