2008 Mazda MX-5 Miata vs. 1971 Rover 3.5 Litre
To start off, 2008 Mazda MX-5 Miata is newer by 37 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1971 Rover 3.5 Litre. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1971 Rover 3.5 Litre would be higher. At 3,532 cc (8 cylinders), 1971 Rover 3.5 Litre is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2008 Mazda MX-5 Miata (149 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 1 more horse power than 1971 Rover 3.5 Litre. (148 HP @ 5000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 2008 Mazda MX-5 Miata should accelerate faster than 1971 Rover 3.5 Litre. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1971 Rover 3.5 Litre weights approximately 543 kg more than 2008 Mazda MX-5 Miata.
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, 1971 Rover 3.5 Litre (276 Nm @ 2600 RPM) has 88 more torque (in Nm) than 2008 Mazda MX-5 Miata. (188 Nm @ 5000 RPM). This means 1971 Rover 3.5 Litre will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2008 Mazda MX-5 Miata. 1971 Rover 3.5 Litre has automatic transmission and 2008 Mazda MX-5 Miata has manual transmission. 2008 Mazda MX-5 Miata will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1971 Rover 3.5 Litre will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 2008 Mazda MX-5 Miata | 1971 Rover 3.5 Litre | |
| Make | Mazda | Rover |
| Model | MX-5 Miata | 3.5 Litre |
| Year Released | 2008 | 1971 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1998 cc | 3532 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 149 HP | 148 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6500 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Torque | 188 Nm | 276 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 5000 RPM | 2600 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 87.5 mm | 88.9 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 83.1 mm | 71.1 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1095 kg | 1638 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4000 mm | 4750 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1250 mm | 1790 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1730 mm | 1550 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2340 mm | 2820 mm |
