2001 Bentley Continental vs. 1978 Mercedes-Benz 280
To start off, 2001 Bentley Continental is newer by 23 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 6,746 cc (8 cylinders), 2001 Bentley Continental is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2001 Bentley Continental (421 HP @ 4000 RPM) has 239 more horse power than 1978 Mercedes-Benz 280. (182 HP @ 5800 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 2001 Bentley Continental should accelerate faster than 1978 Mercedes-Benz 280. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 2001 Bentley Continental weights approximately 975 kg more than 1978 Mercedes-Benz 280. 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, 2001 Bentley Continental (875 Nm @ 2200 RPM) has 635 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Mercedes-Benz 280. (240 Nm @ 4500 RPM). This means 2001 Bentley Continental will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Mercedes-Benz 280.
Compare all specifications:
| 2001 Bentley Continental | 1978 Mercedes-Benz 280 | |
| Make | Bentley | Mercedes-Benz |
| Model | Continental | 280 |
| Year Released | 2001 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 6746 cc | 2746 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 421 HP | 182 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 5800 RPM |
| Torque | 875 Nm | 240 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2200 RPM | 4500 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.0:1 | 9.0:1 |
| Top Speed | 250 km/hour | 190 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 2450 kg | 1475 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5360 mm | 4730 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1880 mm | 1790 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1470 mm | 1440 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2970 mm | 2800 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 100 L | 65 L |
