1952 Austin Princess vs. 1990 Mercedes-Benz 260
To start off, 1990 Mercedes-Benz 260 is newer by 38 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1952 Austin Princess. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1952 Austin Princess would be higher. At 3,993 cc (6 cylinders), 1952 Austin Princess is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1990 Mercedes-Benz 260 (168 HP @ 5800 RPM) has 50 more horse power than 1952 Austin Princess. (118 HP @ 4000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1990 Mercedes-Benz 260 should accelerate faster than 1952 Austin Princess. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1952 Austin Princess weights approximately 656 kg more than 1990 Mercedes-Benz 260.
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, 1952 Austin Princess (251 Nm @ 2000 RPM) has 23 more torque (in Nm) than 1990 Mercedes-Benz 260. (228 Nm @ 4600 RPM). This means 1952 Austin Princess will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1990 Mercedes-Benz 260. 1990 Mercedes-Benz 260 has automatic transmission and 1952 Austin Princess has manual transmission. 1952 Austin Princess will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1990 Mercedes-Benz 260 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1952 Austin Princess | 1990 Mercedes-Benz 260 | |
| Make | Austin | Mercedes-Benz |
| Model | Princess | 260 |
| Year Released | 1952 | 1990 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 3993 cc | 2599 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 118 HP | 168 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 5800 RPM |
| Torque | 251 Nm | 228 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2000 RPM | 4600 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Vehicle Weight | 2180 kg | 1524 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5470 mm | 5030 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1900 mm | 1830 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1780 mm | 1440 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 3360 mm | 2940 mm |
