1985 Caterham 1700 vs. 1978 Mercedes-Benz 240
To start off, 1985 Caterham 1700 is newer by 7 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Mercedes-Benz 240. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Mercedes-Benz 240 would be higher. At 2,399 cc (4 cylinders), 1978 Mercedes-Benz 240 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1985 Caterham 1700 (135 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 63 more horse power than 1978 Mercedes-Benz 240. (72 HP @ 4400 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1985 Caterham 1700 should accelerate faster than 1978 Mercedes-Benz 240. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Mercedes-Benz 240 weights approximately 842 kg more than 1985 Caterham 1700.
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, 1985 Caterham 1700 (165 Nm @ 4500 RPM) has 28 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Mercedes-Benz 240. (137 Nm @ 2400 RPM). This means 1985 Caterham 1700 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Mercedes-Benz 240.
Compare all specifications:
1985 Caterham 1700 | 1978 Mercedes-Benz 240 | |
Make | Caterham | Mercedes-Benz |
Model | 1700 | 240 |
Year Released | 1985 | 1978 |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 1692 cc | 2399 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Horse Power | 135 HP | 72 HP |
Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 4400 RPM |
Torque | 165 Nm | 137 Nm |
Torque RPM | 4500 RPM | 2400 RPM |
Engine Bore Size | 83.3 mm | 91 mm |
Engine Stroke Size | 77.6 mm | 92.4 mm |
Engine Compression Ratio | 10.5:1 | 21.0:1 |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
Vehicle Weight | 543 kg | 1385 kg |
Vehicle Length | 3400 mm | 4730 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1580 mm | 1790 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1090 mm | 1450 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2240 mm | 2800 mm |