1984 Citroen Mehari vs. 1963 Honda S500
To start off, 1984 Citroen Mehari is newer by 21 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1963 Honda S500. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1963 Honda S500 would be higher. At 602 cc (2 cylinders), 1984 Citroen Mehari is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1963 Honda S500 (43 HP @ 8000 RPM) has 14 more horse power than 1984 Citroen Mehari. (29 HP @ 5750 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1963 Honda S500 should accelerate faster than 1984 Citroen Mehari. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1963 Honda S500 weights approximately 171 kg more than 1984 Citroen Mehari. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
Because 1963 Honda S500 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 1963 Honda S500. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 1984 Citroen Mehari, 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, 1963 Honda S500 (45 Nm @ 4500 RPM) has 6 more torque (in Nm) than 1984 Citroen Mehari. (39 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1963 Honda S500 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1984 Citroen Mehari.
Compare all specifications:
| 1984 Citroen Mehari | 1963 Honda S500 | |
| Make | Citroen | Honda |
| Model | Mehari | S500 |
| Year Released | 1984 | 1963 |
| Body Type | Convertible | Roadster |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 602 cc | 531 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 2 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 29 HP | 43 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5750 RPM | 8000 RPM |
| Torque | 39 Nm | 45 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3500 RPM | 4500 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Front | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 555 kg | 726 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3530 mm | 3310 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1540 mm | 1440 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1640 mm | 1210 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2410 mm | 2010 mm |
