1981 Honda Civic vs. 1990 Mercedes-Benz 260
To start off, 1990 Mercedes-Benz 260 is newer by 9 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1981 Honda Civic. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1981 Honda Civic would be higher. At 2,599 cc (6 cylinders), 1990 Mercedes-Benz 260 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1990 Mercedes-Benz 260 (168 HP @ 5800 RPM) has 109 more horse power than 1981 Honda Civic. (59 HP @ 5000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1990 Mercedes-Benz 260 should accelerate faster than 1981 Honda Civic. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1990 Mercedes-Benz 260 weights approximately 739 kg more than 1981 Honda Civic. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
Because 1990 Mercedes-Benz 260 is rear wheel drive (RWD), it offers better handling in dry conditions; in addition, if you are looking to drift, it will be much easier to do with 1990 Mercedes-Benz 260. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 1981 Honda Civic, being front wheel drive (FWD), will offer much better control with better grip. 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, 1990 Mercedes-Benz 260 (228 Nm @ 4600 RPM) has 135 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Honda Civic. (93 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1990 Mercedes-Benz 260 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Honda Civic. 1990 Mercedes-Benz 260 has automatic transmission and 1981 Honda Civic has manual transmission. 1981 Honda Civic will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1990 Mercedes-Benz 260 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1981 Honda Civic | 1990 Mercedes-Benz 260 | |
| Make | Honda | Mercedes-Benz |
| Model | Civic | 260 |
| Year Released | 1981 | 1990 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1333 cc | 2599 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 59 HP | 168 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5000 RPM | 5800 RPM |
| Torque | 93 Nm | 228 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3500 RPM | 4600 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 72 mm | 82.9 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 82 mm | 80.3 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.4:1 | 9.2:1 |
| Drive Type | Front | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 5 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 785 kg | 1524 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3770 mm | 5030 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1590 mm | 1830 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1340 mm | 1440 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2330 mm | 2940 mm |
