1988 Ford Crown Victoria vs. 1978 Mercedes-Benz 280
To start off, 1988 Ford Crown Victoria is newer by 10 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Mercedes-Benz 280. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Mercedes-Benz 280 would be higher. At 4,942 cc (8 cylinders), 1988 Ford Crown Victoria is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1978 Mercedes-Benz 280 (182 HP @ 5800 RPM) has 34 more horse power than 1988 Ford Crown Victoria. (148 HP @ 3200 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1978 Mercedes-Benz 280 should accelerate faster than 1988 Ford Crown Victoria. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1988 Ford Crown Victoria weights approximately 225 kg more than 1978 Mercedes-Benz 280.
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, 1988 Ford Crown Victoria (366 Nm @ 2000 RPM) has 126 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Mercedes-Benz 280. (240 Nm @ 4500 RPM). This means 1988 Ford Crown Victoria will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Mercedes-Benz 280.
Compare all specifications:
| 1988 Ford Crown Victoria | 1978 Mercedes-Benz 280 | |
| Make | Ford | Mercedes-Benz |
| Model | Crown Victoria | 280 |
| Year Released | 1988 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 4942 cc | 2746 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 148 HP | 182 HP |
| Engine RPM | 3200 RPM | 5800 RPM |
| Torque | 366 Nm | 240 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2000 RPM | 4500 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1700 kg | 1475 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5320 mm | 4730 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1980 mm | 1790 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1390 mm | 1440 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2910 mm | 2800 mm |
