1980 Mercedes-Benz 500 vs. 1981 Nissan Silvia
To start off, 1981 Nissan Silvia is newer by 1 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1980 Mercedes-Benz 500. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1980 Mercedes-Benz 500 would be higher. At 4,972 cc (8 cylinders), 1980 Mercedes-Benz 500 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1980 Mercedes-Benz 500 (237 HP @ 5000 RPM) has 140 more horse power than 1981 Nissan Silvia. (97 HP @ 6000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1980 Mercedes-Benz 500 should accelerate faster than 1981 Nissan Silvia. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1980 Mercedes-Benz 500 weights approximately 505 kg more than 1981 Nissan Silvia. 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 Mercedes-Benz 500 (402 Nm @ 3200 RPM) has 255 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Nissan Silvia. (147 Nm @ 3600 RPM). This means 1980 Mercedes-Benz 500 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Nissan Silvia. 1980 Mercedes-Benz 500 has automatic transmission and 1981 Nissan Silvia has manual transmission. 1981 Nissan Silvia will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1980 Mercedes-Benz 500 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1980 Mercedes-Benz 500 | 1981 Nissan Silvia | |
| Make | Mercedes-Benz | Nissan |
| Model | 500 | Silvia |
| Year Released | 1980 | 1981 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 4972 cc | 1769 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 237 HP | 97 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5000 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 402 Nm | 147 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3200 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1515 kg | 1010 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4760 mm | 4480 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1800 mm | 1690 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1340 mm | 1320 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2820 mm | 2410 mm |
