1979 Ferrari 400 vs. 1989 Mercedes-Benz 500
To start off, 1989 Mercedes-Benz 500 is newer by 10 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1979 Ferrari 400. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1979 Ferrari 400 would be higher. At 4,973 cc (8 cylinders), 1989 Mercedes-Benz 500 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1989 Mercedes-Benz 500 (323 HP @ 5500 RPM) has 13 more horse power than 1979 Ferrari 400. (310 HP @ 6400 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1989 Mercedes-Benz 500 should accelerate faster than 1979 Ferrari 400. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1979 Ferrari 400 weights approximately 83 kg more than 1989 Mercedes-Benz 500.
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, 1989 Mercedes-Benz 500 (450 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 58 more torque (in Nm) than 1979 Ferrari 400. (392 Nm @ 4200 RPM). This means 1989 Mercedes-Benz 500 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1979 Ferrari 400. 1989 Mercedes-Benz 500 has automatic transmission and 1979 Ferrari 400 has manual transmission. 1979 Ferrari 400 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1989 Mercedes-Benz 500 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
1979 Ferrari 400 | 1989 Mercedes-Benz 500 | |
Make | Ferrari | Mercedes-Benz |
Model | 400 | 500 |
Year Released | 1979 | 1989 |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 4823 cc | 4973 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 12 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
Engine Type | V | V |
Horse Power | 310 HP | 323 HP |
Engine RPM | 6400 RPM | 5500 RPM |
Torque | 392 Nm | 450 Nm |
Torque RPM | 4200 RPM | 4000 RPM |
Engine Compression Ratio | 8.8:1 | 10.0:1 |
Top Speed | 220 km/hour | 249 km/hour |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
Number of Seats | 4 seats | 2 seats |
Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
Vehicle Weight | 1973 kg | 1890 kg |
Vehicle Length | 4820 mm | 4480 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1800 mm | 1820 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1320 mm | 1310 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2710 mm | 2520 mm |
Fuel Tank Capacity | 118 L | 80 L |