2001 Bentley Continental vs. 1997 Pontiac Firebird
To start off, 2001 Bentley Continental is newer by 4 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1997 Pontiac Firebird. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1997 Pontiac Firebird would be higher. At 6,750 cc (8 cylinders), 2001 Bentley Continental is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2001 Bentley Continental (421 HP @ 4000 RPM) has 275 more horse power than 1997 Pontiac Firebird. (146 HP @ 4600 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 2001 Bentley Continental should accelerate faster than 1997 Pontiac Firebird. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 2001 Bentley Continental weights approximately 926 kg more than 1997 Pontiac Firebird. 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 618 more torque (in Nm) than 1997 Pontiac Firebird. (257 Nm @ 3150 RPM). This means 2001 Bentley Continental will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1997 Pontiac Firebird. 2001 Bentley Continental has automatic transmission and 1997 Pontiac Firebird has manual transmission. 1997 Pontiac Firebird will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 2001 Bentley Continental will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 2001 Bentley Continental | 1997 Pontiac Firebird | |
| Make | Bentley | Pontiac |
| Model | Continental | Firebird |
| Year Released | 2001 | 1997 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 6750 cc | 3352 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 421 HP | 146 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 4600 RPM |
| Torque | 875 Nm | 257 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2200 RPM | 3150 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline - Premium | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 4 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 2454 kg | 1528 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5250 mm | 4920 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 2060 mm | 1900 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1470 mm | 1310 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2970 mm | 2570 mm |
