1980 Ford Crown Victoria vs. 1996 Mercedes-Benz SL
To start off, 1996 Mercedes-Benz SL is newer by 16 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1980 Ford Crown Victoria. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1980 Ford Crown Victoria would be higher. At 5,956 cc (8 cylinders), 1996 Mercedes-Benz SL is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1996 Mercedes-Benz SL (375 HP @ 5500 RPM) has 257 more horse power than 1980 Ford Crown Victoria. (118 HP @ 3800 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1996 Mercedes-Benz SL should accelerate faster than 1980 Ford Crown Victoria. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1996 Mercedes-Benz SL weights approximately 420 kg more than 1980 Ford Crown Victoria. 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, 1996 Mercedes-Benz SL (580 Nm @ 3750 RPM) has 318 more torque (in Nm) than 1980 Ford Crown Victoria. (262 Nm @ 2200 RPM). This means 1996 Mercedes-Benz SL will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1980 Ford Crown Victoria.
Compare all specifications:
| 1980 Ford Crown Victoria | 1996 Mercedes-Benz SL | |
| Make | Ford | Mercedes-Benz |
| Model | Crown Victoria | SL |
| Year Released | 1980 | 1996 |
| Body Type | Sedan | Convertible |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 4186 cc | 5956 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Horse Power | 118 HP | 375 HP |
| Engine RPM | 3800 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Torque | 262 Nm | 580 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2200 RPM | 3750 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1630 kg | 2050 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5320 mm | 4510 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1980 mm | 1820 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1390 mm | 1300 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2910 mm | 2520 mm |
