1997 Alpina B 10 vs. 1978 Mercury Grand Marquis
To start off, 1997 Alpina B 10 is newer by 19 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Mercury Grand Marquis. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Mercury Grand Marquis would be higher. At 5,766 cc (8 cylinders), 1978 Mercury Grand Marquis is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1997 Alpina B 10 (340 HP @ 4800 RPM) has 201 more horse power than 1978 Mercury Grand Marquis. (139 HP @ 3200 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1997 Alpina B 10 should accelerate faster than 1978 Mercury Grand Marquis. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Mercury Grand Marquis weights approximately 10 kg more than 1997 Alpina B 10.
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, 1997 Alpina B 10 (471 Nm) has 118 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Mercury Grand Marquis. (353 Nm). This means 1997 Alpina B 10 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Mercury Grand Marquis.
Compare all specifications:
| 1997 Alpina B 10 | 1978 Mercury Grand Marquis | |
| Make | Alpina | Mercury |
| Model | B 10 | Grand Marquis |
| Year Released | 1997 | 1978 |
| Body Type | Sedan | Sedan |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 4619 cc | 5766 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | V |
| Horse Power | 340 HP | 139 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4800 RPM | 3200 RPM |
| Torque | 471 Nm | 353 Nm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1700 kg | 1710 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5130 mm | 5400 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1870 mm | 1980 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1430 mm | 1390 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 3080 mm | 2910 mm |
