1978 Mercedes-Benz 240 vs. 1973 Toyota Century
To start off, 1978 Mercedes-Benz 240 is newer by 5 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1973 Toyota Century. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1973 Toyota Century would be higher. At 2,981 cc (8 cylinders), 1973 Toyota Century is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1973 Toyota Century (127 HP @ 5200 RPM) has 55 more horse power than 1978 Mercedes-Benz 240. (72 HP @ 4400 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1973 Toyota Century should accelerate faster than 1978 Mercedes-Benz 240. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1973 Toyota Century weights approximately 135 kg more than 1978 Mercedes-Benz 240. 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, 1973 Toyota Century (236 Nm @ 3600 RPM) has 99 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Mercedes-Benz 240. (137 Nm @ 2400 RPM). This means 1973 Toyota Century will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Mercedes-Benz 240. 1973 Toyota Century has automatic transmission and 1978 Mercedes-Benz 240 has manual transmission. 1978 Mercedes-Benz 240 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1973 Toyota Century will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1978 Mercedes-Benz 240 | 1973 Toyota Century | |
| Make | Mercedes-Benz | Toyota |
| Model | 240 | Century |
| Year Released | 1978 | 1973 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2398 cc | 2981 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 72 HP | 127 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4400 RPM | 5200 RPM |
| Torque | 137 Nm | 236 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2400 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 8 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1565 kg | 1700 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5360 mm | 4990 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1790 mm | 1900 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1450 mm | 1470 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 3430 mm | 2870 mm |
