2004 Caterham 7 vs. 1978 Mercedes-Benz 240
To start off, 2004 Caterham 7 is newer by 26 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Mercedes-Benz 240. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Mercedes-Benz 240 would be higher. At 2,399 cc (4 cylinders), 1978 Mercedes-Benz 240 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2004 Caterham 7 (251 HP @ 8000 RPM) has 179 more horse power than 1978 Mercedes-Benz 240. (72 HP @ 4400 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 2004 Caterham 7 should accelerate faster than 1978 Mercedes-Benz 240. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Mercedes-Benz 240 weights approximately 915 kg more than 2004 Caterham 7.
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, 2004 Caterham 7 (258 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 121 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Mercedes-Benz 240. (137 Nm @ 2400 RPM). This means 2004 Caterham 7 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Mercedes-Benz 240.
Compare all specifications:
2004 Caterham 7 | 1978 Mercedes-Benz 240 | |
Make | Caterham | Mercedes-Benz |
Model | 7 | 240 |
Year Released | 2004 | 1978 |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 1997 cc | 2399 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Horse Power | 251 HP | 72 HP |
Engine RPM | 8000 RPM | 4400 RPM |
Torque | 258 Nm | 137 Nm |
Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 2400 RPM |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
Vehicle Weight | 470 kg | 1385 kg |
Vehicle Length | 3110 mm | 4730 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1580 mm | 1790 mm |
Vehicle Height | 810 mm | 1450 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2230 mm | 2800 mm |