1980 Buick Electra vs. 1971 Sunbeam Alpine
To start off, 1980 Buick Electra is newer by 9 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1971 Sunbeam Alpine. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1971 Sunbeam Alpine would be higher. At 4,129 cc (6 cylinders), 1980 Buick Electra is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1980 Buick Electra (123 HP @ 4000 RPM) has 52 more horse power than 1971 Sunbeam Alpine. (71 HP @ 5000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1980 Buick Electra should accelerate faster than 1971 Sunbeam Alpine. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1980 Buick Electra weights approximately 680 kg more than 1971 Sunbeam Alpine. 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 Buick Electra (278 Nm @ 2000 RPM) has 155 more torque (in Nm) than 1971 Sunbeam Alpine. (123 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1980 Buick Electra will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1971 Sunbeam Alpine. 1980 Buick Electra has automatic transmission and 1971 Sunbeam Alpine has manual transmission. 1971 Sunbeam Alpine will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1980 Buick Electra will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1980 Buick Electra | 1971 Sunbeam Alpine | |
| Make | Buick | Sunbeam |
| Model | Electra | Alpine |
| Year Released | 1980 | 1971 |
| Engine Size | 4129 cc | 1725 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 123 HP | 71 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Torque | 278 Nm | 123 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2000 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Vehicle Weight | 1690 kg | 1010 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5650 mm | 4430 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1970 mm | 1650 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1400 mm | 1410 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 3030 mm | 2510 mm |
