1996 Mercedes-Benz S vs. 1998 Porsche 911
To start off, 1998 Porsche 911 is newer by 2 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1996 Mercedes-Benz S. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1996 Mercedes-Benz S would be higher. At 5,987 cc (12 cylinders), 1996 Mercedes-Benz S is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1998 Porsche 911 (537 HP @ 7000 RPM) has 148 more horse power than 1996 Mercedes-Benz S. (389 HP @ 5200 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1998 Porsche 911 should accelerate faster than 1996 Mercedes-Benz S. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1996 Mercedes-Benz S weights approximately 1090 kg more than 1998 Porsche 911.
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, 1998 Porsche 911 (600 Nm @ 4250 RPM) has 30 more torque (in Nm) than 1996 Mercedes-Benz S. (570 Nm @ 3800 RPM). This means 1998 Porsche 911 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1996 Mercedes-Benz S. 1996 Mercedes-Benz S has automatic transmission and 1998 Porsche 911 has manual transmission. 1998 Porsche 911 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1996 Mercedes-Benz S will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1996 Mercedes-Benz S | 1998 Porsche 911 | |
| Make | Mercedes-Benz | Porsche |
| Model | S | 911 |
| Year Released | 1996 | 1998 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 5987 cc | 3164 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 12 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | boxer |
| Valves per Cylinder | 4 valves | 4 valves |
| Horse Power | 389 HP | 537 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5200 RPM | 7000 RPM |
| Torque | 570 Nm | 600 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3800 RPM | 4250 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 89 mm | 95 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 80.2 mm | 74.4 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 2240 kg | 1150 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5070 mm | 4720 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1920 mm | 1990 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1460 mm | 1180 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2890 mm | 2280 mm |
