1979 Mercedes-Benz 280 vs. 1976 Porsche 911
To start off, 1979 Mercedes-Benz 280 is newer by 3 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1976 Porsche 911. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1976 Porsche 911 would be higher. At 2,994 cc (6 cylinders), 1976 Porsche 911 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1976 Porsche 911 (200 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 15 more horse power than 1979 Mercedes-Benz 280. (185 HP @ 5800 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1976 Porsche 911 should accelerate faster than 1979 Mercedes-Benz 280. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1979 Mercedes-Benz 280 weights approximately 400 kg more than 1976 Porsche 911.
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 Porsche 911 (260 Nm @ 4200 RPM) has 20 more torque (in Nm) than 1979 Mercedes-Benz 280. (240 Nm @ 4500 RPM). This means 1976 Porsche 911 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1979 Mercedes-Benz 280. 1979 Mercedes-Benz 280 has automatic transmission and 1976 Porsche 911 has manual transmission. 1976 Porsche 911 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1979 Mercedes-Benz 280 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1979 Mercedes-Benz 280 | 1976 Porsche 911 | |
| Make | Mercedes-Benz | Porsche |
| Model | 280 | 911 |
| Year Released | 1979 | 1976 |
| Engine Position | Front | Rear |
| Engine Size | 2745 cc | 2994 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | boxer |
| Horse Power | 185 HP | 200 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5800 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 240 Nm | 260 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4500 RPM | 4200 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.0:1 | 8.5:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 4 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1560 kg | 1160 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5000 mm | 4300 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1830 mm | 1660 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1440 mm | 1330 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2940 mm | 2280 mm |
