1996 Mercedes-Benz SL vs. 1978 Ford Cortina
To start off, 1996 Mercedes-Benz SL is newer by 18 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Ford Cortina. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Ford Cortina would be higher. At 4,973 cc (8 cylinders), 1996 Mercedes-Benz SL is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1996 Mercedes-Benz SL (317 HP @ 5600 RPM) has 231 more horse power than 1978 Ford Cortina. (86 HP @ 5300 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1996 Mercedes-Benz SL should accelerate faster than 1978 Ford Cortina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1996 Mercedes-Benz SL weights approximately 730 kg more than 1978 Ford Cortina. 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 Mercedes-Benz SL (471 Nm @ 3900 RPM) has 330 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Ford Cortina. (141 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1996 Mercedes-Benz SL will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Ford Cortina.
Compare all specifications:
| 1996 Mercedes-Benz SL | 1978 Ford Cortina | |
| Make | Mercedes-Benz | Ford |
| Model | SL | Cortina |
| Year Released | 1996 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 4973 cc | 1998 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 317 HP | 86 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5600 RPM | 5300 RPM |
| Torque | 471 Nm | 141 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3900 RPM | 3500 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1840 kg | 1110 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4470 mm | 4380 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1820 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1300 mm | 1340 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2520 mm | 2580 mm |
