1996 Bentley Continental vs. 1997 Caterham C21
To start off, 1997 Caterham C21 is newer by 1 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1996 Bentley Continental. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1996 Bentley Continental would be higher. At 6,750 cc (8 cylinders), 1996 Bentley Continental is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1996 Bentley Continental (421 HP @ 4000 RPM) has 171 more horse power than 1997 Caterham C21. (250 HP @ 8000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1996 Bentley Continental should accelerate faster than 1997 Caterham C21. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1996 Bentley Continental weights approximately 1760 kg more than 1997 Caterham C21. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
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, 1996 Bentley Continental (875 Nm @ 2200 RPM) has 623 more torque (in Nm) than 1997 Caterham C21. (252 Nm @ 5750 RPM). This means 1996 Bentley Continental will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1997 Caterham C21. 1996 Bentley Continental has automatic transmission and 1997 Caterham C21 has manual transmission. 1997 Caterham C21 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1996 Bentley Continental will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1996 Bentley Continental | 1997 Caterham C21 | |
| Make | Bentley | Caterham |
| Model | Continental | C21 |
| Year Released | 1996 | 1997 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 6750 cc | 1998 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 4 valves |
| Horse Power | 421 HP | 250 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 8000 RPM |
| Torque | 875 Nm | 252 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2200 RPM | 5750 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline - Premium | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Vehicle Weight | 2450 kg | 690 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5250 mm | 3810 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 2060 mm | 1590 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1450 mm | 1060 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2970 mm | 2260 mm |
