1981 Ferrari 308 vs. 1986 Mercedes-Benz 300
To start off, 1986 Mercedes-Benz 300 is newer by 5 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1981 Ferrari 308. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1981 Ferrari 308 would be higher. At 2,960 cc (6 cylinders), 1986 Mercedes-Benz 300 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1981 Ferrari 308 (238 HP @ 7000 RPM) has 50 more horse power than 1986 Mercedes-Benz 300. (188 HP @ 5700 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1981 Ferrari 308 should accelerate faster than 1986 Mercedes-Benz 300. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1986 Mercedes-Benz 300 weights approximately 265 kg more than 1981 Ferrari 308.
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, both vehicles can yield 260 Nm of torque. So under normal driving conditions, the ability to climb up hills and pull heavy equipment should be relatively similar for both vehicles. 1986 Mercedes-Benz 300 has automatic transmission and 1981 Ferrari 308 has manual transmission. 1981 Ferrari 308 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1986 Mercedes-Benz 300 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1981 Ferrari 308 | 1986 Mercedes-Benz 300 | |
| Make | Ferrari | Mercedes-Benz |
| Model | 308 | 300 |
| Year Released | 1981 | 1986 |
| Engine Position | Middle | Front |
| Engine Size | 2926 cc | 2960 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 238 HP | 188 HP |
| Engine RPM | 7000 RPM | 5700 RPM |
| Torque | 260 Nm | 260 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 5000 RPM | 4800 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 81 mm | 88.5 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 71 mm | 80.3 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.2:1 | 10.0:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1280 kg | 1545 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4240 mm | 5170 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1730 mm | 2010 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1130 mm | 1450 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2350 mm | 3080 mm |
